Program Overview

TEST Though they work behind the scenes, medical laboratory technicians play a critical role in the healthcare industry. A medical laboratory technician听performs clinical laboratory procedures in chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, coagulation, and blood banking.

They also contribute to other areas of the clinical laboratory, expand the information required by a physician to determine the existence and extent of disease, and supervise a patient’s treatment.

The New England Institute of Technology鈥檚 medical laboratory technician program empowers students with professional skills and the experience required to serve the healthcare community as a medical laboratory technician (MLT).

Our associate degree program prepares students for roles in clinical settings as technicians in hospital laboratories, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, doctors’ offices, private test centers, or other clinical laboratory facilities.

You will learn the day-to-day operations of the clinical laboratory, perform tests and prepare specimens. You also get extensive training on using basic and specialized medical laboratory technology instrumentation that prepares laboratory personnel to perform medical tests and provide accurate and reliable results that help save lives.

We believe in a hands-on training and learning approach that emphasizes excellence in education. The curriculum combines medical laboratory science courses with clinical experience in hematology, coagulation, microbiology, immunohematology, chemistry, parasitology, immunology, and urinalysis.

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Full Description

Medical laboratory science professionals (also called clinical laboratory technologists or clinical laboratory technicians) are highly skilled laboratory personnel who determine the existence or absence of illnesses and make available data that help physicians decide an appropriate treatment for the patient.

The Associate in Science in Medical Lab Technician prepares students as entry-level medical laboratory technicians. Students undergo this training to make a career in health care.

We offer medical laboratory science education that empowers students with the experience required to serve the health care community as medical laboratory technicians. We believe in the schools of thought that emphasize excellence in education.

Whether working in a medical laboratory, becoming a medical laboratory technician, or working as a technician associate – you鈥檒l gain on-site experience through our associate degree that other medical laboratory technician schools don鈥檛 offer.

Medical laboratory technicians use basic and specialized laboratory skills, computer technology, and knowledge of the human body to collect samples, analyze body fluids, and provide accurate and precise laboratory results. Doctors and physicians require this information to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases.

Be it any work environment like a hospital laboratory or physician鈥檚 office lab 鈥� you will gain experience using instrumentation that other medical laboratory technician programs don鈥檛 offer. Medical laboratory technicians must also demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes and principles to collect samples and process them.

They must maintain an attitude of respect for the patient and the confidentiality of the patient鈥檚 record and diagnoses at all times.

The medical laboratory technician associate degree curriculum offers basic sciences (biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology), mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities.

It provides didactic (including student laboratories) and clinical experience courses in hematology, coagulation, microbiology, immunohematology, chemistry, parasitology, immunology, and urinalysis.

Medical laboratory technicians or clinical laboratory technologists can practice general or specialized certification to gain hands-on experience in medical biology or cytotechnology.

As you can see, this is one of the most comprehensive lab technician educational programs in Rhode Island that will equip graduates with the necessary skills to perform tests and become medical laboratory technicians.

Upon completion of the MLT program, students are eligible to sit for a national certification examination.

Clinical laboratory technologists are typically required to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree programs, while technicians usually need an associate鈥檚 degree or additional education like postsecondary certificate programs to qualify.

Many states require laboratory personnel to get a license, and these licensing requirements will vary from state to state and for different lab specialties. The certification of choice for most employers is through the听Board of Certification.

What do Medical Laboratory Technicians do?

As clinical laboratory technologists or medical laboratory technicians, you will:

  • Collect medical samples and perform tests.
  • Study blood samples, examine tissue samples, analyze body fluids, and discuss the test results with physicians.
  • Learn how to collect samples without cross-contamination, inspect and investigate body fluids and cells from normal and sick patients.
  • Learn to identify various parasites, bacteria, and other microorganisms, examine the chemical content of blood and body fluids, match blood for blood transfusions and assess drug levels in the blood that demonstrate how a patient is reacting to treatment.
  • Learn how to identify abnormal results and enter medical tests into patient records.
  • Perform more complex tests, count cells, prepare specimens for examination and look for abnormalities in blood and body fluids cells.
  • Perform tests using cell counters, microscopes, run analyzers, sophisticated laboratory equipment, automated equipment, and computerized instruments capable of carrying several tests simultaneously.

Potential Career Opportunities for Medical Laboratory Technicians

Studying to become a medical laboratory technician can open you up to a world of possibilities in the fields of medical technology and clinical laboratory science. Careers you can pursue after completing a lab tech program include:

Medical Laboratory Technicians

Biological Technicians

Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Clinical Chemistry Technologists

Medical Technologists

Microbiology Technologists

Immunology Technologists

Clinical Laboratory Technologists

FAQ

  • What Degree Does a Medical Lab Technician Need?

    Medical lab technicians usually need an associate鈥檚 degree or a postsecondary certificate. In some states, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians require a license. Associate degree programs provide the education and skills required to test blood, medical samples, tissue samples, and other body fluids following the appropriate safety standards.

    Students will also be exposed to cell counters, instrumentation, and equipment used in the clinical laboratory. While pursuing the clinical laboratory technologists’ degree course, it is advantageous to do so from an accredited college.

  • Is a Medical Lab Tech a Good Career?

    You can find the current statistics on potential salaries and job outlook on the Bureau of Labor Statistics () website. According to the organization, the median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was听in May 2020.

