For more questions and answers, download the MLT application packet or contact us.
What Is Medical Laboratory Technology?
Medical Laboratory Technology is an Allied Health specialty concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease through the use of clinical laboratory tests.
What Does A Medical Laboratory Technician Do?
Medical Laboratory Technicians are midlevel laboratory workers who function under the supervision of a Pathologist, Medical Technologist or Laboratory Supervisor. They perform various complicated hematological, chemical, immunological and microbiological tests on blood and body fluids.
Is Working With Blood And Body Fluids Dangerous?
All blood and body fluids have the potential to be infectious, however our program emphasizes the safe handling and disposal of all biohazard materials through the use of gloves, laboratory coats and protective shields. In addition, students are trained in the safe use and disposal of chemical agents, and the safe use of equipment commonly used in the clinical laboratory.
Will I Be Required To Take The Hepatitis B Vaccine Series?
Yes. The Hepatitis B vaccine series is required for all persons who will, or who are likely to, have contact with blood and body fluids. By completing the three shot series, students are able to build up antibodies against the Hepatitis B virus, and as a result, will be immune to the virus if they should be exposed to it. Students will not be permitted to begin their practicum rotations until they have completed the three shot series. Declining to take the full three shot series, for whatever reason, is not an option. This immunization series is for the student’s protection!
Are Jobs Available For Medical Laboratory Technicians?
Although it is impossible to guarantee employment for all of our graduates, the current and future outlook for positions in the field of Medical Technology is excellent. Job opportunities are available in Amarillo as well as the surrounding area. The greater demand, however, is increasing in the rural and metropolitan areas in other parts of the United States. A survey conducted by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science indicates that out of 3,623 laboratories, 92% were currently having serious difficulty in filling new and vacant positions with qualified personnel.
In another study, it has been projected that, given the present circumstances, the shortage of qualified Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists will reach the critical level of approximately 53% between the years 2008 and 2015!
What Type Of Job Opportunities Are Available For Medical Laboratory Technicians?
Medical Laboratory Technicians may be employed in a variety of settings including hospital laboratories, physician's office laboratories, research laboratories, public health offices, pharmaceutical companies, criminal investigation agencies and veterinary reference laboratories.
What Kind Of Salary Can I Expect To Earn As A Medical Laboratory Technician?
The salaries for Medical Laboratory Technicians are competitive with other health care professionals with similar educational credentials. Salaries will vary according to the supply and demand of the area, but will average $13.50 to $17.00 per hour for new graduates. Salary increases usually follow the successful completion of a national Board of Registry examination, and subsequent certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician/Clinical Laboratory Technician.
How Can I Prepare For A Career In Medical Technology?
The Medical Laboratory Technology program at Amarillo College accepts up to 20 new students each year, and provides the necessary training to be eligible to write the national examination for certification for Medical Laboratory Technicians. This program is 24 months long, and requires the successful completion of 72 semester hours of college level courses, after which the student is awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree.
How Much Does It Cost To Complete This Program?
This is a very complex question. The total and semester-to-semester costs of the program will vary from student-to-student depending on:
- The residency status of the student
- The number of semester hours and accepted, transferable course hours already taken by the student
- The number and order of general education courses that the student chooses to take in a given semester
- The cost of books required/recommended for a given course.
- Fees assessed for any online courses taken
Students are strongly advised to consult the current Amarillo College General Catalog to determine the general tuition and fees, laboratory fees, special supply and equipment fees, and also to contact the bookstore on their home campus, each semester, to determine their final costs.
Will I Have To Have A Criminal Background Check?
Yes. A criminal background check for ALL students majoring in any allied health or nursing profession in any U.S. college, is required. This criminal background check is mandated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO) and is based on JCAHO Standard H.R. 1.20.
If a student is concerned that they may not “pass” the background check to meet the JCAHO Standard H.R. 1.20, they may wish to consult with a private attorney prior to submission of their application for program admission.
Will I Have To Go Out Of Town For My Clinical/Practicum Rotations?
Yes. ALL students should be prepared to serve one to two practicum/clinical rotations at an out-of-town site, however all rotations are scheduled within driving distance to our campus therefore students can commute to their facilities each day. It is the responsibility of the student to make personal arrangements for transportation, child care, etc... when assigned to an out-of-town rotation.
Do I Need to Have All of My "Basics" Out of the Way Before Applying to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program?
No. The curriculum for the Medical Laboratory Technology Program includes all courses, including the “basics”, that are required for completing the Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree. Some students choose to complete their general education courses prior to entering the program, in order to reduce their academic workload each semester. This choice, however, results in the student having to attend additional semesters, beyond the six semesters required by the program. In addition, part of the process for selecting students each year is based on a point system, whereby students receive points for courses completed prior to enrolling in the program