MLT Essential Requirements
Medical Laboratory Technician Essential Requirements "Technical Standards"
Faculty in the MLT program have a responsibility for the welfare of students enrolled in the program, for patients affected or treated by students in the program, and for staff working in the program. Therefore, admission and retention decisions for the MLT program are based not only on satisfactory academic achievement, but also on nonacademic factors that serve to insure that candidates can complete the essential requirements of the academic program for graduation. Essential requirements, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those cognitive, physical, and behavioral abilities that are necessary for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum and for the development of professional attributes required of students at graduation.
The MLT program has established the following list of minimum essential (nonacademic) requirements in compliance with the American Disabilities Act (PL 101336), and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodations, in order to participate in the program and graduate. CSCC will provide services and training without discrimination to academically qualified persons who meet these standards.
Vision/Observation Requirements: ability to read charts, graphs, instrument displays, and the printed word, on paper or a computer monitor; distinguish gradients of colors, interpret microscopic and macroscopic details. NOTE: Color blindness does not necessarily preclude admission to the program.
Speech/Hearing/Communication Requirements: communicate effectively and sensitively in written and spoken Standard English in a manner that is understandable with instructors, fellow students, patients, and other members of the health care team in person and on the other end of the telephone; write and transmit information clearly, accurately, and efficiently.
Motor Function Requirements: sufficient motor function to perform a variety of routine laboratory testing, move freely and safely from one location to another in the clinical laboratory, patient care areas, corridors, and elevator; sufficient upper body muscle coordination to collect appropriate clinical specimens safely and accurately; dexterity to manipulate tools, instruments, and small equipment, including keyboards or other data input tools in a manner consistent with standards of clinical laboratory practice; ability to travel to assigned clinical experience sites; lift and move objects of at least 20 pounds.
Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Requirements: read and understand textbooks, professional journals, and instrument manuals; read and follow written and verbal instructions in Standard English; measure, calculate, reason, analyze, evaluate and synthesize laboratory information/data.
Behavioral and Social Requirements: possess the emotional stability required to be able to exercise good judgment in the lecture, laboratory, and clinical settings; work under time constraints to complete tasks on time in a mature, sensitive, and effective manner; work under both relaxed and stressful emergency situations, prioritize tasks, work on at least two different tasks at one time; make correct judgments with regards to patient results; be flexible with scheduling and able to adapt to changing environments in the laboratory; maintain alertness and concentration during a normal work period; work safely with potential chemical, radiological, and biological hazards using Universal Precautions; meet attendance requirements; possess the physical and psychological health requirements for full utilization of abilities; apply knowledge, skills, and values learned from coursework and life experience to new situations.