Western Technical College
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Medical Lab Technician

  • Associate Degree
Medical Lab Technician image

Program Number: 

105131

Program Credits: 

64.00

Estimated Total Cost: 

$10,900.00

Typical Start: 

Fall
Financial Aid Eligible

Turn your interest in biology and chemistry into a career in healthcare. As a medical laboratory technician, you will have an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and conditions by collecting and analyzing blood, identifying microorganisms from diverse specimens, conducting microscopic and chemical examinations, and performing blood bank procedures such as cross-matching blood. You will also gain hands-on skills through clinical laboratory experiences in area labs.

Graduates are eligible to take a national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists’ (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). Passing the exam is not required for graduation.

Program-specific courses are held in the Health Science Center, a shared facility located a few blocks from the La Crosse main campus. Check our maps page [1] for specific location information.

For information about Western’s Medical Lab Technician program’s student outcomes, please click here [2].

To view the Medical Lab Technician program’s required disclosure on professional licensure, please click here [3].

Medical Lab Technician 2019-2020 Graduation Employment Stats

Graduates12
Graduates Responding3
Employed in Related Occupation2
Employed in Non-related Occupations0
Seeking Employment0
Continuing Education0
Not in Labor Market1

Salary Data - Related Employment

Part TimeFull Time
Responding11
Average Hours Per Week
Median Hourly Wage
Hourly Wage Range
Median Annual Salary

Respondents in Related Occupations

No occupations reported.

Career Opportunities

Medical Lab Technician (MLT)
Clinical Laboratory Technician
Phlebotomist

Program Outcomes

  • Living responsibly
  • Refining professionalism
  • Cultivating passion
  • 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

Admission Requirements:

College Requirements

Application: 

Yes

Application Fee: 

$30 Application Fee

Program Specific Requirements

Additional Requirements:

To enroll in the Medical Laboratory Technician program, first apply for admission to the College, then read the program’s Essential Functions and complete a background check.  You can find links to these documents below.  In addition, you must complete the prerequisites for General Anatomy and Physiology with a grade of “C” or better.  The last step for admission to the program will be to complete an Intent to Enroll form. Please see the details below.

  • Medical Laboratory Technician Essential Functions [4]
  • Background Check [5]
  • General Anatomy and Physiology Prerequisites
    • One year of High School or one term of Developmental or College Biology
    • One year of High School or one term of Developmental or College Chemistry
  • Contact the Welcome Center to make an appointment with a Health & Public Safety College Advisor [6] to complete your Intent to Enroll form.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status 

COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend classes at Western Technical College, however your clinical site now requires proof of completion of COVID-19 vaccination to attend their sites. To prevent any interruption in your clinical/practicum/field classes, we are now requiring you to provide us with your COVID-19 vaccination proof to enter this program.

Provide Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination [7]

Software and Technology

Most of Western’s classes require the use of a personal computer or laptop, standard software, internet access, and other technology-related items.

If you do not have a personal computer or laptop, or if the one you have does not meet the following criteria, resources may be available. Submit a Student Resource Request using our online form [8].

Computer/Laptop Hardware

  • Smartphones are not recommended for completing assignments.
  • Chromebooks are not recommended due to issues with installing software that is needed for classes, such as Office 365.
  • Web camera with microphone (usually built into newer laptops or can be purchased separately) is necessary for online participation.

Software Needs

  • Western uses the Blackboard Learning Management System. Some courses may use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to meet and work virtually. Visit our website for guidance on how to access and use these tools [9].
  • Office 365 (available to download for free once you have a student email)
  • Recommended web browsers: Chrome or Firefox

For detailed specifications, please review Technology and Software Recommendations for Most Classes [10] on Western’s IT Knowledgebase.

Campus Resources

  • Western has several computer labs available. Visit our website to find open hours and locations on the La Crosse campus [11]. Or find information on how to access resources on our Regional Locations web page [12].
  • The Learning Commons has computers, webcams, and microphones available for in-house use. Our librarians recommend checking your local public library for computer access on the weekends. Staff members can also provide information on free, off-campus Wi-Fi spots. Contact them at LearningCommons@westerntc.edu [13] or call 608-785-9198.

