Medical Laboratory Technician

To learn more, visit: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/medical-laboratory-technician/

Program Number: 10-513-1
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Campus: Fond du Lac
This program is eligible for financial aid
Full-Time Enrollment Only

Earn a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) associate degree at Moraine Park and start your career as a MLT in less than two years.

About the Program

Moraine Park’s Medical Laboratory Technician program prepares students for entry-level laboratory work performing tests on tissue, blood and other body fluids to help doctors diagnose illnesses, make medical decisions and plan treatment options.

In the Medical Lab Technician program, students gain hands-on experience performing routine clinical lab tests, such as hematology (blood tests), clinical chemistry (often used to determine a patient’s general health), microbiology (used to identify infections), coagulation, molecular and other diagnostic techniques.

The program is accredited by:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 773-714-8880

Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the National Board of Certification Exam through the ASCP.

What You’ll Learn

Through a combination of hands-on coursework and a clinical site placement, medical lab technician students learn laboratory safety, practice collecting and processing biological specimens, monitor and evaluate quality control in the laboratory, correlate lab tests to a diagnosis of a condition or disease and more.

Transfer Opportunities

Your academic journey can continue at a four-year college or university. Earn your associate degree at Moraine Park and then apply those credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Starting at MPTC makes completing a bachelor’s degree affordableaccessible and convenient. You can go anywhere as MPTC has transfer agreements with colleges and universities both in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

Visit the Transfer to a Four-Year College page for more information on credit transfer agreements between Moraine Park and four-year colleges, both public and private.
 

Additional Information

State Certification Disclosure: Moraine Park’s Medical Laboratory Technician program prepares students to obtain the educational requirements for licensure to be employed/practice in the state of Wisconsin. No determination has been made if the curriculum matches the educational requirements for preparation, examinations, or certification for other states. Visit the Accreditation page for more details about accreditation.  

Certifying Organization: American Society for Clinical Pathology

Mission Statement of the Medical Lab Technician Program

The mission of the Medical Laboratory Technician Program at Moraine Park Technical College is to provide the medical community with entry-level medical laboratory technicians competent to perform clinical laboratory analysis. Consistent with the institutional vision and mission statement, the program is committed to the development of the student’s educational and professional growth. The program integrates both general and technical education to ensure that graduates can meet the multiple demands of rapidly changing technology in the medical field.

Program Effectiveness Data

In addition to the goals and student learning outcomes listed elsewhere on this site, the performance of the program is reflected through program effectiveness data as defined by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, (NAACLS), http://www.naacls.org. Program effectiveness data includes program graduation rate, certification rate, job placement rate and attrition rate. Additional questions about the program effectiveness data should be directed to the Program Director. The Medical Laboratory Technician program's annual report to NAACLS reflected the following:

Medical Laboratory Technician Graduation Rate

This is the percent of students that began the program’s third term and were eligible to complete the program in the fourth term resulting in graduation from the program.

Medical Laboratory Technician Certification Rate

This is the percent of students that took the American Society for Clinical Pathologist’s National Board of Certification Exam and successfully passed the exam within one year of graduation.

Medical Laboratory Technician Job Placement Rate

This is the percent of students that gain employment in the laboratory sciences within six months of graduation as published in the Graduate Follow-Up Report. The College annually conducts a survey with graduates six months after they graduate to better understand their employment status and satisfaction with their Moraine Park education. The data from the survey is compiled into the Graduate Follow-Up Report, which is solely based on confidential surveys completed by Moraine Park graduates.

Medical Laboratory Technician Attrition Rate

This is the percent of students that began the program’s third term and were eligible to complete the program in the fourth term but did not complete the program.

Moraine Park Medical Laboratory Technician Results

2021

Graduation rate: 86%
Certification rate: 100%
Job Placement rate: 83%
Attrition rate: 14%

2022
Graduation rate: 100%
Certification rate: 100%
Job Placement rate: 80%
Attrition rate: 0%

2023
Graduation rate: 100%
Certification rate: 100%
Job Placement rate: 100%
Attrition rate: 0%

Medical Laboratory Technician

Additional information related to this program can be found on our web site www.morainepark.edu, in the Graduate Follow-Up Report and the Medical Laboratory Technician Clinical Experience Handbook.

