Medical Laboratory Assistant

Within the Medical Laboratory Assisting program students will perform various clerical and preparatory tasks to aid in generating patient test results. Students will perform phlebotomy, specimen processing, urinalysis testing, slide staining, provider-performed microscopy, and point-of-care lab tests. Lastly, students will learn to operate computerized lab equipment and to use quality-control methods to guarantee accurate information for patient care.

Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) are skilled individuals trained to perform laboratory tests and operate laboratory equipment. MLAs take tissue samples, blood, and other bodily fluids from patients, ensure that all specimens are labeled correctly, and prepare them for examination by a physician or lab tech. MLAs work in clinical settings under the supervision of lab techs and pathologists and are required to perform precise tests and procedures to guarantee accurate information for patient care. MLAs help analyze body fluids, isolate and identify microorganisms, prepare blood components, perform point-of-care tests, and help determine disease-related immune responses.

The MLA Certificate program prepares students to operate computerized lab equipment in a safe, cost-effective manner and to use quality control methods to assess the accuracy of lab data. Students acquire a working knowledge in the areas of phlebotomy, hematology, urinalysis, immunology, clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, and accessioning. In addition, they develop important communication skills to be used in translating reports, records, and results.

If you are interested in the Medical Laboratory Assistant program, please contact Mr. Stratton, Program Director, at strattonde@midlandstech.edu.

Learning Settings

Learning experiences for students in the Medical Laboratory Assistant Program are provided in classrooms and laboratories on the Airport Campus in the Health Sciences Building. Laboratory experience is provided through modern equipment available in the two on-campus labs. Required clinical rotations are arranged by the program through affiliations with local healthcare facilities.

Requirements and Certificates

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Board of Certification (BOC) examination offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to earn the designation Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).

Expenses related to the MLA program include standard uniforms and safety gear, totaling around $300. Additionally, the fee for the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification examination is approximately $150.

Students must attain a grade of “C” in all curriculum courses to successfully complete the program. No course may be repeated more than one time. No more than 2 courses within the curriculum may be repeated and only one Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLT prefix) course may be repeated. If a student is not successful, they may not progress forward in the program as all MLT-prefix courses are taught on rotation.

Accreditation

The MLA program is pending accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. 
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemount, Illinois 60018-5119
773-714-8880 ​
www.naacls.org

In addition to the college’s placement test and the admission requirements for the School of Health Care, there are additional specific eligibility and interview criteria for the Medical Laboratory Assistant program. Note that the TEAS test is not a requirement for the MLA program.

Admissions Criteria

• Observation in a clinical setting 
• TOEFL test for international students 
• Interview by the Medical Laboratory Admissions Committee  
• Acceptable criminal background check and drug screening 
• Physical Examination and various immunizations 

Other Criteria

• Acceptance into the college; including high school diploma or equivalent

Additional Information

Students must apply to the college before applying to the MLA program. Applications to the MLA program are not publicly available. Applications must be released by a School of Health Care advisor. Before the programmatic application is released, students must complete an advisement appointment. 

The MLA application period is January 1st June 1st each year. Students are only accepted into the program each Fall (August) as the MLT-prefix courses are taught on rotation. Applicants will be offered an interview with the program’s admissions committee over the summer. Once the student has completed the interview and required paperwork, the student is then conditionally accepted in the MLA program. Before starting the MLA program, students must attend the mandatory New Student Orientation that is typical held the Thursday before the start of the fall semester. 

If accepted into the MLA program, students are required to have a background check, drug test, and various immunizations. These requirements are set by the clinical sites and department safety officer. Neither the MLT program or the college has authority to waive these requirements as they are in place for the safety of the employees and patients at the clinical sites. Students must cover the costs associated with these requirements and complete them by the specified due date in order to continue in the MLA program. Additionally, students are expected to purchase disposable gloves, a calculator, colored pencils, uniforms, and name tags. Uniforms include solid black scrubs and a fluid-resistant lab coat. 

After completing the MLA program, we encourage students to obtain an associate of applied science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from Midlands Technical College. Students who choose this path will transfer in 7 courses (20 credit hours) from the MLA program to the MLT program and will be eligible to start the MLT program the semester following MLA graduation. With said associate degree, students are eligible to sit for the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification exam through ASCP. While working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, most healthcare agencies will pay for the Medical Laboratory Technology associate degree through tuition reimbursement. In addition to base pay, lab professionals have the ability to earn a higher salary through shift differential, weekend differential, holiday pay, overtime, PTO cash outs, traveling positions, and/or a secondary PRN position. 

Although times may vary depending on the semester, students are expected to be available for in-person classes Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM. All MLT classes are exclusively taught in the Health Science building of the Airport campus. Clinical rotation times are at the discretion of the facility, and typical start at 7:00 AM.

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