Need Assistance?

  • Contact the Learning Commons [14]! The staff are happy to answer questions, provide individualized assistance, and direct you to other supports as needed.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences [15], 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, phone 773-714-8880.

NAACLS Outcome Measures [2]

Additional Information

Our Health and Public Safety programs are required to report additional information to prospective students, including certification exams, licensure, program completion rates, etc. You can find this information in the documents below:

  • Program Handbook [16]

Program Contact

Karen Christenson
Program Chair, Medical Laboratory Technician
608-789-4740
ChristensonK@westerntc.edu [17]

Courses

The following list is not the official course list for this program. It is intended to give students an idea of what coursework will be required.

Current students should use the MyWestern [18] self-service portal when registering for class.

First Term

Basic Lab Skills
Course Number: 10513110
Credits: 1.00
English Composition 1
Course Number: 10801136
Credits: 3.00
Gen Anatomy & Physiology
Course Number: 10806177
Credits: 4.00
Phlebotomy
Course Number: 10513111
Credits: 2.00
QA Lab Math
Course Number: 10513113
Credits: 1.00
Urinalysis
Course Number: 10513114
Credits: 2.00

Second Term

Basic Hematology
Course Number: 10513120
Credits: 3.00
Basic Immunology Concepts
Course Number: 10513115
Credits: 2.00
Blood Bank
Course Number: 10513109
Credits: 4.00
Coagulation
Course Number: 10513121
Credits: 1.00
Microbiology
Course Number: 10806197
Credits: 4.00

Third Term

Intro to Biochemistry
Course Number: 10806186
Credits: 4.00
Intro to Ethics: Theory & App
Course Number: 10809166
Credits: 3.00
Intro to Psychology
Course Number: 10809198
Credits: 3.00
Speech
Course Number: 10801198
Credits: 3.00

Fourth Term

Advanced Hematology
Course Number: 10513130
Credits: 2.00
Clinical Chemistry
Course Number: 10513116
Credits: 4.00
Clinical Microbiology
Course Number: 10513133
Credits: 4.00
Molecular Diagnostics
Course Number: 10513170
Credits: 2.00

Fifth Term

Advanced Microbiology
Course Number: 10513140
Credits: 2.00
Clinical Experience 1
Course Number: 10513151
Credits: 3.00
Clinical Experience 2
Course Number: 10513152
Credits: 4.00
Clinical Experience III
Course Number: 10513159
Credits: 2.00
MLT Seminar
Course Number: 10513160
Credits: 1.00

Western Technical College
400 7th Street North
La Crosse, Wisconsin
54601

608-785-9200
800-322-9982


Links
[1] https://www.westerntc.edu/maps-and-parking
[2] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/MLT_NAACLS_Outcome_Measures.pdf
[3] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/Professional_Liscensure_Disclosure.pdf
[4] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/MLT_Essential_Functions.pdf
[5] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/Viewpoint_Background_Check_Instructions.pdf
[6] https://www.westerntc.edu/college-advisors
[7] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/ViewPoint_Immunizations_Instructions.pdf
[8] https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DniDXv9HckGZ5BpZ1xtAINzEPDqm29RGnADqdoibRwxUM0ZIV0tLRE1OS0NaOTY5U01aOFNVNDdVUS4u
[9] https://westerntc.libguides.com/blackboardforstudents/
[10] https://kb.westerntc.edu/112380
[11] https://www.westerntc.edu/computer-labs
[12] https://www.westerntc.edu/regional-locations
[13] mailto:LearningCommons@westerntc.edu
[14] https://www.westerntc.edu/learning-commons
[15] http://www.naacls.org/
[16] https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/programs/documents/MLT_Student_Handbook.pdf
[17] mailto:ChristensonK@westerntc.edu
[18] https://mywestern.westerntc.edu/