MLT (Medical Lab Technology)

What is a Medical Lab Technician/Clinical Laboratory Technician?

Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT’s) are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analysis that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatments, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention (maintenance of health). MLTs use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology, computers, and methods requiring manual dexterity to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology (blood bank), and microbiology. Accurate laboratory data is needed to aid in detecting cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious mononucleosis, and identification of bacteria or viruses that cause infections, match blood for transfusions, as well as in detecting drugs of abuse.The role of the MLT requires an understanding of scientific principles and theories, the ability to perform a wide variety of laboratory procedures with accuracy, the ability to analyze data for accuracy and the ability to detect and correct problems. In addition, MLTs consult with other members of the healthcare team. Medical laboratory technicians have an associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.

NOTICE TO STUDENTS REGARDING LICENSING (HB 1508)

Effective September 1st 2017, HB 1508 amends the Texas Occupations Code Section 53 that requires education providers to notify you a potential or enrolled student that a criminal history may make you ineligible for an occupational license upon program completion.

The following website provides links to information about the licensing process and requirements. https://www.naacls.org/
Should you wish to request a review of the impact of criminal history on your potential MLT Certification prior to or during your quest for a degree, you can visit this link and request a “Criminal History Evaluation.” https://www.naacls.org/Students.aspx

This information is being provided to all persons who apply or enroll in the program with notice of the requirements as described above, regardless of whether or not the person has been convicted of a criminal offense.

Additionally, HB 1508 authorizes licensing agencies to require reimbursements when a student fails to receive the required notice.