Program Details
Associate of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory Technology
Associate of Applied ScienceTidewater Community College
This program is included in: G3
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) prepares students for employment as medical laboratory technicians upon graduation and certification. Graduates may work under the supervision of a physician or medical technologist (MT) performing routine clinical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the MLT program. Applicants to this program must complete BIO 101, BIO 141, and MTH 161 (previously MTH 157 or MTH 158) with a "C" or higher for consideration of admission. Students must submit an unofficial transcript along with their health professions application. They must also submit an official copy of their transcripts from other colleges attended to the Office of the College Registrar prior to the program application deadline. Applicants must have maintained a curricular GPA of 2.5 or better during previous college study. Attendance at an orientation session and a personal interview are also required. For further information regarding admission, continuance and graduation, go to tcc.edu (search keywords "medical laboratory technology").
Upon completion of an accredited program, Medical Laboratory Technicians are eligible to complete a national certification exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to become certified as a medical laboratory technician.
The Medical Laboratory Technology Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 (773) 714-8880, https://www.naacls.org/.
Program Overview & Guidance

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Considerations for Selecting Degree | Yes, if you:
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Considerations When Selecting Courses |
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Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
Doing More With Your Degree | |
Program Successes & Highlights | Complete this program in as few as 6 semesters / 67 credits TCC?s curriculum provides extensive hands-on training, including a clinical internship with supervised work experience, that qualifies graduates to run clinical tests required by physicians to make life-affecting decisions in patient care. Upon completion of the program, you?ll be eligible to complete a national certification exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology(ASCP) to become certified as a medical laboratory technician. TCC had 8 graduates in 2020-21, 13 graduates in 2019-20, 10 graduates in 2018-19, 14 graduates in 2017-18, and 14 graduates in 2016-17 in the AAS program in Medical Laboratory Technology. |
Program Credit Requirements

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.
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.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Associate Transfer Degree Completion | The student development requirement at TCC is waived for students who have completed an associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. All other coursework is evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | TCC does not distinguish between students earning an associate degree while in high school or after high school graduation. |
Credit for Prior Learning | TCC recognizes you have a wealth of skills and knowledge gained through life, work and community-based experiences. Credit for Prior Learning at TCC is academic credit awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college or university-level learning achieved through informal or experiential learning outside of the classroom. You can have your learning evaluated for academic credit, saving you time and money towards earning your degree.
For more information: https://help.tcc.edu/s/topic/0TO1R000000gnrkWAA/credit-for-prior-learning |
Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
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Is This College Right For Me? | At TCC, we believe everyone should have access to a high quality, affordable education. With diverse programs designed for immediate job placement, smaller class sizes, top-rated faculty and modern campuses, TCC is an ideal environment for a life changing education, right here in your own backyard. |
Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined when an academic plan is selected by the student. |
First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by first semester of attendance. |
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Completing the first two years of your degree at TCC can get you in the door - while saving you thousands on the cost of your education. We recommend that you start your transfer planning during your first semester at TCC. In addition to your regular academic advising, you should review the TCC guaranteed admissions agreements and the transfer guides for the college or university to which you would like to transfer.
https://help.tcc.edu/s/article/Guaranteed-Transfer-Programs. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate in Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Hybrid |
Northern Virginia Community College | Medical Laboratory Technology, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Wytheville Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Medical Laboratoy Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Averett University | Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Averett University | Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Radford University | BS in Medical Laboratory Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
The University of Virginia's College at Wise | Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Major in Medical Technology | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Mary Baldwin University | Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Laboratory Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
George Mason University | Medical Laboratory Science, BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Old Dominion University | Medical Lab Science-BSMLS | Bachelor | BS in Medical Lab Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
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25-1071.00 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
29-2012.01 | Histology Technicians | Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
29-2012.00 | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | Perform 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 |
29-2011.01 | Cytogenetic Technologists | Analyze chromosomes or chromosome segments found in biological specimens, such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, solid tumors, and blood to aid in the study, diagnosis, classification, or treatment of inherited or acquired genetic diseases. Conduct analyses through classical cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) techniques. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
29-2011.02 | Cytotechnologists | Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
29-2011.04 | Histotechnologists | Apply knowledge of health and disease causes to evaluate new laboratory techniques and procedures to examine tissue samples. Process and prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May solve technical or instrument problems or assist with research studies. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
29-2011.00 | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
Cost To Complete
