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Medical Laboratory Technology

Career and Technical

Location: Coeur d'Alene

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Tuition and Fees Cost of Attendance

Program Description

The Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program prepares graduates to work as medical lab technicians qualified to perform various laboratory procedures including low-, medium-, and high-complexity testing. The MLT program includes instruction in the laboratory disciplines of phlebotomy, medical microbiology, hematology and hemostasis, medical chemistry, transfusion medicines, urinalysis and body fluids and lab operations. Coursework includes online didactic classes, student laboratory and clinical internships.

The state of Idaho offers the MLT program through a consortium of community colleges, namely North Idaho College (NIC), college of Southern Idaho (CSI) and College of Eastern Idaho (CEI). The Idaho Consortium of Medical Laboratory Technology Education (ICMLTE) admits up to thirty-six students (36) to the professional component of the program each fall for a spring semester cohort start date. A maximum of sixteen (16) students will be admitted to NIC, ten (10) to CSI and ten (10) to CEI each spring.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for national certification examination testing through the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). The MLT AAS degree provides pathways to both MLT and Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certifications. These certifications enhance opportunities for employment in clinical laboratories.

The MLT program is a competitive admissions program and has prerequisite course requirements. Students must have completed a minimum of fourteen (14) semester credits (twenty-one (21) quarter credits) of specific laboratory/math/science courses prior to the professional component start date. Students must also have completed English 101 or higher and/or have tested out of this requirement prior to the professional component start date.

A minimum grade point average of C/2.0/74% is required for all MLT courses.

Application to the Medical Laboratory (MLT) Program opens in early August each year for January (spring semester) program admission. The priority application period ends in mid-October; however, applications may be accepted after this date if program space is available. Contact the Health Professions Advisor by calling 208-625-2320 for additional program and application information.

View Degree Requirements

North Idaho College’s MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Address: 5600 N River Road Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 773.714.8800
Fax: 773.714.8886
Email: naaclsinfo@naacls.org
Website: www.naacls.org

North Idaho College’s MLT Program is in the process of joining the Idaho Consortium of MLT Education (ICMLTE).  The ICMLTE is comprised of three member colleges, namely North Idaho College, College of Southern Idaho and College of Eastern Idaho. The ICMLTE is currently seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Address: 5600 N River Road Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 773.714.8800
Fax: 773.714.8886
Email: naaclsinfo@naacls.org

The regional NIC MLT program has the following outcomes data:

  • Pass Rate:
    The pass rates for the ASCP MLT national certification exam were 87.5% in 2021, 100% in 2022 and 83% in 2023.
    The pass rates for the AMT MLS national certification exam were NA in 2021, NA in 2022 and 100% in 2023.

  • Completion Rate:
    The student completion rates for the final half of the MLT program were 100% in 2021, 100% in 2022 and 100% in 2023.

  • Employment Rate:
    100% of graduates for the year 2021, 100% of graduates for the year 2022 and 87.5% of graduates for the year 2023 are employed in the field or in a closely related field and/or continued their education within one year of graduation.

The ICMLTE will not have program outcomes available until after the first class of students has graduated in 2026.

Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the program, the student will:

Be deemed clinically competent by:

  • Demonstrating the skills necessary to perform entry-level competencies as a medical lab technician with routine medical laboratory tests in areas such as Chemistry, Hematology and Hemostasis, Immunology, Blood Banking, Microbiology, Urine and Body Fluid Analysis, and Laboratory Operations.
  • Demonstrating appropriate critical decision skills.
  • Demonstrating knowledge in all types of laboratory testing (simple to complex).
  • Recognizing routine and non-routine issues in pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical lab processes.

Exhibit professionalism by:

  • Demonstrating professional and ethical behavior by membership and active participation in laboratory or related professional organizations.
  • Modeling professional conduct by: respecting the feelings and needs of others, protecting the confidence of patient information, and not allowing personal concerns and biases to interfere with the welfare of patients.

Utilize appropriate communication and interpersonal skills to:

  • Effectively demonstrate communication skills to ensure accurate and appropriate information transfer.
  • Professionally and accurately, report laboratory results, adapt communication to their audience and work with all members of the healthcare team.

The description and outcomes were also approved by the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) and Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The following is a current list of North Idaho College clinical affiliates for the MLT program:

  • Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
  • Newport Hospital, Newport, Washington
  • Incyte, Spokane Valley, Washington  
  • Bonner General Hospital, Sandpoint, Idaho  
  • St. Alphonsus (Member of Trinity Health), Boise, Idaho  
  • Providence Medical Group, Spokane Valley, Washington
  • MultiCare: Rockwood Clinic, Deaconess Hospital, Valley Hospital, Spokane, Washington
  • Labcorp Corporation of America, Spokane Valley, Washington  

Satisfactory completion of the clinical internship is a program requirement and is offered to those students who have satisfactorily completed all prior MLT course work. While every attempt is made to place a student at a local or desired clinical location, all students must be prepared to travel to regional sites that may be outside of Northern Idaho. Note: Transportation costs, cost of living accommodations, and any clinical site-specific requirements or costs are the responsibility of the students.

The clinical internship is 360 hours in length. Site staffing and lab routine/workload may vary by site. The program director, student, and clinical site will work out mutually acceptable times.

Competitive Entry

  1. Official high school transcripts or their equivalent; college transcripts as applicable.
  2. Application to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.
  3. Minimum grades of C/2.0 must be received in each of the prerequisite courses listed below. The following information will appear in the 2024-2025 NIC catalog.
  4. All but one of the science and math prerequisite courses listed below must be completed prior to program entrance.
    Prerequisites:
    First Semester

    • BIOL-175 (Human Biology) or BIOL-115 (Introduction to Life Sciences) or BIOL-227 (Human Anatomy & Physiology I)
    • CHEM-101 (Intro to Essentials of General Chemistry I) or CHEM-111 (Principles of General College Chemistry I)
    • ENGL-101 or higher GEM 1 English (English Composition)
    • MATH-143 or higher GEM 3 Math  (Precalculus I: Algebra)
    Second Semester
    • BACT-250 (General Microbiology)
    • PSYC-101 or any GEM 6 Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing (Introduction to Psychology)
    • COMM-101 or any GEM 2 Oral Communication (Intro to Speech Communication)
    • CHEM-112 (Principles of General College Chemistry II) or CHEM-275 (Carbon Compounds) or CHEM-102 (Essentials of Organic & Biochemistry)
  5. A criminal background check will be required upon acceptance. Violations may result in denied access to clinical sites and therefore inability to complete the program. For questions regarding specific violations, please contact the program director

Program Snapshot

Degree Type Duration Path Credits
Associate of Applied Science Degree 6 Semesters Full-time 72-75 Degree requirements

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