Medical Laboratory Technician
About the Program
Medical laboratory Technicians (MLT), also known as Clinical Laboratory Technicians, play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients.
AWARD TYPES: Associate of Applied Science
AREA OF STUDY: Health Sciences
Degrees and Certificates
Learn more about the Degrees and Certificates offered by this program by visiting the HCC Catalog.
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Student Testimonial
HCC Coleman College continues to transform the lives of countless students every day. Learn more about Minodora Iordache, Medical Laboratory Technician, Class of 2024, and get inspired to start your own rewarding career in healthcare!
Program Information
A Career in Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Laboratory Technicians perform complex testing on body fluids using sophisticated instruments to detect diseases and monitor treatment. Approximately 75% of medical decisions, diagnosis, treatment and evaluations, are based on the interpretations of laboratory test results. Medical laboratory technicians might isolate and identify infectious organisms that cause disease, cross-match blood to be used in a transfusion, detect Diabetes or identify the abnormal blood cells that are associated with Leukemia.
Today's Medical Laboratory Technician is employed in many diverse medical settings ranging from hospital, reference, research, forensic, or physicians' office laboratories. Other employment opportunities include working in medical businesses such as medical instrument technicians or medical supply industries. In addition, a graduate using the Associate degree could further their education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science degree in as little as 18 months and then work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Some Bachelor Degree Programs can be completed on-line.
Employment opportunities are excellent in the Houston area, Gulf Coast areas, and across the United States.
Accreditation Information
The MLT Program is accredited with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018. Their phone number is (773) 714-8880.
Licensure/Certification Exam Results
The Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician program graduates licensures/certifications are issued by the nationally recognized American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).
2022-2023 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results
Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by academic calendar year (Sept. 1–Aug. 31). Results for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years are provided for comparison.
|
/ Aligned Award |
Agency Standard |
HCC Standard |
2020-2021 Pass Rate (# Passed) |
2021-2022 Pass Rate (# Passed) |
2022-2023 Pass Rate (# Passed) |
2022–2023 Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Medical Laboratory Technician AAS |
75% |
75% |
100% (9) | 100% (8) | 100% (11) |
Exceeds Expectation |
Graduates & Retention
| Outcomes Measures | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rates | 93% | 100% | 78% | 100% |
| Placement Rates | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Employment
There are 2,683 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 17.3% over the next four years.
- The estimated annual job openings is 207 jobs a year.
- Median Wages - $40,000 annually
Texas Education Association (TEA) Industry Based Certification Resource
| Certification Name | TEA Resource Link | Third-Party Certification Agency | Third-Party Certification Agency Website |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician |
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/ |
American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP | www.ascp.org |
Marketable Skills
Learn more about the marketable skills—skills valued by employers that can be applied in variety of work settings—so you can communicate these to potential employers. Click on the relevant award title below to see descriptions of marketable skills for that area.
Career Opportunities
Explore real-time labor market data on occupations you may pursue post-graduation, offering insight into career opportunities, potential earnings, and job demand in the Greater Houston region.
For more in-depth information about this career and other career pathways, visit Career Coach.
Medical Laboratory Technician Information Session
Learn more about the Medical Laboratory Technician by completing an online information session.
The online information session is a mandatory requirement of the admission process.
Start an online Info sessionResources
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Karlien Tebbetts
Medical Laboratory Technician