 

Admission Process

Standard Admissions steps details

This program also requires:

  • Health Requirements
  • Criminal Background Check

Credit for Prior Learning

Transform the skills and abilities developed through previous experience into college credit through MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning process. 

  • Transfer credit from other colleges/universities
  • Earn college credit for your military training and experience
  • Earn college credit via Advance Placement, CLEP, DANTES/DSST or MPTC Challenge Exams
  • Earn college credit from previous/current work and life experiences

Visit MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning page for more information.

Approximate Costs

Fees shown are 2023-2024 fees; 2024-2025 fees will be available as soon as they are approved.

Tuition

Occupational

  • $146.20 per credit (resident)
  • $219.30 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science

  • $188.90 per credit (resident)
  • $283.35 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.

Student Fees

  • $4.50 minimum per course Material Fee
  • $12.50 per-credit Supplemental Fee for Undergraduate courses
  • $10 minimum per credit Online Course Fee (Fee suspended for 2023-2024)
  • $4.50 per term mandatory Student Accident Insurance Fee

Please refer to Tuition & Fee Information for additional enrollment fee information.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available for associate degree and technical diploma programs (those that are 2 semesters in length and typically with 28 credits or more). Processing can take 4-5 weeks after a student's completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.

While attending Moraine Park during the 2024-25 school year, your estimated cost of attendance for one full year includes tuition of $4,462 (15 credits for fall and spring semester), fees of $338, food and housing of $3,008 (if living with parents, $9,147 if living on your own), books and supplies of $1,465, personal expenses of $3,608, and transportation of $4,017 for a total of $17,002. Your direct costs (those costs paid directly to the college) include tuition & fees. The indirect costs (costs not paid to the college) can vary from individual to individual and your own personal needs.

Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Clinical Admissions RequirementsCredits
College Chemistry or 1 year of High School Chemistry
Must complete the series of three hepatitis B immunizations
 Credits0
Semester 1
103-159 Computer Literacy - Microsoft Office 1
513-110 Basic Lab Skills 1
513-111 Phlebotomy 2
513-113 QA Lab Math 1
513-115 Basic Immunology Concepts 2
806-177 General Anatomy and Physiology 4
806-186 Introduction to Biochemistry 4
890-101 College 101 2
 Credits17
Semester 2
513-109 Blood Bank 4
513-120 Basic Hematology 3
806-197 Microbiology 4
Communication Course 3
 Credits14
Summer
513-114 Urinalysis 2
513-121 Coagulation 1
801-136 English Composition 1 3
 Credits6
Semester 3
513-116 Clinical Chemistry 4
513-130 Advanced Hematology 2
513-133 Clinical Microbiology 4
Social Science Course 3
 Credits13
Semester 4
513-140 Advanced Microbiology 2
513-151 Clinical Experience 1 3
513-152 Clinical Experience 2 4
513-153 Clinical Experience Seminar 3
513-170 Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics 2
Behavioral Science Course 3
 Credits17
 Total Credits67

Program Outcomes

  • Practice laboratory safety and regulatory compliance.
  • Collect and process biological specimens.
  • Monitor and evaluate quality control in the laboratory.
  • Apply modern clinical methodologies including problem solving and troubleshooting according to predetermined criteria.
  • Correlate laboratory results to diagnosis of clinical conditions and/or diseases.
  • Perform information processing in the clinical laboratory.
  • Model professional behaviors, ethics and appearance.

Pathways 

Earn a technical diploma and associate degree along this pathway. Start with some courses for entry-level employment, and continue with additional courses for higher wages and job advancement.

Career Opportunities

  • Graduates may find employment as a Medical Laboratory Technician in hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, state and federal labs, and private/commercial laboratories. Opportunities also exist in commercial industries, medical supply companies, scientific research and infection control.

Statewide Median Salary for Recent Graduates

$48,889