Medical Laboratory Technician - CLLS.AS

Accreditation and Program Outcomes

The Medical Laboratory Technician program is accredited by :

The design of the curriculum and activities undertaken by the faculty of the CLLS.AS Program should achieve the following outcomes

1. Produce safe, competent graduates who possess entry-level Medical Laboratory Technician knowledge and skills in clinical laboratory science.
2. The three year passing rate of the graduates who choose to take the Medical Laboratory Technician certification examination will be at least 90%.
3. 90% of the graduates who seek employment as a Medical Laboratory Technician will attain a position within one year of graduation.

The STCC CLLS.AS program admits 16 students each fall semester out of an average applicant pool of 44; the acceptance rate is generally 36%. The average graduation rate over the past three years is 97% for those who enter the final half of the program. Of the graduates who took the National MLT Certification Examination in the past three years, 100% have passed.

The program administers student didactic and clinical course surveys, clinical performance assessments, graduate opinion surveys, clinical and academic faculty surveys, advisory board surveys, employer surveys and aggregate data from the National Certification Examination to assess the effectiveness of the program. For those students who graduated between 7-1-15 and 6-30-18, 100% of the graduates who sought employment have reported they were able to secure a position within one year of passing the national certification examination. Some graduates choose to continue their education and do not seek employment.

Program Goals

• Provide students with a high quality academic and clinical education in the field of Clinical Laboratory Science and General Education subjects.

• Insure that, upon completion of the program, students are competent at the career entry level and have the knowledge and background to successfully prepare them for employment.

• Provide a sense of responsibility and professionalism when interacting with patients, peers, fellow employees, and other health care providers.

• Communicate effectively and professionally and to prepare the student to function as part of a team and possess an understanding of their role in the healthcare team.

• Instruct students in the procedures, analysis and interpretation of laboratory tests so that they are able to perform laboratory tests competently, problem solve and think critically.

• Produce an understanding in the student of the importance of continuing education and professional awareness.

• Instill the importance of honesty and professionalism in the workplace.

Applying to this Program

• Applications are accepted on a rolling admission basis, (applications will be accepted until the program is full). Review of applications for consideration will begin after March 31 of the acceptance year.   

• Fall start only, day program only

• This is a competitive program with rigorous standards, therefore only students with all application requirements met will be considered. The program admits 14 students out of an average applicant pool of 48. Student application and documents will be scored on a rubric based on the admission pre-requisites as noted below:

Admission Prerequisites:

Proof of High School transcript, GED or HISET

English

• Completion of 4 years of high school English (grade of C+ or higher) ; OR
• Placement examination score  at ENG 101 level: OR
• Successful completion of ENG 101  (grade of C+ or higher)

Math

• Successful completion of high school Algebra 2(grade of C+ or higher); OR
• Successful completion of  Algebra 2 MAT 097  or college level (100 or higher) math course (grade of C+ or higher): OR
• Placement examination score at MAT-101 or higher
• Note: Statistics MAT-115 will not satisfy the Math pre-requisite

Biology

• Completion of high school level Biology with a lab (grade of C+ or higher, within 7 years); OR
• Completion of college level Biology with a lab (such as BIO-101  or BIO-201  ) (grade of C+ or higher, within 7 years to the start of the program)

Chemistry

• Completion of high school level Chemistry with a lab (grade of C+ or higher, within 7 years); OR
• Completion of college level Chemistry with a lab (such as CHM 101  or CHM 111  ) (grade of C+ or higher, within 7 years to the start of the program)

Admission Checklist (click here to download/print)

• In order to strengthen your application, it is strongly recommended you submit this document along with all other requirements.

Notes:

Course work with designated time frames must be current within 7 years to the start of the program.(fall of application year)

Mid-semester grades for required and prerequisite spring courses will be considered.  Students requesting consideration for coursework being performed outside STCC must submit mid-term grade reports to the Admissions office with their application. 

Conditional acceptances will be given for applicants who have incomplete courses in the spring semester. The condition will state what final grade must be earned to gain full acceptance. Students not meeting stated conditions will not be granted admission to the program.

Upon review of application materials and scoring using the departmental rubric, students will be ranked by score and then accepted into the program.  If there are additional qualified students in the applicant pool, students will be notified and placed on a waitlist.  If a seat in the program becomes available students will be accepted based on ranking and notified by the Admissions Office.

Programmatic Technical Standards: Students with disabilities must be able to meet the technical standards of the program with reasonable accommodations as defined by the ADA.

The following are examples of how to strengthen your application for admission:

Work experience in the healthcare industry will be considered, Please submit a current resume or summary of work history with your application if you have previous or current experience in healthcare.

GPA/college degrees: Previous coursework, overall grade point averages and previously earned college degrees (associate or higher)will be considered. Please submit official transcripts from all college level academic work with your application..

STCC students: Students currently enrolled AND/OR who have completed 12 credits of liberal arts/general education and science courses at STCC will strengthen their application.

Course work: Students who have completed required non-MLT course work will receive additional points on the evaluation rubric based on the percentage of the courses completed.100% (7-8 courses) = 4 pts, 75% (5-6 courses) = 3 pts., 50% (3-4 courses) = 2pts., 25% (1-2 courses) = 1 pt.Course credit which has been earned through CLEP or challenge exams are acceptable

Non-MLT course work includes the following courses.

