Program Details
Program Details
Back to top

Program Details

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory Technology

Associate of Applied Science
Tidewater 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
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Hybrid
Check Course Schedules
Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Yes, if you:
  • are strong in science
  • and mathematics
  • can complete prerequisites with grades of C or better
  • have attention to detail and can work under stress
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 Tidewater Community College within your first year via College Connect
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
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
Associate of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory Technology
67
Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology
67
Course Grad Req Grp (151)
67
Medical Laboratory Technology Course Requirement - 67 Credits
67
BIO 101
4
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
BIO 141
4
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MTH 161
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
CHM 111
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 105
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 101
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
SDV 101
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MDL 125
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 210
2
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 251
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 261
4
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 190
1
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 216
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 225
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 252
2
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 265
2
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 266
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 276
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 277
4
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 278
4
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
MDL 298
1
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
Humanities Elective
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Social Science Elective
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Residency Requirement (151)
67
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 50 credits may be applied to this program.
GPA Requirement
67
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
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...
  • 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: Tidewater Community College
College Level Information
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Transfer Center
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
3364
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
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
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate in Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearHybrid
Northern Virginia Community CollegeMedical Laboratory Technology, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Central Virginia Community CollegeAAS in Medical Laboratoy TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Averett UniversityBachelor of Arts in Biological SciencesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Averett UniversityBachelor of Science in Biological SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory TechnologyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Radford UniversityBS in Medical Laboratory ScienceBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
The University of Virginia's College at WiseBachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Major in Medical TechnologyBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Mary Baldwin UniversityBachelor of Arts in Clinical Laboratory ScienceBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
George Mason UniversityMedical Laboratory Science, BSBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Old Dominion UniversityMedical Lab Science-BSMLSBachelorBS in Medical Lab Science4-YearIn-Person, Online
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMedical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of ScienceBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
29-2011.01Cytogenetic TechnologistsAnalyze 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
29-2011.02CytotechnologistsStain, 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
29-2011.04HistotechnologistsApply 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
29-2011.00Medical and Clinical Laboratory TechnologistsPerform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Cost To Complete
Expand or Shrink Accordion

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 67 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 Associate of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory Technology at Tidewater Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 4 semesters or 2 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 $165 Per Credit $11,055 $0 $11,055 Tuition is subject to change by action of the State Board for Community Colleges. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Fees
Institutional Fee $7 Per Credit $469 0 $469 Used to fund expenses related to campus parking including, but no limited to parking improvements, signage, parking lot repairs, lot security, and overall improvements. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Student Activity Fee $3 Per Credit $201 0 $201 Used to fund various student activities and programs including, but not limited to honor societies, leadership training, community and cultural events, clubs, athletics, student publications, and learning assistance. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Auxiliary Capital Fee $20 Per Credit $1,340 0 $1,340 Used to construct, maintain, and operate facilities for which state General Fund dollars are not permitted. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
*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.