1. Medical Laboratory Assisting Career Studies Certificate
Reviewed ; updated application period
Welcome to the online information session for the Northern Virginia Community College Career Studies Certificate program in Medical Laboratory Assisting.
Information Session
Reviewed
Revised

2. What Do Medical Laboratory Assistants Do?
Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs)
serve multiple roles assisting Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs), Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs), physicians, patients, and other healthcare personnel. MLAs are trained in all areas of the Medical Laboratory including phlebotomy; specimen processing; performance of moderate complexity testing according to standard operating procedures. Duties include computer skills; safety; quality assurance; working with laboratory information system
Medical Laboratory Assistants; collect specimens from patients, process specimens, maintain equipment, and perform select tests on blood and body fluids. They work under the direction of Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) and Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs). The profession of Medical Laboratory Assistants requires classroom and technical knowledge, skills, and abilities; professional and ethical qualities

3. Medical Laboratory Assistants Labor Market Information
The Medical Laboratory Assistant profession should grow along with other laboratory professions: “Employment of medical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations”.
The profession is expected to grow along with other laboratory related careers. Salary is dependent on where you work. Higher salaries are likely in a large urban facility.
Retrieved from:

4. Where Medical Laboratory Assistants Work
Medical Laboratory Assistants work in many different facilities including: private laboratories, hospital laboratories, reference laboratories, medical offices, and clinics.
Most often, Medical Laboratory Assistants work under the direction of a Medical Laboratory Technician or Medical Laboratory Scientist.
Medical Laboratory Assisting is a stand alone career, or it can be a stepping stone to a two-year, a four-year, or a terminal Medical Laboratory degree program.

5. Admission Process
Complete NVCC college Application - Available online or at any NVCC campus Student Services Center. Create a myNOVA user name and password.
View this information session and enter code 238 on the online program application.
Take Reading/Writing assessment test: Placement in ENG 111. NOTE: Students who have successfully completed ENG 111 or its equivalent with a grade of C or better , and the course appears on the official NVCC transcript, are exempt from the placement test.
Have a GPA of 2.0 or better
The application is online. Refer to program webpage for application instructions. The application period is listed on the Program Application Requirements Form. The form is located on the program webpage under the How to Apply link
There is a two-part admission process – 1st: Application to the college, THEN; Application to the program.
Step 1 Apply to the college
Step 2 View this information session and enter CODE 238 on the online application. You may want to write this code down now.
Step 3 Place in, or complete ENG 111, College Composition I or its equivalent;
Step 4 Submit application online according to the instructions on the program webpage, and only during the application period
Step 5 The application period is listed on the Program Application Requirements form. The form is located on the program webpage under the how to apply link.

6. Then What? Student Services will verify your application
Your application will be forwarded to the program office.
The first 12 student applications received meeting the college policies for admission (see college catalog) will make up the next upcoming class.
You will receive a welcome letter from the program office with registration information and information related to the required health history; background check; random drug screen.
If your program application is received, but not among the first 12, the program will return the program application to you allowing you the opportunity to resubmit it for the next upcoming class.
Read this slide carefully.

7. Medical Laboratory Assistant Curriculum; 27 credit hours
1st Semester - Summer
Course #
Course Title
Credit Hours
MDL 105
Phlebotomy ( 2nd 5 weeks) 3
Total
2nd Semester - Fall
Course #
Course Title
Credit Hours
ENG 111
College Composition I 3
HLT 141
Introduction to Medical Terminology 1
MDL 100
Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology (hybrid)1st 8 week) 2
MDL 106
Clinical Phlebotomy (1st 8 week) 4
MDL 140
Clinical Urinalysis (2nd 8 week) (hybrid)
Total 12
These are the courses in the Medical Laboratory Assisting Career Studies Certificate program. It can be completed in one academic year. Refer to the online college course schedule for tuition and fees.
3rd Semester - Spring
Course #
Course Title
Credit Hours
HIM 130
Healthcare Information Systems 3
HLT 145
Ethics for Healthcare Personnel 2
MDL 130
Basic Microbiology (hybrid)
MDL 196
On-Site Training
MDL 260
Laboratory Instrumentation (hybrid)
Total 12

8. Grading
Students must achieve a “C” or better in all major courses to progress to the clinical practice course.
In order to progress in the program, a student must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all major courses to be eligible for the clinical practice course.

9. Current CPR for Healthcare Providers
Requirements Prior to Clinical Practice Specific Information will be provided upon acceptance to the program
Current CPR for Healthcare Providers
Completion of online safety tutorials
Current physical; within the last year to include documentation of the following immunizations:
1. Hepatitis B
2. MMR –Measles Mumps Rubella
3. 2-step TST - Tuberculosis
4. Varicella Zoster - Chicken Pox
5. Tdap – Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
Ability to meet the essential functions as required of the profession
Random urine drug screen
Criminal background check
These requirements on this slide must be met prior to beginning the clinical practice They are not required prior to entering the program. More information will be provided about clinical practice requirements upon acceptance to the program.

10. Other Needed Items Text Book/s Disposable lab coat Non-Latex gloves
Clinical scrubs
Program patch
There are other costs in addition to tuition as noted on this slide.

11. Frequently Asked Questions External Transcript Evaluation
Reminder; Please review and print as needed, the support documents on the program webpage. All are important as a guide to your success.
General:
Frequently Asked Questions
External Transcript Evaluation
Transfer Credit Evaluation Request
Physical Form
Program Specific:
How to Apply
MLA Program Student Handbook
MLA Essential Functions
Slide 18
Reminder
This slide shows the Important documents to guide you as you begin your successful college, and MLA Career Studies Certificate program experience.

12. We look forward to having you in the MLA program!
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Please take a few minutes to learn more about Northern Virginia Community College and the Medical Education Campus at this main NOVA website.
We look forward to having you in the MLA program.
This concludes the Medical Laboratory Assisting online information session