Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate Program

Certificate Science, Engineering and Mathematics - Medical Laboratory Assistant

Current students - log in to BHCC Self-Service to review the most accurate program requirements for your catalog year, or contact Advising & LifeMap for more information. Prospective students - go to bhcc.edu/admissions and contact an admissions counselor.

This is a Selective Program. View the Selective Admission Program Requirements

Admission Requirements	Credits	Milestone	GenEd	Note	Pre-req	Expand
Diploma High School diploma or GED
Session Attend Mandatory information session
BIO-108 Human Biology/Lab	4
Complete the course with a grade of C or better. MAT-093 and RDG-095 or ESL-099 and ENG-095 or ELL-103 or placement.
Total Credits:
Admission Requirements Advising Note: Students are encouraged to meet with the Program Director to discuss the application process and to explore the profession. If you are accepted into the program, you must complete the following steps: Complete a CORI Form during the first semester in the Program. Complete the first page of a Student Health Form – this form must go to your doctor, and when completed, must be brought to Room E154 at the Charlestown Campus of BHCC. Health clearance is required to participate in clinical internships.

Semester 1	Credits	Milestone	GenEd	Note	Pre-req	Expand
MLA-120 Medical Terminology for the Clinical Laboratory Professional	1
Milestone courses should be taken in the order shown. Admission to Program
MLA-121 Phlebotomy and Specimen Processing	4
Milestone courses should be taken in the order shown. Admission to Program
ENG-111 College Writing I	3
Prerequisites : ENG-095 and RDG-095, ELL-103 or placement
Total Credits:
Semester 1 Advising Note: MLA-120 and MLA-121 must be completed with a B- or higher.

Semester 2	Credits	Milestone	GenEd	Note	Pre-req	Expand
MLA-222 Clinical Laboratory Techniques	4
Milestone courses should be taken in the order shown. Prerequisite: MLA-120 and MLA-121 *see note
BIO-203 Anatomy and Physiology/Lab I	4
Prerequisite: BIO-105 or BIO-108 or BIO-195
Total Credits:
Semester 2 Advising Note: *Note: MLA-120 and MLA-121 must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.

Semester 3 Summer	Credits	Milestone	GenEd	Note	Pre-req	Expand
MLA-223 Clinical Practicum	4
MLA-222 must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Prerequisites: MLA-121 and MLA-222
MAT-181 Statistics	3
MAT-097 or MAT-098
Total Credits:
Semester 3 Advising Note: *Note: MLA-222 must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.

Last Modified Date: May 27, 2021

Approved for the 2021-2023 College Catalog

Upon Completion of this Concentration Graduates will be able to:

Develop an attitude of professionalism and be knowledgeable of the ethical considerations of dealing with patient and laboratory information.
Correctly perform basic venipuncture techniques using a variety of blood drawing apparatuses.
Explain the proper method to process and store various specimens used for laboratory testing.
Describe the routine workflow of the clinical laboratory.
Describe the importance of and correctly utilize a laboratory information system (LIS).
Discuss the various types of laboratory equipment that would be best utilized for various testing procedures.
Describe the roles of laboratory staff.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of instrumentation.
Discuss the importance of and how to perform maintenance and quality control on instrumentation.
Perform assigned procedures, demonstrating competency in the performance of the test, understanding the underlying principles of the test, and the determination of appropriate actions necessary in handling and reporting of sensitive data.
Demonstrate organizational skills in the performance of assigned workload in a timely manner.

Career Outlook

A Medical Lab Assistant (MLA) is someone who works in a laboratory setting and assists in the processing of patient samples and the preparation of tests that need to be done. They play a key role in aiding the medical technologist and allowing for everything to run as efficiently as possible. They perform phlebotomy, specimen processing, testing preparation for the Medical Technologist to perform the actual testing, maintenance and calibration of instrumentation, and work with the Laboratory Information System (LIS).