Medical Laboratory Technician Associate Degree Program
Program Type
Associate Degree
Delivery Method
On Campus
Course Length
Approximately
19 months
Program Objective
A medical laboratory technician is a medical professional who performs tests that help physicians and nurses diagnose, monitor, prevent and treat diseases. This role is integral to healthcare teams.
The day-to-day responsibilities of medical laboratory technicians will vary but common tasks include operating automated equipment and computerized instruments for analyzing clinical specimens such as blood, bodily fluids and tissue. Technicians are also responsible for determining normal or abnormal findings and sharing results with physicians, as well as logging medical data into a patient’s record.
Students in the Medical Laboratory Technician program will study the fundamentals of testing various bodily fluids including blood, urine, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and more. Classes also focus on important safety practices, such as OSHA standards and personal protective equipment.
This program, taught by experienced instructors, relies heavily on hands-on training so students have many opportunities to practice analyzing bodily fluids and operate sophisticated laboratory equipment, such as microscopes and cell counters. Students will also learn how to study blood samples for transfusions, specifically identifying the number of cells, the cell morphology, blood groups, blood type and compatibility with other blood types.
Graduates of the program from this school are qualified to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) board certification exam.
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Careers for Medical Laboratory Technicians
What Are My Career Opportunities as a Medical Laboratory Technician?
What Are My Career Opportunities as a Medical Laboratory Technician?
This associate degree program will prepare graduates to apply their skills in a variety of environments, such as:
- Hospitals
- Physicians’ offices
- Urgent care facilities
- Health department labs
- Drug screen labs
- Research labs
- Independent labs
Job Outlook
Job Outlook
An increase in the aging population is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations.
When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.
Clinical Externships
At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.
In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.
Program Outline
Learn more about the courses in this program.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Semester l
Semester lI
Semester III
Semester IV
Semester V
Interested In Starting This Program?
Find out more about our Admissions Requirements or view our How to Apply page.
Success Is Within Reach
We are truly invested in making sure our students succeed.
“Even though the obstacles were great, my family and my instructors made the transition and process smooth and efficient. The MLT program instructors, program director and administrative staff were always available to help with whatever I needed. During my externship, I was hired as a quality specialist for a microbiology department with Infinity Laboratories. I’ve since decided I want more and am hoping to be accepted into a physician assistant program in the near future.”
Sheila Kirkpatrick, Medical Laboratory Technician Graduate
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Disclosures And Accreditations
State Licensure Determination Disclosure
The Medical Laboratory Technician program is offered via on-ground and hybrid delivery methods. The program is available to residents of Colorado. The state of Colorado does not require licensure or credentialing to obtain employment as a medical laboratory technician. While there may be online components, completion of this program requires on-ground attendance at the Colorado Springs campus and cannot be completed solely via distance education. Prospective students and enrolled students should understand that moving out of Colorado may adversely impact a student’s ability to complete the program. If a student is planning to relocate outside of Colorado he or she is required to discuss this with the Student Services Coordinator and/or Program Director.
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43 Pima Medical Institute has made a reasonable effort to determine graduate eligibility for licensure in all states for programs designed and advertised as leading to licensure. The document below lists Pima Medical Institute programs and states where the curriculum meets licensure requirements, states where the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements, and states in which Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the curriculum meets state licensure requirements. All consumers should be advised that due to the frequent changes to state statutes, rules, and regulations Pima Medical Institute cannot guarantee licensure based on the lists below.
State Licensure Determination Disclosure – Associate Degree
Contact information for state licensing boards in which Pima Medical Institute has determined the program does not meet state licensure requirements or where Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the program meets state licensure requirements can be found below.