Medical Lab Technology Degree | North Hennepin C.C.

The North Hennepin Community College Associate of Applied Science Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program is designed to prepare students for a career in the medical laboratory. Medical Laboratory Technology is a rewarding, dynamic, and in-demand career with many opportunities for growth. By performing testing on blood and body fluids using highly specialized skills and complex instrumentation, MLTs provide information that is vital to both diagnosing and treating disease. In fact, over 70% of all health care decisions are made based on laboratory results.

Quick Facts

Overview

Through NHCC's MLT program, students will gain both knowledge and hands-on experience, making them highly desirable employees. Coursework includes theory in phlebotomy, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and immunohematology. Practical experience will be gained in student laboratories at NHCC and through a 19-week clinical experience during the program's final semester. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Exam.

Delivery Method: In-person, Hybrid

Important Links

MLT Program Application

MLT Course Sequence - Full Time

MLT Course Sequence - Part Time

2017-18 MLT Student Policy Manual

TEAS Testing Information

Time to Complete

The Medical Laboratory Technology AAS degree program can be completed in four semesters. Transferring credits into NHCC may result in the program taking less time. Taking classes on a part-time basis will require additional semesters.

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Costs

Tuition & Fees:
$221.51 per credit (60 credits)

Tuition Details

What You Will Learn

• Develop entry-level medical laboratory technology skills in a clinical setting.

• Gain the theoretical knowledge and technical skills needed for performing clinical laboratory procedures.

• Gain interpersonal and written communication skills needed for professional settings.

• Develop competence in the theoretical knowledge necessary to prepare for the national certification examination of the profession.

• Develop awareness of the role and responsibilities of the medical laboratory technician as a member of the health care team.

After NHCC

Complete your B.S. in Medical Lab Science through St. Cloud State University at NHCC. NHCC's MLT program is designed to transfer seamlessly to the Medical Laboratory Science B.S. degree at Saint Cloud State University. Upon successful completion of North Hennepin's MLT program, students may be eligible to transfer to the B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program through St. Cloud State University. MLS courses are offered right here at NHCC!

MLT to MLS Curriculum Map

NHCC's Medical Laboratory Technology program is very hands-on. Students learn through a mix of classroom and skills-based lab activities.

student holding a blood sample in a vile by a machine

four students working at a table in the medical lab technology lab

students working at a table in the medical lab technology lab

student sitting at table with microscope and laptop

students looking at microscopes in a lab

Career Outlook

The Medical Laboratory Technology AAS degree prepares graduates for an entry-level career in healthcare. Medical Lab Technicians (MLTs) are in-demand and play an essential role in hospital and clinic settings. MLTs perform routine laboratory tests to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. They may work under the supervision of a Medical Laboratory Technologist.

National Projected Job Growth Rate: 10.6% (2018-2028)

Median Hourly Wage in Minnesota: $27.51

Job Title Examples: Laboratory Technician, Non-Registered Technician, Cytotechnologist

Where NHCC Grads Work

Abbott Northwestern
Allina Health System
Beckman Coulter Inc.
DaVita Clinical Research
Fairview
Maple Grove Hospital
Health Partners
Medtronic
Park Nicollet

A medical lab technology degree can open up a lot of doors for you. Not only is this a fast-growing field, buts it's a well-paying one that allows you to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

10.6%

National Projected Job Growth Rate

$27.51

Median Hourly Wage in Minnesota

100%

Average Job Placement Rate 2018-2021

Learn more on Careerwise

NHCC's tuition is among the most affordable in Minnesota.

Graph showing the costs of various colleges with NHCC as the lowest cost

Financial Aid

Scholarships are money you don't have to repay
Grants are money you don't have to repay

Free College Tuition

The North Star Promise scholarship program provides free college tuition to eligible students. Find out if you might be eligible.

Earn a $2,500 Scholarship!

In addition to NHCC scholarships, the college will be awarding $2,500 Workforce Development Scholarships that encourage and reward students pursuing high-demand occupations. Medical Laboratory Technology is a high-demand field and Medical Laboratory Technology students are eligible to apply for a $2,500 Workforce Development Scholarship.

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Program Roadmaps

Program roadmaps provide students with a guide to understand the recommended course sequence to complete their degree.

