Laboratory tests play an important part in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases in modern medical practice. The laboratory professionals who carry out these tests are medical technologists (bachelor’s or master’s degree level) and medical laboratory technicians (associate degree level). They work under the direction of pathologists and other physicians or scientists. Medical laboratory workers perform a wide range of tests and laboratory procedures that require a high level of skill. They examine and analyze blood, body fluids and other specimens using precision instruments, such as microscopes and automated analyzers. They look for bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment. They also prepare specimens for examination, count cells and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids. They may work in several laboratory areas, such as hematology, clinical chemistry, blood banking, microbiology or molecular diagnostics, or specialize in just one.
Nassau Community College is dedicated to high quality, low-cost education and career preparation to meet the needs and interests of the community it serves. Consistent with this, the Medical Laboratory Technician program’s mission is to prepare competent medical laboratory technicians with the entry-level knowledge, skills and attitudes that are required to fulfill current and future professional and leadership roles in laboratory medicine and healthcare.
The Medical Laboratory Technician program is a two-year curriculum leading to an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. It offers technician-level education for those career-oriented students interested in employment as medical laboratory technicians and laboratory or research aides. The curriculum consists of courses in the humanities, behavioral sciences, mathematics, basic sciences and specialized clinical courses. All students are exposed to the methods and applications of routine medical laboratory procedure, including the detection of errors and quality control. The program combines coursework at the College with off-campus clinical education at an affiliate hospital or clinical laboratory. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the New York State licensure exam for Certified Clinical Laboratory Technicians. Students will also be eligible to take national certification exams given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
The program strives to:
Graduates of the Medical Laboratory Technician Program will be able to:
Three years of consecutive results of graduation rates demonstrate an average of at least 70% of students who have begun the final half of the program go on to successfully graduate from the program as calculated by the most recent three-year period.
9/1/2020 – 8/31/2021 | 100% |
9/1/2021 - 8/31/2022 | 100% |
9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023 | 100% |
Three years of consecutive graduate certification results demonstrate an average of at least 75% pass rate on the ASCP-BOC examinations for those who take the exam within the first year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three-year period.
* Updated information will be available in September (1 year after program completion) | |
9/1/2020 – 8/31/2021 | 80% |
9/1/2021 - 8/31/2022 | 43% |
9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023 | 92% |
Three years of consecutive results of graduate placement rates demonstrate that an average of at least 70% of respondent graduates either find employment in the field or a closely related field (for those who seek employment) or continue their education within one year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three-year period.
* Updated information will be available in September (1 year after program completion) | |
9/1/2020 – 8/31/2021 | 100% |
9/1/2021 - 8/31/2022 | 100% |
9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023 | 100% |