The Medical Laboratory Technician program prepares students for employment as an MLT working in a clinical medical laboratory. Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) perform a wide variety of routine laboratory procedures and work in both public and private laboratories serving the health care sector.
The MLT program is a two-year curriculum leading to the Associates in Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technician. Completion of pre-requisite courses will be required prior to entering the program. The program course of study is a combination of instruction in principles of laboratory theory and techniques as well as clinical experience at affiliated medical laboratories. Students learn to perform routine laboratory procedures in phlebotomy, microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, immunology, and urinalysis. They also will learn to operate and maintain clinical laboratory equipment.
Graduates of the program qualify for state licensure examination administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) Board of Certification to become state licensed medical laboratory technicians.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dear Students,
To minimize transmission of COVID-19, and to maintain instructional continuity to the extent possible, faculty have been working tirelessly to convert in-person and lecture lab classes to online.
Unfortunately at this time, all non-essential personnel (students) have been prohibited from participating in clinical activities, internships, externships, preceptorships, and field work experiences at local hospitals, health care facilities and other similar course related experiences. These courses have been suspended with the goal of completing them by the end of the term or possibly into summer. Students please do not drop your classes.
The college will send out official notification regarding the status of your classes on Thursday March 19th. After the official announcement students are encouraged to contact their course faculty for further direction.
Thank you for your understanding,
Diane Pestolesi, Dean of Health Sciences & Human Services
APPLYING TO THE MEDICAL LAB TECH PROGRAM
- MLT Roadmap (must be taken in sequence)
Applications will be accepted May 15th - May 30th, 2020. A hard copy of the application must be hand delivered to HS 235. Qualified candidates are accepted on a first come first service basis with enrollment limitations related to the number of available sites.
MLT INFORMATION SESSIONS
Are you interested in a healthcare career but not working directly with patients? Become a DIAGNOSIS DETECTIVE! Discover how during the Medical Lab Technician information sessions below:
| Date: | Time: | Location: |
| TBA | TBA | TBA |
Click here to view flyer. Contact Lori Hefter for more info at (949) 582-4731.
RESOURCES
PACKET FOR CLINICAL PRACTICUM TRAINING
- Mandatory Health Assessment Requirements
- Back Ground Check / Drug Screening order instructions
- Professional Behaviors Release
- Liability Insurance - HPSO
STUDENTS WITH FOREIGN TRANSCRIPTS / CLASSES
You will need to have your transcripts evaluated and translated by NACES (http://www.naces.org/members.html) and then you should make an appointment with a Saddleback Counselor who will help determine if your classes fulfill the prerequisites for the MLT Program. All official NACES- evaluated transcripts must be submitted to the Saddleback College Office of Admissions and Records upon application.
SALARY
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of medical laboratory technicians were $52,330 per year 2018. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,280 and $40,180. A 2012 survey by Salary.com reported a median annual salary of $47,176 with the lowest 25 percent earning $38,544 and the highest 25 percent earning $57,103.
FACULTY & STAFF
Hency Chu, PhD, MLS 
Program Director
Asmita Bhakta
Associate Faculty
David Chu, MLS, CLS
Associate Faculty
Sanja Apodac, MLT, CPT1
MLT Lab Assistant
Shraddha Shah, CLS
Associate Faculty
Lori Hefter
MLT Program Assistant
949-582-4731