Oakton Community College Medical Laboratory Technology

Welcome to the Medical Laboratory Technology program Web site.

Chair: Lynne L. Steele, 847.635.1889 or lynne@oakton.edu

The goal of the Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum is to provide a broad science background and courses in both theoretical and practical aspects of medical technology. Medical laboratory technicians work to determine the presence, extent or absence of disease and provide data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices and commercial laboratories. Course offerings include laboratory techniques, principles and physiological significance of tests on all types of body tissues and fluids, from urine and blood to cell samples, and hands-on experience on a wide variety of specialized, high-precision instruments, including centrifuges, electronic counters, automatic analyzers and computers.

During the second year of this curriculum, students are required to spend 864 hours in an assigned hospital laboratory. Part of the practical experience may extend into vacation time and/or school holidays. Students are required to provide uniforms and health insurance.

Students must receive a minimum grade of C in all MLT and science courses.
Health Career curricula are governed by specific objectives, rules and regulations formulated by the College, accrediting bodies and participating clinical facilities. Students should familiarize themselves with these standards. Students should also be aware that failure to maintain satisfactory progress in technical courses may significantly delay completion of the curriculum or may result in the student being dropped from the curriculum. Each student’s right to participation in the clinical portion of the curriculum is also contingent upon compliance with the rules of the clinical facility. The clinical facility has sole discretion to determine when its rules have been violated.

Clinical placements may require a health assessment, certain immunizations, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. The requirements represent an additional program cost to the student.

The graduate is eligible to take the certification examination administered by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and become a certified MLT. Graduates are also eligible to take the certification examination administered by the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and become certified Clinical Laboratory Technicians (CLT). The MLT Curriculum is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, IL 60631, 773-714-8880.

This is a limited admission curriculum. It is strongly recommended that students attend an Information Session prior to applying.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Medical Laboratory Technology Program is to graduate skilled, knowledgeable, and culturally sensitive professionals eligible to take a national MLT certification examination and who will enrich our community as excellent laboratory employees.