Medical Laboratory Technology Curriculum

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Curriculum

Print Curriculum

General Education Courses
Course Code	Title	Course Outlines	Goal Areas	Credits
1 course from BIOL1001, BIOL1101
BIOL 1001	Biology I or	View-BIOL 1001	n/a	4
BIOL 1101	Principles of Biology I	View-BIOL 1101	n/a	4
BIOL 1120	Human Biology	View-BIOL 1120	n/a	3
CHEM 1061	Principles of Chemistry I	View-CHEM 1061	n/a	4
CHEM 1062	Principles of Chemistry II	View-CHEM 1062	n/a	4
COMM 1110	Principles of Interpersonal Communication	View-COMM 1110	n/a	3
College Writing I
ENGL 1200	Gateway College Writing or	View-ENGL 1200	n/a	4
ENGL 1201	College Writing I	View-ENGL 1201	n/a	4
MATH 1120	College Algebra or	View-MATH 1120	n/a	3
MATH 1150
PHIL 1020	Ethics	View-PHIL 1020	n/a	3

Program Courses - MLT Didactic Courses
Course Code	Title	Course Outlines	Goal Areas	Credits
MLT 1000	Clinical Laboratory Basics	View-MLT 1000	n/a	1
MLT 1100	Clinical Urinalysis/Body Fluids	View-MLT 1100	n/a	2
MLT 1200	Clinical Laboratory Instrumentation	View-MLT 1200	n/a	1
MLT 1250	Clinical Immunology	View-MLT 1250	n/a	2
MLT 2050	Clinical Hematology	View-MLT 2050	n/a	4
MLT 2080	Clinical Microbiology	View-MLT 2080	n/a	4
MLT 2100	Clinical Chemistry	View-MLT 2100	n/a	4
MLT 2150	Clinical Immunohematology	View-MLT 2150	n/a	3

Program Courses - MLT Clinical Courses
Course Code	Title	Course Outlines	Goal Areas	Credits
MLT 2310	Applied Phlebotomy	View-MLT 2310	n/a	1
MLT 2320	Applied Hematology	View-MLT 2320	n/a	2
MLT 2330	Applied Coagulation	View-MLT 2330	n/a	1
MLT 2340	Applied Urinalysis	View-MLT 2340	n/a	1
MLT 2350	Applied Microbiology	View-MLT 2350	n/a	2
MLT 2360	Applied Immunohematology	View-MLT 2360	n/a	2
MLT 2380	Applied Chemistry	View-MLT 2380	n/a	2

NHCC Residency and GPA
15 Credits must be earned at NHCC

Total Credits Required	60
Notes Day or evening option for MLT didactic courses. The program concludes with a clinical component that is only offered on the day shift.

Program Overview

2024-2025

The North Hennepin Community College Associate of Applied Science Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program is designed to prepare students for a career in the medical laboratory. Medical Laboratory Technology is a rewarding, dynamic, and in demand career with many opportunities for growth. By performing testing on blood and body fluids using highly specialized skills and complex instrumentation, MLTs information that is vital to both diagnosing and treating disease. In fact, over 70% of all health care decisions are made based on laboratory results.

Through NHCC's MLT program, students will gain both knowledge and hands-on experience, making them highly desirable employees. Coursework includes theory in phlebotomy, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and immunohematology. Practical experience will be gained in student laboratories at NHCC and through a 12 week clinical experience during the program's final semester. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Exam.

All on campus MLT specific courses are offered during daytime hours only. In the final semester, students are required to participate in clinical rotations, which will run Monday-Thursday for about eight hours each day or 32 hours a week for 12 weeks. Admission into the MLT program requires a separate application and entrance exam. The selection process is competitive, and the college may not be able to accept all applicants that meet the minimum standards. The MLT application deadline is March 1st for the fall semester start.

The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology is designed to articulate to: Saint Cloud State University B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science degree

Completion of current Minnesota Human Services Background Check including fingerprints. If an applicant has been arrested, charged, or convicted of any criminal offense, he or she should investigate the impact that the charge or conviction may have on his or her chances of employment and the students chances to obtain federal, state, and other higher education financial aid (by Minnesota Statute 135A. 157). If the applicant refuses, or is disqualified because of the background study, the applicant will be unable to successfully complete the requirements of the program.