    The estimated average growth rate or job outlook of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is faster than the average for all occupations at. The statistics also show an average of 25,900 new jobs and job openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians each year over the decade.

  • What Is the Difference Between a Medical Lab Technician and a Medical Lab Technologist?

    A medical laboratory technician and medical laboratory technologist work in diagnostic laboratories to conduct medical tests, analyze body fluids, and provide physicians with vital diagnostic data. There is a slight overlap between their job responsibilities, and the medical laboratory technician profile varies from that of a medical technologist.

    Medical laboratory technicians work with physicians, lab managers, and technologists to perform tests, playing an active role in the diagnosis process, and do not usually interact with patients. On the other hand, the medical technologists prepare samples for examination using specific equipment and perform a vigilant analysis of blood, bodily fluids, and tissues to know the cell count and the chemical composition.

  • What Education Is Needed for Clinical Laboratory Technologists?

    Clinical laboratory technologists usually need a bachelor’s degree, whereas technicians need an associate’s degree.

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Program Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

Program Mission

The Medical Lab Technician (MLT) program aims to provide quality didactic and clinical instruction and training. The curriculum will include a combination of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains to prepare graduates to be competent entry-level Medical Laboratory Technicians.

Program Goals

The goals of the New England Institute of Technology鈥檚 medical laboratory technicians鈥� course are to:

  1. Provide students with the highest quality academic and clinical education and training in Medical Lab Technology.
  2. Provide students with the appropriate training of technical skills needed to perform laboratory test procedures efficiently and accurately.
  3. Provide a quality program that reflects continuing assessment, evaluation, and revision.
  4. Prepare students for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification exam, employment in a clinical laboratory, and further education.
  5. Develop an understanding of the importance of the professional role of a Medical Laboratory Technician in a clinical laboratory.

Program Outcomes

Upon completing the medical laboratory technician course, the student will graduate with an Associate in Science Degree. Graduation from the program is not contingent upon student performance on the national certification examination. The graduate may also advance to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by pursuing additional education and technical experience.

equipment used in a medical research lab

Completing the Medical Lab Technician Program prepares the graduate to:

  1. Collecting samples, processing, and preserving blood and other body fluid samples.
  2. Perform and report the results of clinical laboratory tests.
  3. Operate laboratory equipment and instruments, performing preventive and corrective maintenance as required.
  4. Identify pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical variables that affect procedures, devices, and results.
  5. Monitor and evaluate quality control in the laboratory and hone their problem-solving skills.
  6. Practice laboratory safety and regulatory compliance in their work environment.
  7. Perform information processing functions in the clinical laboratory.
  8. Correlate and apply laboratory results to the diagnosis of clinical conditions and diseases.
  9. Communicate with colleagues and patients professionally.
  10. Model professional behaviors, ethics, and appearance.
  11. Work effectively as a team member within the laboratory and with other healthcare professionals recognizing the comprehensive impact on health care.

Accreditation Status

The Medical Lab Technician program at the New England Institute of Technology is an accredited program, accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, (847) 939-3597, (773) 714-8886 (FAX), [email protected].,

1. NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR CERTIFICATION RATES

Three years’ consecutive graduate certification rates demonstrate an average of at least 75%** pass rate on the ASCP-BOC examinations for those who take the exam within the first year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three-year period.

  • July 2020-June 2021听 听 听 听 听 50%
  • July 2021-June 2022听听听听听听听听听 75%
  • July 2022-June 2023听 听 听 听 No students enrolled in the program for this period
  • 3-year average: 63%

2. NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR GRADUATION RATES

Three-year consecutive graduation rates demonstrate an average of at least 70%** of students who have begun the final half of the program go on to successfully graduate from the program as calculated by the most recent three-year period.

  • July 2020-June 2021 听 听 听 100%
  • July 2021-June 2022听听听听听听 100%
  • July 2022-June 2023听 听 听 听 No students enrolled in the program for this period
  • 3-year average: 100%

3. NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR GRADUATE PLACEMENT RATES

Three years’ consecutive results of graduate placement rates demonstrating that an average of at least 70%** of respondent graduates either find employment in the field or a closely related field (for those who seek employment). Or, they continue their education within one year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three-year period.

  • July 2020-June 2021听 听 听 听 听 100%
  • July 2021-June 2022听 听听听听听听听听100%
  • July 2022-June 2023听 听 听 听 No students enrolled in the program for this period
  • 3-year average: 94%

Per the 2019 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the New England Institute of Technology hereby discloses that the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure as Medical Laboratory Technicians in the State of Rhode Island.

The applicable licensing board in Rhode Island may impose additional requirements on candidates before granting a license; we encourage you to investigate those requirements.

The New England Institute of Technology has not determined whether the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure in any other states or territories. We encourage you to investigate the requirements in your state or territory before accepting an offer of admission at the New England Institute of Technology.

Courses Offered

The courses offered include an introduction to laboratory procedures and technology. You鈥檒l become familiar with using laboratory equipment. You鈥檒l learn the basics of urinalysis, immunology, hematology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry, and more.

The more advanced courses include clinical practices, immunohematology, anatomy, and physiology. There are also supplementary classes in life sciences, college writing, healthcare communications, and math for life science.

Those aspiring to be medical laboratory technicians or keen on finding a job as a clinical laboratory technician will benefit from this information. For the latest listing of courses offered, please review our University Catalog听here.