Medical Lab Technology (AAS)
Medical lab technicians are in high demand. Prepare for this rewarding career with USF’s hybrid medical lab technology program.
Why Study Medical Lab Technology?
Medical lab technicians are vital: their work directly contributes to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and medical conditions. You’ll find them on the front lines of patient care, collecting, preparing and analyzing samples — giving healthcare providers what they need to make important decisions. This field is in high demand and pays well.
Many healthcare employers prefer to hire certified medical lab technicians (MLT). USF provides a 2-year, NAACLS-accredited program, designed to prepare you for the American Society of Clinical Pathology certification exam. Upon graduation, you will not only be eligible to sit for the exam, but you will have acquired the skills and knowledge to feel confident in the workforce.
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Request InformationCareer Outlook & Success
100%
employment rate for USF medical lab technology graduates (2020)
#8
best healthcare support job in 2021 (U.S. News & World Report)
$54,180
median national annual salary for clinical technologists and technicians in 2020 (BLS.gov)
Why USF for Medical Lab Technology?
Our lab programs get results.
It’s clear why 100% of USF med lab tech graduates find employment in their chosen field. Led by an expert, service-driven faculty, our accredited MLT program gives you a strong foundation in science, hands-on lab experience and academic and career support along the way. Renowned for its values-based healthcare education, USF not only prepares you to do your job well but to do it with care and compassion.
Hands-On Learning: Real-World Clinical Experience
Along with your foundational courses, you’ll learn your way around a lab, how to use the equipment, and practice techniques. Your path toward MLT certification culminates with hands-on training in a variety of real-world lab settings. Our medical lab tech students complete their rotations at sites such as Alverno Core Laboratories and Franciscan Health locations in:
- Crown Point
- Dyer
- Michigan City
I work as a lab assistant and heard about this program as a way to advance my career. I love what it teaches: not just how to work in a lab, but how to be an important part of patient care by doing lab work that helps analyze, diagnose, and treat the patient.
Stephanie Moreno ’18
Medical Laboratory Technician
What You Can Do With a Degree in Medical Lab Technology?
Graduates of a medical laboratory technician program can find positions in a range of healthcare facilities, from hospitals and outpatient care centers to blood banks and independent labs.
Many MLTs work as generalists, especially at first. As you gain experience, you might discover an area you particularly enjoy and choose to specialize: immunology, hematology or microbiology, for instance.
Opportunities for Career Advancement
With continued demand for qualified lab workers, there’s considerable room for growth techs with MLT certification. As you gain experience and additional credentials, you could be eligible for specialized lab roles or even supervisory positions.
For many, the associate degree is a stepping stone. Our accredited MLT program is excellent preparation for a related bachelor’s degree.
Have Questions?
If you have questions about the Medical Laboratory Technician program or would like to request a copy of the MLT student handbook, please contact Julie Gardner, program director, at [email protected] or 219-488-8888 ext. 5445.
Accreditation and Outcomes
The MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Program Outcomes
Graduate Placement Rate
The graduate placement rate is calculated based on a 3-year average of the number of graduates who gained employment or continued their education, within 1 year of graduation.
- USF Placement Rate for 2021, 2022 and 2023 graduates: 100%
Benchmark: 70%
Graduation Rate
The graduation rate is calculated based on a 3-year average of students who complete the second half of the MLT program. The second half is defined as the last clinical year which begins in the fall with clinical didactic classes.
USF Graduate rate for 2021, 2022 and 2023 graduates: 86%
Benchmark: 70%
Attrition Rate
The attrition rate is calculated based on a 3-year average of students who began the second half of the MLT program, but who did not complete the program. The second half is defined as the last clinical year which begins in the fall with clinical didactic classes.
- USF Attrition Rate for 2021, 2022 and 2023 graduates: 14%
ASCP BOC Certification Pass Rates
The pass rate for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification exam is calculated on a 3-year average based on the results of graduates who take the exam within 1 year of graduation.
- USF Pass rate for 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduates: 78% (Data is still pending for August 2023)
- Benchmark: 75%
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