MCC Adds Accelerated Option for Medical Laboratory Technology

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on a team of healthcare workers often referred to as being in “the hidden profession,” according to Suzanne McHale, MCC’s Professor & Program Coordinator of Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT).

Medical Laboratory Technicians are members of the clinical laboratory who perform tests to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders. With jobs across Massachusetts in high demand, Middlesex Community College is expanding its MLT program to pilot an 11-month accelerated associate degree program for prospective students with previous degrees and experience in areas such as biology, chemistry, microbiology and biochemistry.

“The MLT field offers many employment opportunities and job security, and MCC has hospital and clinical affiliations all over Merrimack Valley, Worcester, Boston and southern New Hampshire who are eager to hire our graduates,” McHale said. “Our program prepares MLT students with a wide range of skills and experience in all areas of the laboratory. The accelerated offering is a flexible and quick option for students to complete their degree, enhance their job prospects, and work while attending school.”

“This accelerated program will help me become a Medical Technician while solidifying my knowledge of a medical lab,” said MCC student Linedlay Alcide. “I think this is a great program to use my previous classes and background to help me qualify for more jobs.”

MCC’s program will be piloted in the Fall 2022 semester, in addition to the traditional MLT associate degree program. Throughout the 11-month program, students will take online classes as part of the eight-week Mini-mesters in the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as one class during the WinterSession. In-person lab experiences will be scheduled on evenings and on Saturdays. Over the summer, students will complete their seminar courses and external practicums. Students in the pilot year of the program will graduate in Summer 2023 with their associate degrees.

Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to take the national Board of Certification Exam with the American Society for Clinical Pathology for Medical Laboratory Technician. With this certification and one more year of work in the clinical laboratory, individuals may then apply to take the Medical Laboratory Scientist exam.

“After working alongside such brilliant medical technologists, I quickly realized that I wanted to learn more, and I wanted to contribute more,” said MCC student Stephanie Cofske. “I wanted to fully understand the capacity at which they work, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. The accelerated program here at MCC is the perfect opportunity to achieve my goals, as I already have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.”

For students new to the field, Middlesex offers a traditional two-year MLT program, which has a long history of success. With a near 100 percent pass rate on the certification exam, the program was also recently reaccredited for 10 years through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS).

“While searching for my dream career, I finally found it in MCC,” said MCC student Nene Mariama D. Bah. “As a Medical Lab Technician student in the accelerated program, I will learn all the professional courses and training related to the MLT program and get my diploma in less than one year. Because of saving both time and money while studying in the accelerated MLT program at MCC, this is far more convenient for me.”