Medical Laboratory Technology

(Jackson County Campus)

Fall Entry

The Medical Laboratory Technology program prepares individuals to work in a medical laboratory under the supervision of a medical laboratory scientist or pathologist and/or other physicians. Included are routine laboratory procedures and tasks in the areas of hematology, bacteriology, immunohematology, chemistry, parasitology, immunology, and urinalysis.

This program is twenty-two months duration and is offered in affiliation with local hospitals. The clinical laboratories are recognized as extended campuses of the college. Students successfully completing this program are prepared for employment in hospitals, medical laboratories, clinics, and industry as Medical Laboratory Technicians.

Graduates of this program will be awarded Associates of Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology and are eligible to sit for national certification examinations. The MGCCC MLT program’s American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) pass rate and other Program Outcome Measures can be found on the program web page.

The college is assisted and advised by a Medical Laboratory Technology Advisory Committee composed of pathologists, medical laboratory scientists and technicians, college administrators and instructors. The Medical Laboratory Technology - Associate Degree Program is nationally accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). 5600 N. River Road Suite 720 Rosemont, IL. (773) 714-8880. Website: www.naacls.org

The MLT curriculum program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College also includes a 30-hour technical certificate option. Graduates who successfully earn the technical certificate may qualify to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMLA) exam offered by the American Medical Technologist (AMT). Medical Lab Support Assistants play an essential role in healthcare. Assisting other medical laboratory professionals, they are responsible for sampling, testing, measuring, recording, and analyzing specimens in cooperation with the rest of the hospitals, clinics, corporate laboratories and other medical testing facilities. This certificate emphasizes laboratory entry-level skills to include safety standards, infection control, quality assurance, and healthcare communication.

Program Goals

The goals of the Medical Laboratory Technology program include;

1. Provide the graduate with skills and knowledge to function as a laboratory technician in a variety of health care settings, performing competent laboratory testing, using standard precautions, and following quality control procedures.
2. Prepare graduates to successfully pass the Medical Laboratory Technology certifying examinations and become nationally registered.

Admission Procedure

• Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Application can be completed online.
• Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits.
• Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
• After successful completion and submission of ALL academic and entry requirements (See section below), the student is eligible to complete the Medical Laboratory Technology Supplemental Application for Program Admission.                                                       

Fall Semester Application Submission:

Between April 15th and July 1 complete and submit the online Supplemental Application.                                           

To complete and submit the online Supplemental Application:

1. Visit Web Services
2. Select Student
3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application.                      

Thereafter, the applicant MUST read the guidelines carefully.  In order to complete and submit the application, college admission and ALL pre-requisite requirements are required.

Academic and Entry Requirements

• Achieve a minimum Accuplacer English Placement score (Traditional Exam = 175; Next Generation Exam = 502)
• Achieve a minimum Accuplacer Math Placement score (Traditional Exam = 53; Next Generation Exam = 231)
• Review the online mandatory Pre-School of Nursing and Health Professions Orientation Session prior to completing the supplemental application for program ranking.  The session can be viewed anytime and anywhere you have access to the internet.  The Power Point presentation gives you valuable information on topics common to all School of Nursing and Health Professions programs at MGCCC.   Even without the ability to speak directly or interact immediately with a School of Nursing and Health Professions advisor, the session speaks to frequently asked questions from program entrance to completion.  In order to receive credit for viewing the session, follow the steps below.  The information is approximately one (1) hour in length.                                                              

To complete this requirement do the following:

1. Visit Web Services
2. Select Student
3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application Orientation Session.                                                                                      
4. In order to receive credit, you must review the entire session.
5. Click survey complete so that your log-in information will be recorded in the college’s BANNER system.    

• Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All students making application to a School of Nursing and Health Professions program at MGCCC are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police Department at HC, JC, GC, or Perkinston Campus.  The criminal background check policy (including testing dates and times) can be viewed at School of Nursing and Health Professions Criminal Background Check Policy .
•  Have a minimum cumulative (GPA) of 2.5 on college work with no grade less than “C” on any Academic Core* courses in the current MLT curriculum. (Courses may be re-taken and highest score will be used)
• Complete pre-requisite courses Anatomy & Physiology I and College Algebra prior to making application.
  
  *Academic Core courses include: ENG 1113, PSY 1513, MAT 1313, BIO 2514, CHE 1214 or 1314, SPT 1113, and Humanities/Fine Art Elective

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the MLT program is based on a point system. Students are awarded points for their required ACCUPLACER, and given extra points based on the grade earned for successful completion of any other college credit courses which could be used to complete degree requirements. Bonus points are also awarded to those individuals who currently hold documented ASCP Certification in Phlebotomy and/or have already earned a bachelors or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Program enrollment is a floating number which can fluctuate each year based on availability of clinical rotation slots. Students who are selected are also held to the following program policies.

MLT Program Policies

• All students are required to submit to substance testing in accordance with the substance testing policy and procedures for the School of Nursing and Health Professions. The testing policy can be viewed by clicking here:  School of Nursing and Health Professions Substance Testing Policy .
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions requires proof of Immunizations and/or CPR. Submission of all required documents will begin following program acceptance. Failure to meet the requirements will result in withdrawal/dismissal.
• Upon admission to the Medical Laboratory Technology program, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPAA training, CPR certification)
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions Student Manual can be viewed here  

MLT program – Cost List (Estimate only)

Prior to Entering Program

• Criminal Background Check $65 - $80 (MGCCC Campus Police)

Once Admitted into Program

• General MGCCC Tuition and Fees
• Career and Technical Program Fee $40 per credit hour
• Pre-admission Physical Exam, Immunizations and ImmuniTrax $200 - $300                                              
• Books: Resource fees (books) $15 per credit hour for eBooks, Purchased books $500                                                                 
• Substance Testing $29 -$35 per semester                           
• Liability Insurance $12 -$15 per semester
• Additional purchase items, supplies $50 - $100                    
• Uniform, Accessories $200 - $300
• Trajecsys Report System - $100
• National Board Exam Application Fee $225 - $300

Cost may be subject to change