The Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum prepares individuals to perform clinical laboratory tests on body fluids in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and blood banking. The results of these procedures are used by doctors to maintain health and diagnose disease.
The Phlebotomy curriculum prepares individuals to obtain blood and other specimens for the purpose of laboratory analysis.
Medical Laboratory Technology course work emphasizes mathematical and scientific concepts related to specimen collection, laboratory testing and procedures, quality assurance and reporting/recording and interpreting findings involving tissues, blood, and body fluids.
Students who complete the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program may choose to transfer some credits to selected colleges and universities for further study and/or pursue employment opportunities.
Phlebotomy course work includes proper specimen collection and handling, communication skills, and maintaining patient data.
Certificate programs train men and women for immediate employment and may be completed in as few as one or two semesters on a full-time or part-time basis.
Students should consult with their advisors to help plan a program of study to complete program course work and fulfill the minimum general education competency requirements that must be met prior to graduation from the chosen program of study.
Medical Laboratory Technology graduates may be eligible to take the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology examination. Employment opportunities include laboratories in hospitals, medical offices, industry, and research facilities.
Phlebotomy graduates may be eligible for national certification as a phlebotomy technician and should qualify for employment in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and other health care settings.
Students are encouraged to begin preparation for the sequences of major courses early so that there will be time for them to complete pre-requisite courses, including MLT 110, and other requirements before they begin in the fall semester. As many as three semesters may be required to complete these pre-prerequisite courses depending upon the student's placement.
SCC Requirements
- Completion and return of the SCC Application for Admission.
- Submission of a copy of high school diploma or GED certificate.
- Completion of reading, writing, and math placement assessment.
- Reassessment may be done only once, but no earlier than three months after the first assessment.
- Meeting with an SCC counselor.
Submission of Required Documentation
Continuation in the Medical Laboratory Technology Program is contingent upon the submission of the required documentation on or before the specified dates communicated by the college.
- Completed health form
- TB test within three months of the given deadline
- Immunizations (required)
- Three tetanus vaccines (one within last 10 years)
- Two MMRs or two rubeolas, one rubella and one mumps or positive titers 231
- Immunizations (strongly recommended and waiver required)
- Hepatitis series
- Varicella or positive titer
- Certification of ability to perform essential functions
- Malpractice insurance
- OSHA training
- Certification from students that provides evidence that they meet the conditions of physical health and/or physical capability at a level that is acceptable to and in keeping with safe medical laboratory practice
- Certification from students that provides evidence that they meet the conditions of emotional health at a level that is acceptable to and in keeping with safe medical laboratory practice.
Updates will be required in some areas throughout the time the student is working on the program course requirement. Failure to meet any requirements by the specified deadline will result in removal of current MLT student status.
Students will be provided a copy of the SCC Allied Health Division Medical Records and Health Certification Form with detailed requirements, along with a description of the essential functions of the program which students must be able to perform.
Students in the Medical Laboratory Technology or Phlebotomy Program with previous physical, emotional, or behavioral problems which conflict with the safety essential to Medical Laboratory Technology or Phlebotomy practice must provide professional certification that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated to continue in the program.
Phlebotomy Program Requirements
- Completion of RED 090, Improved College Reading, with a grade of C or better or test out of the course through the placement assessment.
- Completion of MAT 060, Essential Mathematics, with a grade of C or better or test out of the course through the placement assessment. MAT 060 must be current within the past three years of the application deadline.
- Completion of MAT 070, Introductory Algebra, with a grade of C or better or a higher level course, SAT score, or test out through the placement assessment. MAT 070 must be current within the past three years of the application deadline.
- Meeting with the Dean of Students to complete the Application for Phlebotomy before the application due date.
Selection into the Phlebotomy Program is based on the placement assessment scores and proof of certification for selected previous health-related training such as EMT, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Nursing Assistant I, Nursing Assistant II, EMT-Intermediate, EMT Advanced, High School Health Occupations, and Medical Assisting. Students accepted for the spring semester Phlebotomy Program will be notified of acceptance to the program between the end of fall semester and the beginning of spring semester. Students accepted for the fall semester Phlebotomy Program will be notified of acceptance to the program between the end of summer semester and the beginning of fall semester.
