Is a Career in Medical Laboratory Technology for you?

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Is a Career in Medical Laboratory Technology for
you?

• Here are some answers to your questions!

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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.

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• What are the steps to enrollment?

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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

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• Can I get a job after I graduate from this
  program?

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• Medical Laboratory Technologist Works in
  hospital labs, reference labs, doctors offices,
  veterinary offices, industrial and environmental
  labs

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• 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

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• Currently there is a shortage of MLTs.
• The majority of York Technical College graduates
  are employed within three months of graduation.

Eduction
Dr. O
?
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• What salary will I make after completing this
  program?
• The average entry level salary range is 26,000
  to 32,000/year. Earning potential is higher for
  2nd 3rd shift work.

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

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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

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• How time-consuming is this program?

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• MLT courses are intense and require adequate,
  ongoing study time. During the senior year,
  students are in clinical rotations 32 hours per
  week 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 per week.

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• How much studying will I need to do?
• Each students 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.

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• How stressful is the clinical environment?

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• 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.

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• What types of patients and diseases may I
  encounter?

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• 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.

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

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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 clinics, industry and veterinary labs.

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

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Skills Needed in MLT

• Responsible/reliable
• Flexible/adaptable
• Good communication skills
• Like working with people and equipment
• Strong interest in science

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• Make An Informed and Realistic Choice

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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

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Make an INFORMED and REALISTIC CHOICE

• The grading scale for the Medical Laboratory
  Technology program for both coursework and
  clinicals
• 93-100, A 85-92, B 80-84, C 75-79, D
  Below 75, F.
• Students MUST maintain a MINIMUM grade point
  average of 80 in all Surgical Technology
  coursework in order to remain in the program.
• A minimum of 80 is required in all clinical
  coursework. Below 80 is considered unacceptable
  clinical performance.

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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.

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• What are the expenses for the program?

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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

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

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• 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 MTs take on
  supervisory or management roles.

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• 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.

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Can You Picture Yourself in a Career in
Medical Laboratory Technology?
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• If so, you may have additional questions.
• Please feel free to contact
• Lynne Fantry- Program Manager at 981-7082
• OR
• Michelle Gagan-
• Clinical Coordinator at 981-7118