Medical Laboratory Technician
Are you interested in making $14.00 - $18.00 per hour? Are you interested in working in the healthcare field? Are you interested in working with people? If so then a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician / Clinical Laboratory Technician may be just what you are looking for.
What does a Medical Lab Technician do?
MLT's perform tests to obtain data that will be used by physicians and other medical staff to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness. They are expected to microscopically examine specimens, operate automated testing equipment and inoculate culture media to identify bacteria. MLT's prepare specimens and operate automatic analyzers, or they may perform manual tests following detailed instructions.
Where do Medical Laboratory Technicians work?
MLT/CLT personnel work in hospital laboratories in the areas of hematology, blood-banking, microbiology, clinical chemistry, or as generalist in all the areas. They are also employed in physicians' offices, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies such as DHEC and veterinarians' offices.
Students need high school prep courses in algebra, biology and chemistry. A combined SAT score of 920, with at least a 480 in verbal and a 480 in math. The MLT/CLT clinical education program at FDTC terminates in as Associate Degree in Health Sciences. Technicians may advance to Medical Technologist after earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. Graduate education in medical technology, one of the biological sciences, chemistry, management or education usually speeds advancement.
What kinds of courses would I take?
In addition to English, Math, Chemistry and Biology, students will take courses in Hematology, Urinalysis and Body Fluids and others. A complete guide to the program can be found our catalog.
What do I need to do to get started?
You will need to complete an application for admission, have a copy of your transcripts (high school and college) sent to the Admissions Office along with your test scores (SAT or ACT). If you have not taken the SAT or ACT you can take an entrance test at FDTC. Contact the Assessment Center for additional information. See entrance requirements.
For information about the Medical Laboratory Technology program, and what FDTC can do for you, please contact one of our instructors:
Kathleen Hanrahan
MHA, BS, MT (ASCP)
MLT Department Head
Allied Health Department Head
843.661.8105
kathleen.hanrahan@fdtc.edu
Dawn Windham
BS, MT (ASCP)
Instructor
843.661.8364
dawn.windham@fdtc.edu
Medical Laboratory Technology Websites
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science www.naacls.org
8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Suite 670
Chicago, Il 60631-3415
National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards www.nccls.org
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science www.ascls.org
American Society of Clinical Pathologists www.ascp.org/index.asp
American Association of Blood Banks www.aabb.org
American Society of Hematology www.hematology.org
American Society for Microbiology www.asmusa.org
Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
American Association for Clinical Chemistry www.aacc.org
College of American Pathologists www.cap.org
Clinical Laboratory Management Association www.clma.org
South Carolina Society of Clinical Laboratory Science www.octech.org/scscls/welcome.htm