Medical Laboratory Technology

    Why Be In MLT?

    As part of a team of medical professionals the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) searches for clues to the absence, presence, extent and causes of disease and provides essential information that allows heath-care providers to make accurate judgments about a patient’s state of health. An MLT is able to combine her/his love of science and medicine with the rewards of a challenging and interesting career.

    DEMAND: Statistics show that there is a distinct shortage of qualified laboratory personnel and that this shortage will become more acute as many current laboratory personnel reach retirement age.
    PROFESSIONAL: As a member of the health care team the MLT is recognized as a contributor to the overall improvement of the life within the community.
    PERSONAL REWARD: The knowledge that your education and skills make a significant difference in the health of others can provide great job satisfaction.
    COMPENSATION: A new graduated MLT can expect to earn $27,000 - $30,000 per year and employers of MLTs traditionally offer good benefit packages. Experienced MLTs earn more as they advance in their profession.
    CAREER FLEXIBILITY: A MLT acquires skills applicable to a wide variety of fields beyond the hospital laboratory such as public health, veterinary health, chemical, pharmaceutical and food science research, manufacturing quality control, forensic science and computer applications.
    CAREER LADDER: A MLT can easily attain a bachelor's degree through a variety of transfer programs. The ease of transfer, plus the benefit of hands-on training and a nationally recognized credential make the program in medical laboratory technology particularly attractive to the student who desires a multi-step approach to attaining career objectives.
    DYNAMIC WORKPLACE: The MLT works in an environment where technological advances occur regularly. Because of the ever changing nature of the job it never becomes stale or boring.
    TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES: A position in medical technology puts you in touch with the latest in "high tech" equipment and procedures.
    TEAMWORK: The MLT is an important member of the health care team. Working on the investigative end of the process, the MLT provides important data needed for the physician to diagnose and properly treat the patient.
    TRAINING: In as little as two years, a student can acquire all the skills necessary to become a certified medical laboratory technician.
    SUCCESS: Graduates of the Montgomery County Community College MLT Program have had a 100% pass rate on the ASCP certification examination for the last five years and consistently score higher than the national average.