About the program

A flexible, hybrid path to success allows current lab employees to work and study simultaneously.

Many opportunities await those choosing careers in medicine and science. One of the most rewarding is the medical laboratory technology (MLT) field. As members of the medical team, technicians work side by side with medical laboratory scientists and pathologists. MLTs perform a great variety of scientific laboratory procedures, utilizing automated computerized instrumentation, all of which aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

MLTs have relatively less contact with patients than other healthcare professions like nursing.

As a result of completing the MLT program, students obtain a background in general college courses and the sciences, and they develop the important technical skills required for medical laboratory employment. After graduation, students are encouraged to take one of the national certification examinations, which is required by most medical laboratory employers (ASCP/BOC).

Available remotely

The MLT program can be completed in any of our long-standing regional hubs:

• Wenatchee
• Omak
• Walla Walla
• Moses Lake
• Lewiston, ID/Clarkston, WA
• Pendleton, OR
• Colville
• Port Angeles
• We have the ability to bring MLT training to virtually anywhere as long as Internet and clinical training is available, so reach out (ptracy@wvc.edu) to see if we can bring it to where you live or to the lab where you are the employer.

Learn more on the regional sites page.

Program overview

First year

During the preparatory first year, the typical MLT student takes general education courses and specialized medical laboratory courses designed to provide a solid base for the second year of on-the-job training. These do not have to be completed at WVC. We will do a transcript evaluation to determine what can be applied from your existing transcripts. First-year courses taken at WVC amount to at least 55 credits.

Second year

Students spend the second year in medical laboratory facilities that have agreed to be training centers, while simultaneously taking lecture and student-lab courses online. Travel to training facilities (sometimes distant) is required, and work on a variety of shifts may be necessary; therefore, reliable transportation is required.

Second-year students engage in lecture courses (MLT 150, 213, 223, 233) and student-laboratory courses (MLT 151, 214, 224, 234) which are delivered online. For that reason, students must have an up-to-date computer and internet access. Clinical courses (MLT 210, 220, 230, 240) are face-to-face and take place in clinical laboratories. Students generally rotate to a new clinical location every quarter and therefore students must be willing to travel to these locations. Although every effort is made to place students in clinicals in their communities, this cannot be guaranteed. Second-year courses amount to 78 credits.

All students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 (“C” or better) in all specified program courses.

Students need to be aware that conviction of certain crimes may prevent completion of the clinical course requirements of the program and may also prevent future licensing and employment in the field.

Additional employment opportunities

In addition to employment in medical laboratories, graduates may pursue positions in research, molecular biology, industry and veterinary laboratories, as well as medical supply and equipment sales. For additional descriptive information visit the following two national websites at http://www.ascls.org/ and http://www.ascp.org/. To explore occupations and find related career information go to www.mynextmove.org.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 North River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119 (1-773-714-8880).

Program Statistics

	2021	2022	2023
Graduate	100%	67%	100%
Find Employment	100%	100%	83%
Pass BOC Exam	90%	100%	100%

 

Limited Enrollment

The WVC MLT Program is a limited enrollment program thus admission into the second year is not guaranteed. The number of students accepted each year is dependent on the number of clinical sites available. The full program (including first-year coursework) can be completed in eight academic quarters (two calendar years) depending on the educational background of the entering student. The timeline for completing first-year coursework may vary but the progression of second-year courses is a set schedule. All students are considered for admission.