Program Outcomes

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World:

Develop entry level medical laboratory technology skills in a clinical setting to prepare them for the workplace.

Intellectual and Practical Skills:

Develop and demonstrate professionalism and concern for the customer.
Develop competence in the theoretical knowledge and technical skills necessary for proficient performance of clinical laboratory procedures.
Utilize effective interpersonal communication skills with customers and coworkers.
Utilize effective written communication skills appropriate for the professional setting.
Develop competence in the theoretical knowledge necessary to prepare for the national certification examination of the profession.

Personal and Social Responsibility and Engagement:

Value participation in continuous professional development.
Develop awareness of the role and responsibilities of the medical laboratory technician as a member of the health care team.

Integrative and Applied Learning:

Apply critical thinking skills to correlating laboratory findings and common disease processes.
Apply critical thinking skills to learning new techniques and procedures.

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination.

Upon successful completion of the program, students may be eligible to transfer to the B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science program at St. Cloud State University.

NAACLS requires accredited programs to meet the following program outcomes:

70% Graduation Rate (This is calculated based on students who began and completed the second half of the program.)

75% Board of Certification Pass Rate (This is calculated based on students who completed their exam within 1 year of graduation.)

70% Job Placement Rate (This is based on graduates that either entered the field or continued with higher education in the field.)

MLT outcomes for our program at NHCC are listed below. The BOC pass rates, and job placement rates, reflect students that graduated during the specified period of time:

	7/1/20 – 6/30/21	7/1/21 – 6/30/22	7/1/22 – 6/30/23	Average
Graduation Rates	100%	90%	100%	97%
Board of Certification pass rates	87%	100%	100%	94%
Job placement rates	100%	100%	100%	100%

Career Opportunities

Information on careers, including career descriptions, salary data, and employment outlook is available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and O*Net Online website.

Transfer Information

If you are planning on transferring to another institution, follow the guidelines available on our transfer resources web page to help you plan the process: Transfer Information

Degree Information

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is intended for those students who plan to use the competence gained through their degree for immediate employment or enhancing current career skills. The A.A.S. degree includes a minimum of 20 semester credits in general education selected from at least three of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). The MnTC courses within the A.A.S. programs transfer to any Minnesota State College or University. Many of the A.A.S. degree programs have articulation agreements with four year institutions for transfer of the program.

A student shall:

Earn a minimum of 6071 semester credits as required in the program with a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above in courses taken at North Hennepin Community College. Specific programs may have additional requirements or a higher minimum grade point average.
Earn a minimum of 15 semester credits at North Hennepin Community College.
Earn 20 credits in at least 3 MnTC goal areas

Completion of an A.A.S. degree fulfills the Goal Area 2 requirement of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).

Developmental Courses
Some students may need preparatory course(s) in Math and/or English. Courses numbered below 1000 will not apply toward a degree.

Equal Opportunity Employer and Disability Access Information
North Hennepin Community College is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and an equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 7634930555 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 18006273529.

Accreditation

North Hennepin Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
1-800-621-7440

Program Accreditation

This program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS):

NAACLS
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemount, IL 60018-5119
Telephone: 773-714-8880
Fax: 773-714-8886

E-mail: info@naacls.org
Website: www.naacls.org

Print Curriculum

Program Details

All on campus MLT courses are offered in both day and evening formats. However, in the final semester students are required to participate in clinical rotations, which are only offered during the day Monday-Friday. Admission into the MLT Program requires a separate application and entrance exam. The selection process is competitive, and the college may not be able to accept all applicants that meet the minimum standards. MLT application deadline is March 1st for the fall semester start.

The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology is designed to articulate to:

Saint Cloud State University B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science degree

Background Check

Completion of current Minnesota Human Services Background Check including fingerprints. If an applicant has been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense, he or she should investigate the impact that the charge or conviction may have on his or her chances of employment and the chances to obtain federal, state and other higher education financial aid ( by Minnesota Statute 135A. 157). If the applicant refuses, or is disqualified as a result of the background study, the applicant will be unable to successfully complete the requirements of the program.