Medical Laboratory Technician

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding licensure and job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty.  Choose Wallace State’s Medical Laboratory Technician degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university.  And if you do choose to continue your education, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.  

Discover your story in Medical Laboratory Technician at Wallace State!       

About the Program

Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Using sophisticated lab equipment, clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment. They also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids. They perform analyses in the areas of microbiology, hematology, immunology, biochemistry, and immunohematology, which is relayed from the lab to physicians.

The MLT Program has as its mission to provide continuously improving, diversified, quality learning experiences for students in order to graduate Medical Laboratory Technicians that perform competently and professionally in the field. The MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences*. Upon completion of all Wallace State Community College degree requirements, the student will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree and will be eligible to take a National Certification Examination.

Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate

Wallace State Community College’s Department of Medical Laboratory Technology now offers a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) certificate program. As a medical laboratory assistant, you will be able to perform lab tests that help to detect, diagnose and study diseases. You will learn core laboratory skills primarily required for testing in physician office lab, urgent care and other decentralized testing sites.  You can earn your MLA certificate on campus in just 2 semesters.

While on campus, you will be taking MLT 131 and MLT 132, which are classes designed for the entry-level student who is ready to begin a career in Laboratory Technology. MLT 131 covers the basic principles and techniques used in the medical laboratory.  Emphasis is placed on terminology, basic laboratory equipment, specimen collection and processing, safety and computations.  MLT 132 is designed specifically for students to apply knowledge and skill needed to perform as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).  Emphasis is placed on collection, processing, preparation and analysis of patient specimens, critical assessment of specimens for pre-analytical errors and interfering substances, proper documentation and reporting of patient results appropriate to the level of a MLA while following established laboratory protocols as well preparation, analysis, interpretation and reporting of quality control per standard operating procedures.

Upon completion of MLT 131 and MLT 132, you will be placed in the clinical practicum portion of the program.  MLT 286 practicum consists of specimen collection, processing, preparation and analysis of patient specimens, critical assessment of specimens for pre-analytical errors and interfering substances, proper documentation and reporting of patient results appropriate to the level of a MLA.  Students will follow established laboratory protocols as well as prepare, analyze, interpret and report quality control per standard operating procedures.  Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate satisfactory competency as an entry-level medical laboratory assistant and be eligible for MLA national certification exam. 

**If you wish to continue to further your education and apply to the WSCC Medical Laboratory Technician program, MLT131 will be waived upon acceptance into the program for students who have completed MLT 131 with a C or better. 

*National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, 773-714-8880
www.naacls.org

Medical Laboratory Technician Program Information