• ENG 101    - English Composition 1 
• ENG 102    - Composition 2: Intro to Literature
• CHM 101    - Survey of Chemistry 1 
• CHM 101L  - Lab: Survey of Chemistry 1
• CMP 106    - Computer Basics: Concepts & Applications
• MAT 115    - Statistics 
• EL-SOC   - General Behavioral/Social Science Elective
• BIO 231  - Anatomy & Physiology 1 and BIO 231L  - Anatomy & Physiology 1 lab
• BIO 232  -Anatomy & Physiology 2 and BIO 232L  - Anatomy & Physiology 2 lab

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Students reapplying to the program must resubmit an application, all supporting documents and essay with updated official transcripts. Students will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of one re-admission. Click here  for information about the re-admission policy and process. 

Additional Requirements for Accepted Students

Deposit: If offered admission, a non-refundable $50.00 deposit will be required to secure your acceptance to this Program.

Mandatory Health Records:  All required health records, immunizations, and physicals MUST be filed in the STCC Health and Wellness Center by July 1 of the admission year. The Health and Wellness Center is located in the Building 19 Room 177 (413-755-4230). For additional information and required forms please visit the Health and Wellness Center website at http://www.stcc.edu/healthservices. The college/program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner. 

Background Check: College programs involving potentially unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, including fieldwork (a clinical affiliation, internship, externship, or field placement) with a private or public healthcare provider or daycare provider, will be required to undergo state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to: Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI), Seven (7) year residential Search, and FBI Fingerprinting checks. The purpose of the background check is to ensure a safe and protective environment for all clients, particularly members of vulnerable populations.

Students choosing not to consent to the required background checks will be ineligible to participate in fieldwork involving vulnerable populations. Ineligibility to participate in fieldwork may affect a student’s ability to successfully complete the program.

Based upon the results of the background checks, a student may be deemed ineligible to participate in academic or clinical activities, which may impact a student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements. Background checks are reviewed by the College’s CORI Board. The CORI Board determines eligibility to participate in academic and/or clinical activities. Students have the right to appeal the determination of the CORI Board by filing a written appeal with the Vice President of Student and Multicultural Affairs within 10 business days of receiving the CORI Board’s determination.

Furthermore, please be advised that eligibility to participate in College academic and/or clinical activities following a background check does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a professional credentialing examination(s) or for employment upon program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the certification or licensure board for a particular healthcare or other service profession to determine the standards that must be met for credentialing, licensing and/or employment in that field.

Drug Screening Policy for Clinical Placement: The School of Health & Patient Simulation is committed to high quality education and providing excellent clinical experiences to students in the health professions. Students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences in order to maximize the learning environment and ensure patient safety. Thus a student’s performance at all times must be free of any impairment caused by prescription or non-prescribed drugs or alcohol use. Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug and/or alcohol screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. Students assigned to clinical education experiences at our contracted facilities may also be required to undergo and pass random drug screening analysis in order to remain at that clinical facility and in the program. Students who fail a screening, or refuse to submit to a screening within the designated time frame will be ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program. Students with a positive drug test may challenge the results of the test within five (5) business days of notification of the drug test results. This challenge must be in writing and delivered to the college’s Director of Health Services. Students may re-apply for re-entry into a health program after one year. Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case by case basis.

Students who are notified of a negative-dilute result will submit to a random drug test within 24 hours of the previous test in order to confirm the negative status of the screening. Additional random testing may also be required under the guidelines listed in your program’s handbook. A student who claims that he/she tested positive due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the medical review officer (MRO) from the drug testing lab shall be required to provide evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts within five (5) business days of notification of the drug test results to the college’s Director of the Health and Wellness Center. Failure to complete this notification will result in the student being ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program

Students who test positive for marijuana are unable to continue in a clinical placement, which will affect their status in the health program. A student who has a prescription for Medical Marijuana and tests positive for marijuana will be reviewed on a case by case basis in order for the college to determine the availability to provide accommodations and clinical placements due to the federal restrictions on the use of marijuana and clinical site placement policies.   

Programmatic Technical Standards: Technical Standards reflect performance abilities and essential skills that a student must demonstrate in order to successfully complete the requirements of a specified program.  These Standards must be satisfied by all students in all aspects of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including in the classroom, laboratories, and externship. If you are an individual with a documented disability who seeks reasonable accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at (413) 755-4785 or stop by Building 19, Room 141 as soon as practicable for information concerning the College’s accommodation process. Additional information can also be found on the Office of Disability Service’s website: https://www.stcc.edu/resources/academic-support/ods/. Please note that Program Technical Standard forms found in your admission acceptance packet must be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center by July 1. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 19, Room 177 and can be reached at (413) 755-4230.  

Health Program Latex Policy  

Program Requirements and Advancement

• Minimum Grade Requirement: Medical Laboratory Technician students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” (73%) in all required courses.  The student who is unable to meet this minimum requirement will be withdrawn from the program and must reapply with the Dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation.
• Technology Requirements: All MLT courses in the curriculum are web-assisted.  Accepted students must have access to a lap top or personal computer, with internet access, and must be able to print course materials and assignments.
• Certification: graduates are eligible to sit for one or more national certification exams. Certification information may be obtained from agencies at: American Society for Clinical Pathology www.ascp.org or American Medical Technologist, http://www.americanmedtech.org/
• Advancement in the field of Clinical Laboratory Science: Many graduates pursue advanced degrees in order to attain certification as Medical Laboratory Scientists.  Traditionally, a majority of the STCC MLT courses will qualify for transfer to applicable baccalaureate programs.  The specific educational requirements for eligibility to sit for advanced certification is located on the American Society for Clinical Pathology at this link:  ASCP.ORG
• Students must adhere to the strict attendance policy in lecture, lab and clinical practicum in order to graduate.
• Upon successful completion of the program requirements the degree of Associate in Science in Clinical Laboratory Science will be awarded.  Granting of the CLLS.AS degree is not contingent upon passing any certification or licensure exams.

(CLLS.AS) Curriculum

Department Personnel