- MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety
• Associate of Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technician
Program Description
The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) associate of science degree program prepares students to perform laboratory procedures which aid the physician and pathologist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. MLTs work in clinics, hospitals, private laboratories and physician office labs and collect blood specimens and perform test procedures in such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, microbiology and urinalysis. The clinical practicum experience at affiliated hospitals and laboratories provides experience in performing laboratory tests under the direction of a clinical instructor.
Graduates are eligible to take both the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the National Credentialing Agency exams to obtain Certified Medical Laboratory Technician credentials.
The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences: 8401 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670; Chicago, IL 60631-3415; phone (773) 714- 8880; http://www.naacls.org.
Program information sessions for the MLT program are scheduled regularly; students should contact the Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division Office for dates and times. These sessions include detailed information about the petitioning and selection process, program requirements, physical demands of the job and general information about laboratory medicine as a career. For more information on these sessions, applicants may call (505) 224-4161.
Career and Advancement Opportunities
Job placement for MLT graduates is excellent due to a shortage of lab personnel. An agreement with the University of New Mexico Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program allows for the transfer of credits earned at CNM to the UNM MLS bachelor of science degree.
Special Requirements
Prospective MLT students must submit a petition packet to the Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division Office during the summer term to be considered for the MLT classes beginning in the fall term. Students may petition from the beginning of the summer term through the month of July. The packet must contain evidence of: a high school diploma or equivalent a completed CNM application declaring MLT as your major, transcripts from all postsecondary schools previously attended have been sent to CNM’s Record Office (allow three-four weeks) and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students are responsible for meeting the eligibility requirements.
Students interested in certain Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division programs must be in good physical and psychological health. Some programs require documentation of a recent health screening from a licensed healthcare provider confirming the ability to safely perform program specific activities and lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are made for those students with disabilities. However, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment. Students with a disability that may interfere with completing program competencies, which may include providing safe patient care, are advised to contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
Current certification in CPR, a physical exam and current vaccinations (including hepatitis A & B, MMR, DTP, PPD and Varicella) are required prior to clinical experiences. Students are responsible for providing their own disposable lab coats (see the MLT Student Handbook for specification). There is a $25 program fee for MLT 102L for the purchase of a nametag, hospital parking permits and preventative lab tests in the case of needle stick or other exposure to bodily fluids. There is a $35 program fee (MLT 205C) for an online practice exam for the national board of registry.
Students with a criminal background may have limited employment opportunities in healthcare and public service. Those who have a felony conviction should refer to the relevant New Mexico legislation (NMSA, Section 29-17-5 for healthcare employees available at http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/HB0627.pdf). Students should also contact appropriate credentialing or licensing agencies and local or regional industry for hiring and employment practices. Contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information. Students may be required to undergo routine drug screening and a criminal background check prior to beginning their clinical experience.
All Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division career and technical courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B or C. For Health, Wellness & Public Safety career or technical courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned. The arts and sciences courses are prerequisites for submitting a petition for enrollment in the advanced MLT courses in the Fall Term (MLT 114/114C). Applicants may petition if they are currently enrolled in the remaining required arts and sciences courses in the Summer Term or have the program director’s approval. Some students may be allowed to take the introductory MLT courses (MLT 102/102L, 104 and 151C) along with their arts and sciences courses with the program director’s approval.
The sequence of the MLT core courses may be modified with permission of the Program Director.
Advanced Placement: Applicants seeking advanced placement into the MLT program should contact the program director for more information.
Graduation Policy
Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division students must graduate under the current catalog.
Pre- and corequisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or corequisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or corequisites are not met.
Students who have successfully completed courses that no longer exist from previous catalogs will be accommodated. Contact the division at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Program information is available from Monya Kmetz, Program Director, (505) 224-5021, monya@cnm.edu, or from Academic Advisement and Career Development at (505) 224-5056 (South Valley) or (505) 224-4321.
