Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Medical Laboratory Technology: Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), C.S.C.

Career Studies Certificate
Northern Virginia Community College

The program is designed to prepare personnel who collect, process, and perform selected tests on samples for medical laboratory analysis. Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) work in hospitals, medical clinics, and reference laboratories. The curriculum includes learning experiences: on-campus, online, and, in partnership, with affiliated clinical laboratories. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) national examination to become certified as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
Click here for details
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

Applicants must do the following:

  • Comply with all general admission requirements for Allied Health Programs.
  • Attend or view a MLA information session.
  • Have a NOVA application on file.
  • Hold a high school diploma or GED.
  • Have completed or qualify for ENG 111.
  • Have minimum 2.0 curricular GPA.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program who have been certified as a phlebotomy technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) are eligible for credit for prior learning in MDL 105and MDL 106. See an academic advisor for further information.

Continuation Requirements: Each course in this program must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better before taking the next course in the sequence.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Northern Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Medical Laboratory Technology: Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), C.S.C.
27
Medical Laboratory Assistant, Career Studies Certificate
27
22115110 Plan GPA/Cum GPA 202425 Catalog
27
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 20 credits may be applied to this program.
English Requirements
3
ENG 111 or higher
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT Requirements
3
HLT 141
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 145
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HIM Requirement
3
HIM 130
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL Requirements
18
MDL 100
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 105
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 106
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 130
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 140
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 196
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 260
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript.
Credit for Prior Learning NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/prior-learning/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Northern Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
43891
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate in Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearHybrid
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
29-2012.01Histology TechniciansPrepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2012.00Medical and Clinical Laboratory TechniciansPerform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 27 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Medical Laboratory Technology: Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), C.S.C. at Northern Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 2 semesters or 1 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $219 Per Credit $5,913 $0 $5,913
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.