Medical Laboratory Technician, A.S.

Casper College offers an Associate of Science in Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) and a certificate of completion for phlebotomy training. Both options consist of non-MLT as well as MLT courses, and students are integrated into all aspects of college life. In addition to the Casper College application for admission, a student must complete and submit to the director a departmental application prior to clinical training when all eligibility requirements are met.

Background check and drug/alcohol policy

Students enrolled in the MLT program will participate in clinical experiences in a variety of agencies. Prior to participating in the clinical experiences, students will be subject to that agency’s requirements for a background check, drug testing and/or drug abuse prevention policies. Students are then subject to the random drug testing policy of that agency.

Clinical accessibility policy

The MLT program utilizes a variety of health care agencies in the local community and throughout Wyoming for student clinical experiences. If you have been employed in one or more of the agencies and are not eligible for rehire as an employee, that agency may not permit you to participate in the essential clinical component of the program.

Please contact the human resources department of the affected agency and request documentation that states the agency position on your participation in the clinical component of the program. If you receive a negative response from that agency, you are automatically ineligible to apply to that agency and may have to select an alternate training site located in another city. A response indicating you will be permitted to attend clinicals at that agency will be given to the program director prior to the selection process for admission to the program. If you are unable to fulfill clinical requirements due to a previous employer issue and have not complied with the above, you could be dismissed from the program or may not be able to obtain a clinical training opportunity.

Your signature on the application indicates you have read the above and will comply as indicated.

An additional resource for information regarding MLT program curriculum and student training can be obtained from:

National Accrediting Agency for
Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL, 60018
Phone: (773) 714-8880
Internet at http://www.naacls.org.

Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression

Critical thinking: Critical thinking ability to exercise non-clinical and clinical judgment in a timely manner.

Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact professionally and therapeutically with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Communication: Communication skills sufficient for interaction with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups in verbal, nonverbal and written form.

Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, safely perform treatments/procedures, and assist patients/clients; lift and transfer patients/clients; manipulate equipment; walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Motor skills: Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient/client care.

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and safely assess health needs.

Visual: Visual ability with or without corrective lenses sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in safe patient/client care.

Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment of patient/client care.

Professionalism: The ability to understand and demonstrate sufficient respect for others in non-verbal, verbal, and written communications in the classroom, laboratory, clinical settings, in the Casper College community, and in related public settings. The ability to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the cumulative effect that behavior, appearance, and communication has on the health science professional image.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for admission into the associate of science MLT program, the applicant must:

1. Have graduated from high school or have earned a GED;
2. Submit a completed application form with all high school and college transcripts and GED certification (if applicable) to the admissions office.
3. Have a composite score of 18 or better on the ACT if out of high school less than two years, and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better, or
4. Have taken the COMPASS test and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better, or successfully completed college courses;
5. Students admitted to the MLT Program must be students in good standing at Casper College, must have earned a “C” or better in prerequisite and MLTK coursework, and have an overall GPA of 2.0.
6. An application to the MLT Program must be submitted to the Program Director once all prerequisite coursework has been completed and the student has successfully completed the entrance competency exam. Applications for the MLT Program are due in the semester prior to the clinical practice. Obtaining a clinical practice site is competitive and students will undergo an interview/ selection process to determine and assign clinical practicum locations. Since training opportunities cannot be guaranteed, if students are not initially placed they will be placed on an alternate list for the next available training session.
7. Health Requirements: You will need to obtain proof of the following health requirements to train in phlebotomy and MLT student laboratory or clinical practice: Health Insurance; Health Provider BLS certification; Tuberculosis skin testing; Hepatitis B vaccination; Measles, Mumps Rubella and Tetanus vaccinations.
   To maintain ongoing enrollment in the MLT program curriculum you may be required to meet annual requirements as specified by the clinical agency. For example, some agencies may require current certification in BLS for the Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Students may take HLTK 1625  to meet this requirement.
8. Students who have appropriate experience or certification as a phlebotomist may receive credit for Principles of Phlebotomy (
   MLTK 1800
    ) and Phlebotomy Practicum (
   MLTK 1970
    ). Credit will be determined by the Registrar and the Director of the MLT Program.
9. Applicants must meet certain essential functions as defined by NAACLS. If you feel that you do not meet these essential functions, careful consideration should be made and advisement received before entering the MLT Program. Essential functions are the abilities and essential functions that a student must be able to perform to be successful in the learning experiences and completion of the program. Please obtain a MLT Program Student Handbook from the director of the MLT Program or visit the following Web site (http://www.caspercollege.edu/medical_lab_tech/index.html) to review these essential functions.

Certification eligibility or phlebotomy examination

Upon completion of the MLT program, students are eligible for and expected to write a certification examination given by the ASCP Board of Certification. Other agencies are available.

Certification:
ASCP Board of Certification • 33 West Monroe, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-541-4999
800-267-ASCP (2727)
Fax: 312-541-4998