Medical Laboratory Technology

The MLT curriculum, which leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree, is an integrated program of technical courses in medical laboratory science, fundamental courses in natural science, and complementary humanities and social sciences.  A minimum grade of “C” is required in each medical laboratory science course.  The MLT program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.  Program graduates are eligible to apply to take the national certification examination for MLT.  Applicants should be aware violation of any federal, state, or local drug law or conviction of a crime may prohibit the student from entering a clinical agency to care for clients.  In addition, clinical facilities also may require a criminal background check and/or drug test as a condition of clinical practice in the respective facility.  Inability to complete the clinical course because of failure to meet these requirements will result in course failure.

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is also a resource for information regarding the program.  Individuals may contact NAACLS at: 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, Phone:  1-773.714.8880, Fax:  1-773.714.8886, Email:  info@naacls.org, Website:  http://www.naacls.org.

Admission

Students are admitted to the Helena-West Helena campus every year.  Application must be made to the MLT program. Students who wish to be considered for admission to the MLT program must meet the following criteria:

1. Fulfill all college admission requirements.
2. Be at least 18 years of age.
3. Submit official high school transcript documenting graduation from high school or official Arkansas High School Diploma/GED certificate and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges to the Registrar’s Office and MLT Program Director.
4. Document a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses taken at PCCUA.
5. Provide SAT, ACT, or NG ACCUPLACER scores taken within the last four (4) years that meet the minimum skill level in reading, math, and English or complete all required developmental courses prior to making application to the MLT program.
6. Submit completed application to the MLT Program on the Helena-West Helena campus.  The application must be received by the MLT Program Director on the Helena-West Helena campus by June 1st.
7. Students who speak English as a second language must also take the NG ACCUPLACER ESL Exam to prove proficiency in English.  The following scores are required in each category.
   • Listening: minimum score of 106
   • Reading: minimum score of 116
   • WritePlacer ESL: minimum score of 5
8. Rare exception to the admission policy may be made by the Faculty Committee.

All students who meet minimum criteria will be accepted unless the number of qualified applicants exceeds space available.  This means MEETING THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OR TAKING COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MLT DEGREE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO THE MLT PROGRAM.

When the number of qualified applicants exceeds space available, the selection process will be implemented, and admission will become competitive.

Applicants not selected for admission and/or applicants who elect not to enroll in the fall MLT class must repeat the application process that includes submitting a new application to the MLT program.

Selection Process

1. Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria:
   • For applicants with college credit, quality points earned on courses taken at all colleges previously attended or
   • For applicants with high school credits only, quality points earned in high school for all completed science and math courses
2. When two (2) or more applicants have an equal number of total points, applicants will be admitted according to the date and time the application was received in the Medical Laboratory Technology office on the Helena-West Helena campus.
3. Quality points for repeated courses will be determined by the most recent grade with three (3) quality points subtracted for each repetition.
4. Applicants initially not selected for admission will be placed on an alternate list in order of total quality points earned.  Spaces that become available before the first day of fall classes will be filled from the alternate list.

Enrollment Process

Before enrolling in the MLT program, the student must provide the following documents:

1. Completed Health Statement
2. Proof of immunization compliance
   • Current Td
   • Two (2) Varicella or positive titer
   • Two (2) MMR, if born after 1957 or positive titers
   • Initiation of Hepatitis B series or a positive titer
3. Proof of TB skin test within the last year
4. Signed Communicable Disease Statement
5. Current US Federal or State issued photo ID (driver’s license, military ID, passport)
6. Proof of liability insurance

After Enrollment

Proof of Influenza (flu) immunization is required by November 1st of the fall semester.

Policies for Progression for Students Admitted in the Medical Laboratory Technology Program 

1. Students in the MLT program must obtain permission from the Director of the MLT program to take required courses for transfer at another college, before enrolling in the course the student expects to transfer to PCCUA.
2. Once admitted to the Medical Laboratory Technology program, students should complete the required curricular pattern within 150%of the time (6 semesters).
3. Students must complete pre-requisites or corequisite general education courses before or with corequisite MLS/MLSC courses
4. A minimum grade of “C” is mandatory in all required MLS/MLSC courses and in the following general education courses:
   • BY 103/BIOL 10363, Intro to Anatomy
   • CY 104/CHEM 12104, Chemistry for Health Sciences:  An Introduction to Chemistry
   • BY 154/BIOL 24004, Anatomy & Physiology I
   • MS 123/MATH 11003, College Algebra
5. A minimum of 70% of tests in each MLS/MLSC course must be passed to successfully complete the course and progress to the next level.
6. Students admitted for the first time to the Medical Laboratory Technology program are allowed a maximum of one readmission to the Program. No required MLS/MLSC course may be repeated more than one time.
7. A grade of “C” or better is required in all repeated MLS/MLSC courses to progress to the next level or graduation.
8. MLS/MLSC courses older than three (3) years will not count toward meeting curricular requirements for graduation from the Medical Laboratory Technology program.
9. Science and math courses taken more than five (5) years before admission to the Medical Laboratory Technology program must be repeated.
10. Required MLS/MLSC courses must be taken in the sequence specified in the Medical Laboratory Technology curricular pattern. Failure in a MLS/MLSC course makes the student ineligible to progress until the course is successfully completed.
11. General education courses may be taken earlier than prescribed or as prescribed in the College Catalog.
12. MLS/MLSC courses with a clinical component may not be audited.
13. All MLT students are required to have a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card before enrolling in respective MLT courses. The card must remain current throughout enrollment in MLT courses. Certification expiring mid semester must be renewed before entry into the respective semester. Electronic certification or recertification is NOT accepted.
14. Students enrolled in the Medical Laboratory Technology program must be familiar with all policies in the current College Catalog, student handbooks, and posted on the PCCUA Web. The Student Handbook is available in the Registrar’s Office. The Medical Laboratory Technology program supplies the Medical Laboratory Technology Student Handbook upon enrollment and at the beginning of each academic year.