In the Spring 2010 semester the College of the Canyons Allied Health Division will introduce its new Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program designed to prepare students for high-demand jobs in the medical and biotechnical lab industries.

MLT professionals play critical roles in collecting the data and information needed to provide care to patients and/or perform research used in the scientific exploration of many areas throughout the larger medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Certified MLT professionals often find employment in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, public health facilities and other commercial laboratories – where their training and communication and research skills are highly valued.

According to statistics provided by the United States Department of Labor, a certified MLT technician in the state of California typically earns a median income of more than $38,000 a year.

“Currently, as with all health care occupations, there is a shortage of personnel qualified to work in hospital and biotechnical labs,” said Sue Albert, dean of Allied Health at the college. “The Medical Lab Technician program will help to meet that need for laboratory personnel. Thanks to the support of the local hospitals and biotechnical labs in the area, COC is the first community college in the region to offer such a program.”

Integrating a mixture of classroom lectures, laboratory work and clinical training, the college’s MLT program fosters development of the technical, analytical and problem-solving skills required of this profession.

Students who complete the two-year program will receive an associate in science degree in MLT and be eligible to sit for the national certification exam.

This program will be offered pending approval by the California Community College System Chancellor’s Office and the California Department of Health Services Laboratory Field Services unit.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for enrollment into the MLT program students must have completed English 101 or an equivalent course and at least four units of prerequisite coursework in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, preparatory general chemistry and at least 4.5 units of coursework in phlebotomy.

Application Procedure

Applications for spring semester enrollment into the MLT program can be picked up in the college’s Allied Health office (Aliso Lab room 311) on the Valencia campus.

Applications can be submitted to the Allied Health office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or mailed to:

College of the Canyons
Attention: Allied Health
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

In addition, applications submitted to the Allied Health office during non-business hours can be left at the campus switchboard located in the college’s administration building.

All applications should include official sealed copies of transcripts from all colleges attended and a copy of a high school transcript, diploma or GED certificate.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

*The college will close for the winter break Wednesday, December 23, and reopen Monday, January 4, 2010.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Medical Laboratory Technology program or how to apply please contact the Allied Health office at (661) 362-3287.