The program prepares the laboratory technician to perform laboratory procedures at a medical treatment facility (MTF) under the supervision of a qualified laboratory technician/technologist. The instructional design of this program’s courses is group-lock step. This is a consolidated program with two military services that has a two phase, field of study schedule. Resident training is first conducted at the METC and then the student transitions to clinical training that is conducted at military and/or civilian MTF.
Upon initial entry to METC, students are provided formal education and training that develops them into entry-level Medical Laboratory Specialists/Technicians within fixed and deployable medical facilities.
Students will learn the medical laboratory mission and scope of practice. Training includes the study of: clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology, urinalysis, blood donor center operations, specimen collection and processing, and laboratory operations/management.
Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to: lecture, demonstration, online materials, simulations, laboratory practice, and practical exercises. The MLT program provides graduates with knowledge and technical skills required to achieve medical laboratory technician entry-level competencies, and meets basic requirements of the DoD Clinical Laboratory Improvement Program (CLIP). Quality assurance and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the program.
Clinical training provides students with clinical knowledge and hands-on experiential training which consists of clinical practicum in a MTF. The program prepares the student to exercise judgment and accept responsibility in performing clinical laboratory procedures in the care of patients.
The training may include, but is not limited to: the application of specimen collection, clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology and coagulation, immunohematology, urinalysis, and immunology/serology in a medical laboratory setting, using the areas of practice of medical laboratory department technicians at MTFs.
Proficiency advancement in clinical applications is determined by the program director and clinical advisor/coordinator on a case-by-case basis.
Program Requirements:
Army: Applicants must meet the prerequisites listed in
AR 614-200 and
ATRRS: https://www.atrrs.army.mil/
Navy: Personnel must meet all prerequisites listed in the
Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC): https://www.navy.mil/
Accreditation Agency:
The Medical Laboratory Apprentice program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
(WWW.NAACLS.ORG).
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Telephone: 773-714-8880
FAX: 773 -714-8886
https://www.naacls.org/
Credentialing Information:
Graduates are eligible to take the credentialing examination for Medical Laboratory Technician certification through the American Society of Clinical Pathology (
WWW.ASCP.ORG) Board of Certification. The Medical Laboratory Technician program is granted college credit from the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS).