Is a Career in Medical Laboratory Technology for you?

1. Is a Career in Medical Laboratory Technology for you? Here are some answers to your questions!

2. What is a Medical Laboratory Technologist? • Lab Techs work with blood, urine, feces, spinal fluid and tissue and utilize complex instruments, microscopes and manual methods to perform lab tests: There is some patient contact through blood drawing.

3. What are the steps to enrollment?

4. PROCEDURES • Complete and submit a York Technical College Application • Take the placement test or submit SAT/ACT scores • Submit college transcripts (if applicable) • Meet with an Admissions Counselor • Be accepted to the Pre-Medical Lab Tech program • Work with your advisor each term • Meet requirements for program goal • Meet with an Admissions Counselor • Pay the $50.00 wait list fee • Pay the $100.00 deposit when seat is available • Maintain 2.0 GPR each semester • Fulfill entry criteria Physical Exam Criminal Background Check Health and liability insurance

5. Can I get a job after I graduate from this program?

6. Medical Laboratory Technologist – Works in hospital labs, reference labs, doctors’ offices, veterinary offices, industrial and environmental labs

7. Four major areas of study/employment • Blood Bank – blood transfusion preparation • Hematology – study blood cells, urine, clotting factors • Microbiology – works with bacteria, parasites, viruses • Chemistry- tests blood for multiple chemicals such as glucose, cholesterol, drugs of abuse, and many more substances

8. Eduction • Currently there is a shortage of MLTs. • The majority of York Technical College graduates are employed within three to six months of graduation. Dr. O ?

9. What salary will I make after completing this program? • The average entry level salary range is $26,000 to $38,000/year. Earning potential is higher for 2nd & 3rd shift work.

10. What types of work will I participate in? • Manual and automated testing of blood, body fluids, and tissuespecimens.

11. Things To Consider • Curriculum is rigorous – requires extensive reading, study time and good time management skills- takes 21 months to complete • Program runs concurrently – starts only once each fall; if you withdraw or fail an MLT course you have to reapply to be able to start over the next fall • Jobs are plentiful; entry level pay is $12.50 - $16.00/hr; 1st , 2nd and 3rd shift jobs – may work some holidays • Critical thinking required on the job • Stress level – medium to high • Must be a team player as well as able to work independently • Very interesting and rewarding field of study

12. How time-consuming is this program?

13. MLT courses are intense and require adequate, ongoing study time. During the senior year, students are in clinical rotations 24 hours per week (daytime hours M-F only) in addition to taking an online course. This schedule makes it difficult to work a full-time job while enrolled in the program. If a student must work, it is highly recommended that you work no more than 20 hours/wk

14. How much studying will I need to do? • Each student’s requirement for studying varies. Since there is so much information that is covered during each class session, it is advised that the student study 2 – 3 hours each night. Students who procrastinate and wait to study on the night before the test often find that they are not successful in this program.

15. How stressful is the clinical environment?

16. The program can be quite stressful. During the freshman year, material learned must be retained for the upcoming clinical year. In the clinical year, students are acquiring hands on skills to make the connection between theory and practice. Students must be willing to become motivated, independent learners and accept constructive criticism while in the clinical setting.

17. What types of patients and diseases may I encounter?

18. Medical Laboratory Technicians may be exposed to many different types of diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis. Students enrolled in the program are taught safety precautions for ways to protect themselves from contracting a disease.

19. Will I actually be required to touch patients? • Yes! MLT students go through a phlebotomy rotation where they draw blood from patients.

20. Will I see blood in the clinical setting? • Blood, urine, spinal fluid and feces are common specimens that Medical Laboratory Technicians work with in their clinical rotations.

21. Is there a great deal of physical work associated with this field? • Sitting, standing, and walking are common in each area of the lab. The student may occasionally be required to lift objects weighing from 5 to 20 lbs.

22. Are there a lot of assignments that must be completed on my own time? • There are online courses and computer assisted instruction (CAI) assignments in the MLT program that require time outside of class to complete.

23. Are there opportunities for advancement in my career? • MLTs may become supervisors in some institutions. The MLT degree can be used as a stepping stone toward a 4yr. degree. There are opportunities in hospitals, clinics, industry and veterinary labs.

24. What type of special skills do I need to possess in order to be a successful Medical Laboratory Technician?

25. Skills Needed in MLT • Responsible/reliable • Flexible/adaptable • Good communication skills • Like working with people and equipment • Strong interest in science

26. Make An Informed and Realistic Choice

27. Things to consider • Curriculum is rigorous – requires extensive reading, study time and good time management skills- takes 21 months to complete • Program runs concurrently – starts only once each fall; if you withdraw or fail an MLT course you have to reapply to be able to start over the next fall • Jobs are plentiful; entry level pay is $12.50 - $16.00/hr; 1st , 2nd and 3rd shift jobs – may work some holidays • Critical thinking required on the job • Stress level – medium to high • Must be a team player as well as able to work independently • Very interesting and rewarding field of study

28. Make an INFORMED and REALISTIC CHOICE • The grading scale for the Medical Laboratory Technology program for both coursework and clinicals: • 90-100, A; 80- 89, B; 70-79, C; 65-69, D; Below 65, F. • Students MUST maintain a MINIMUM grade point average of 2.0 to remain in the program. All MLT courses must be passed with a C or better (minimum score 70) • For the clinical rotations, the student must pass both the theory and clinical portions in order to pass

29. In other words… • Students who earn any grade below a C in any Medical Laboratory Technology course will not be eligible to continue. • It is very difficult for students to work more than 20 hours per week and be successful in this program.

30. What are the expenses for the program?

31. ESTIMATED Expenses • Tuition & fees for five semesters (in county) $8,740 • Textbooks $1200 • Uniforms $200 • Liability Insurance $15 • Health Insurance $944 -$1370 (if purchased through York Technical College) • Physical Exam $125 • TB Testing $45 • Recommended Hepatitis Vaccine $240 • Criminal Background Check $50 • Drug Screen $10 • CPR Certification $50 • SCSCLS Student Membership $50 • Certification Exam Fee $125

32. What will I be called when I complete the program? • Graduates are called MLTs. Once the national test (American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification) is passed, the MLT is referred to as MLT(ASCP), American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

33. What is the difference between a MLT and a MT? • A MLT has an associate degree (2 yr degree) and an MT possesses a 4 yr degree. MLTs do the majority of lab testing while MT’s take on supervisory or management roles.

34. Will I be required to complete additional training once I become certified? • Continuing education in the form of workshops, classes, etc. is the norm for MLTs and is required to maintain certification.

35. Can You Picture Yourself in a Career in Medical Laboratory Technology?

36. If so, you may have additional questions. • Please feel free to contact: • Lynne Fantry- Program Manager at 981-7082 (lfantry@yorktech.edu) • OR • Michelle Gagan- • Clinical Coordinator at 981-7118 (mgagan@yorktech.edu