Course Work
Students in the Medical Laboratory Technology Program should take courses in the sequence specified in the curriculum master plan. They must achieve a grade of "C" or better in all Medical Laboratory Technology, chemistry, and biology curriculum courses in order to continue in the MLT. Registration priority will be given to students in their first attempt of MLT courses but students may re-register for a course in a subsequent semester if space is available.
Phlebotomy students must have an average of 77.0 percent or greater in theory and an acceptable campus lab performance in order to participate in off-campus clinical assignments. Students must complete all courses in the curriculum master plan and achieve a grade of C or better in all Phlebotomy curriculum courses in order to receive a certificate and to be eligible to apply to take the ASCP certifying examination.
Relationship with Clinical Agency
The contract between Southeastern Community College and a clinical agency requires that the College abide by the existing rules and regulations of the agency. The College follows agency protocol regarding drug screening and criminal background checks. Accordingly, the College agrees to not assign, or to withdraw, any student from the clinical agency when the student is unacceptable to the agency for reasons of health, performance, positive criminal background check or other reasonable causes. Without access to the clinical facilities, students will be unable to satisfactorily complete the Medical Laboratory Technology or Phlebotomy courses. For further information, students should see the “Drug and Alcohol Policy” and “Drug, Alcohol and Their Health Risks” in the SCC Student Handbook.
At the discretion of participating clinical agencies students may be required (at their own expense) to be tested for the suspected consumption of alcohol/drugs. Students may be required to submit to testing after demonstrating behaviors or attitudes that may indicate the consumption of illegal substances or alcohol that interfere with the student’s ability to provide safe and effective care. Clinical agencies retain the ability to refuse to allow individuals to work in their facility who may be using/abusing drugs/alcohol. Criminal background check and/or drug screening requirements are communicated to the students through the Dean of Allied Health programs or assigned designee
Dismissal of Students
Dismissal of Students Faculty in the Medical Laboratory Technology program follow published college and Allied Health Division policies and practices that provide for identification and dismissal of students who do the following:
- Demonstrate physical or emotional problems which conflict with the safety essential to medical laboratory technology practice and do not respond to appropriate treatment and/or counseling within a reasonable period of time.
- Demonstrate unsafe clinical practices or behavior which conflicts with safety essential to Medical Laboratory Technology practice. Students who demonstrate behavior that conflicts with safety essential to Medical Laboratory Technology practice can be dismissed from the Medical Laboratory Technology Program regardless of whether treatment or counseling has occurred.
- Test positive for alcohol, illegal drugs, or legal drugs for which there is not a valid prescription at any time during enrollment in this program.
Students who demonstrate behavior that conflicts with safety essential to Medical Laboratory Technology or Phlebotomy practice or who have a positive test for alcohol, illegal drugs, or legal drugs for which there is no valid prescription can be dismissed from the Medical Laboratory Technology or Phlebotomy program regardless of whether treatment or counseling has occurred.
Students desiring to transfer into the Medical Laboratory Technology Program at SCC must meet the following criteria:
- Meet with the Dean of Students to verify that appropriate program pre-requisites have been met.
- Have been enrolled in a NAACLS accredited Medical Laboratory Technology program within the past twelve months.
- Have written verification of good academic standing and good laboratory technique from the former institution's medical technology program director.
- Prove competent laboratory skills in transferred MLT courses by demonstration to SCC faculty.
All transfer Medical Laboratory Technology courses will be evaluated by SCC's MLT Program Director. To be eligible to transfer, courses must be equivalent to courses offered at SCC in both theory and laboratory and clinical experience. The Dean of Arts & Sciences will determine the transferability of general education courses (Credits for Courses Not Completed at SCC, p. 65).
Readmission students must meet current admission requirements. There can be no more than two admissions into the Phlebotomy Program in a five-year period. Five years begins on the last date students were enrolled in the program.
Readmission of students who were dismissed from the program for drug use and/or for any other physical, emotional, or behavioral problems which conflicted with the safety essential to phlebotomy practice is contingent on professional documentation that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated.
Lead Instructor: Patricia Wright (Medical Laboratory Technology)