Medical Laboratory Technician & Phlebotomy

Acquire the skills to work as a medical lab technician in this lucrative field.

The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program at WNCC will prepare you to perform a wide range of routine and complex clinical laboratory procedures that are associated with blood and body-fluid analysis. This plays an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases and in the promotion of health. An MLT assesses the reliability / accuracy of the testing, maintains and operates diagnostic equipment, evaluates patient results, prepares analytical reagents and controls, troubleshoots problems with specimens / analyzers, along with other duties. MLT professionals have the knowledge and skills to educate laboratory professionals, other health care professionals, and others in laboratory practice as well as the public. The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgment, and a demonstration of commitment to the patient are essential qualities. Communications skills extend to consultative interactions with members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education. Laboratory professionals demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes and principles that are necessary for gaining and maintaining the confidence of patients, professional associates, and the community.

The Phlebotomy Program at WNCC prepares individuals for a career in the medical field. Phlebotomy professionals are qualified by academic and practical education to collect, transport, and process blood specimens for analysis. They select the appropriate equipment and technique based on a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the patient, as well as the psycho‐social factors that may impact specimen collection. The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgment, and a demonstration of commitment to the patient are essential qualities. Communication skills involve direct interaction with the patient, family members of the patient, fellow members of the laboratory team, and other members of the health care team. Phlebotomy professionals demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes and principles that are necessary for gaining and maintaining the confidence of patients, professional associates, and the community. Upon graduation and initial employment, the phlebotomist will be able to demonstrate entry-level competencies in the above areas of professional practice.

For both the MLT and Phlebotomy Programs, curriculum encompasses a combination of general education courses, online MLT didactic lectures, in-person laboratory sessions, and clinical experience in a hospital or clinic. Once you successfully complete our prescribed curriculum, you will be eligible to take the examination for national professional certification allowing you to work in a variety of clinical settings, including hospital laboratories, physicians’ offices, clinics, and blood donor centers. Both programs have been approved and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Program Outcomes

Award Types

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology
Certificate in Phlebotomy

About the Program

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Medical Laboratory Technician

Upon graduating from WNCC’s Medical Laboratory Technician program, you can immediately go to work in a medical laboratory setting. As a medical laboratory technician you will be performing a wide range of routine and complex clinical laboratory procedures associated with blood and body-fluid analysis, and you’ll play a very important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Work settings may include hospitals, clinics, universities, research centers among others, and you can specialize depending on where your interests are in areas such as chemical and biological research advancement.

This is a position where you will often be standing, moving around a laboratory, needing a steady hand while using pipettes to set up your research, looking through microscopes and writing down your findings. These positions call for focused, detail-oriented techs who have a passion to work in the innovative world of medical research to help create better medicines, diagnoses, and cures to help treat humans and animals.

Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy professionals are qualified by academic and practical education to collect, transport, and process blood specimens for analysis. They select the appropriate equipment and technique based on a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the patient, as well as the psycho‐social factors that may impact specimen collection. Phlebotomy professionals perform venipunctures, and capillary (dermal) punctures adhering to all standards governing patient and employee safety.

The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgment, and a demonstration of commitment to the patient are essential qualities. Communication skills involve direct interaction with the patient, family members of the patient, fellow members of the laboratory team, and other members of the health care team.

Phlebotomy professionals demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes and principles that are necessary for gaining and maintaining the confidence of patients, professional associates, and the community. Upon graduation and initial employment, the phlebotomist will be able to demonstrate entry-level competencies in the above areas of professional practice. Refer to the NAACLS Phlebotomist Competencies for more information.

For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising at pathways@wncc.edu .

Additional Program Information

MLT/Phlebotomy Admission Requirements

MLT/Phlebotomy Application Materials

MLT/Phlebotomy Program Handbook

Medical Laboratory Organizations:

Accreditation Information

The Medical Laboratory Technician program has been approved and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; Tel. (773) 714-8880.

The Phlebotomy program has been approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; Tel. (773) 714-8880.

Upon graduation from the MLT and Phlebotomy Programs at WNCC, the graduate will be eligible to sit for the National Board of Certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and or other agencies.

Program Contact Information