Medical Laboratory Technology

• Examine and analyze blood and body fluids providing results physicians need for patient wellness checks or to diagnose/ monitor disease.
• Differentiate normal from abnormal findings in tests results in the hematology and clinical chemistry departments.
• Identify organisms causing infectious disease in the microbiology section of the laboratory.
• Match blood for life-saving transfusions in the blood banking department of the laboratory.
• Verify the validity of the results of tests through the evaluation of quality control.

• Perform laboratory tests on patients in a hospital or acute care setting.
• Perform laboratory tests on patients in an outpatient or ambulatory care setting.
• Perform laboratory tests in a reference laboratory setting or a research laboratory.
• Work in a blood center laboratory such as the American Red Cross.
• Work in a microbiology laboratory
• Use the science skills and training from the program to work in a variety of laboratory settings such as industrial laboratories, public health laboratories, environmental laboratories, veterinary laboratories, etc.

Medical laboratory technicians usually need an associate’s degree. Medical laboratory scientists/technologists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Some states require scientists/technologists and technicians to be licensed.  There is a tremendous shortage of clinical laboratory professionals.

The MLT program is an accredited career program that will enable you to seek clinical employment at the program’s completion.  You will receive an Associate in Applied Science degree and will be eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification examination for Medical Laboratory Technicians.   

Our program is a 2-year laboratory technician program. The 2-year MLT degree at ACM transfers to 4-year MLS programs including online university MLS programs and traditional, on-campus university MLS programs. Beginning a laboratory career at the associate degree level can be a very economical way to start because many employers have tuition reimbursement benefits to assist in the cost of continuing your education.

While in the MLT curriculum, you will complete general education courses, coursework with knowledge and hands-on training in the laboratory departments of hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology and blood banking.  Once all coursework has been completed, you will be placed in a semester-long practicum experience in our regional healthcare laboratories.  

The program has strong outcomes, preparing graduates for successful careers in laboratory medicine. Program faculty are dedicated to student success.

If you like science and enjoy any of the crime investigation shows on television, then Allegany College of Maryland's Medical Laboratory Technology program is a career path you want to explore.