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.
APPLYING TO THE MEDICAL LAB TECH PROGRAM
The application will open on April 1st at 12 AM and close May 13th at 11:59 PM.
To Apply, click here.
Please check your Submittable accounts/email used to sign up with for all communication regarding the status of your application. Students will receive notification about admission into the MLT Program after June 15.
Please note: BEFORE you apply, you must complete the following items:
UPDATE: All applicants have until June 15th to upload their clinical requirements. The date change has been made to ensure that clearance to attend clinical practicum rotations is covered throughout the 2022-23 academic school year (or until the end of the Spring 2023 semester). Upon notification, you will be able to upload your documents past the application deadline of May 13, 2022.
1. Mandatory Health Assessment
2. Back Ground Check and Drug Test
4. BLS card
Please see the Clinical Practicum Requirements page for details.
MLT Roadmap (must be taken in sequence)- Revised April 2021
Admission to the MLT program will be by lottery.
MLT INFORMATION SESSIONS
There are no information sessions at this time.
Updates to the Application process.
Applications are open as of April 1st at 12 am to May 13th at 1:59 pm. All program requirements such as: Mandatory Health Assessment, Back Ground Check and Drug Test, Liability Insurance and BLS card are due by June 15th. All these records need to be uploaded to your Submittable account.
For more information, please email the MLT Program Assistant.
RESOURCES
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 $54,180 per year 2020. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,950 and $45,620. A 2020 survey by Salary.com reported a median annual salary of $56,447 with the lowest 25 percent earning $50,648 and the highest 25 percent earning $61,713.
FACULTY & STAFF
Hency Chu, PhD, MLS 
Program Director
Asmita Bhakta
Associate Faculty
Christina Williams MHA, H (ASCP)
Associate Faculty
Thy Nguyen, MLS (ASCP)
Associate Faculty
Shraddha Shah, CLS
Associate Faculty
Laura Rutman
MLT Program Assistant
949-582-4325