Medical Lab Technology

MLTs use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation, as well as manual procedures, to perform testing and provide results that are essential in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. It is estimated that over 70% of all medical decisions are based in part on laboratory results.

The medical laboratory technician has diverse and multi-level functions in the areas of collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances, principles and methodologies, performance of assays, problem solving, troubleshooting techniques, correlation of clinical procedures and results, principles and practices of quality assessment for all major areas: clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory.

Admission Requirements

The MLT Program of Maine is a competitive program with limited admissions. It is highly encouraged to apply to the program as soon as possible in the fall and spring semesters as the program starts in the summer.

In order to be considered for the MLT program, you must do the following:

Complete the following prerequisites

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
High School Biology with lab (grade of C or higher)
- or BIO 110 Introduction to Biology w/ lab (grade of C or higher)
High School Chemistry with lab (grade of C or higher)
- or CHY 100 Fundamentals of Chemistry w/ lab (grade of C or higher)
ENG 100 Introduction to Academic Reading & Writing, or course waiver
Meet general admission requirements of the University
Submit an application to the home University
Provide official transcripts of all colleges attended. Courses with a grade of “C-” or better should transfer to the University. Note: The MLT Program is science-intensive and students must achieve a minimum grade of 77% or C+ in all science courses.
Meet the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses completed at UMPI/UMA

Note: Students interested in the program who do not meet the entrance requirements are invited to contact one of the Program administration, the advising department, or the admissions office for assistance in identifying methods to obtain necessary courses required for the program.

Required Essay

We ask all potential MLT students to write an essay addressing the following questions.

Why are you interested in the MLT Program? You may comment on previous experiences (work or personal) that have influenced your decision to enter this field.
What qualities do you possess that will help you to be a good MLT?
What are your professional goals?

Lab Tour

It is highly recommended that if you have not had an opportunity to visit a clinical laboratory, please contact program administration for more information on scheduling a visit.

Further Education

MLT graduates may upgrade their professional certification to Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by transferring into the BA Biology program.

Additional Requirements Following Admission

For your information, if you are accepted to the MLT Program of Maine, you will need to complete the following requirements:

Criminal Background Checks

MLT students entering the clinical rotation component of the program must have a completed current criminal background check on file. If a student’s criminal background check returns evidence of a felony criminal conviction or other serious charges that could result in a clinical affiliate denying clinical rotation access to that student, a review of the situation will be conducted by the program director. Students are advised in MLT 103 that the majority of our clinical affiliates require evidence/validation of a criminal background check as per clinical affiliate/college contract agreements. If a student has a criminal history, the clinical affiliate has the right to deny that student access to its facility and the program must disclose such information to the affiliate and allow the affiliate the right to deny or approve access to said clinical affiliate. Failure to be placed in a clinical rotation would prevent the student from completing the MLT clinical program. In the event that the student feels that an error has been made in the results of the criminal background check, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the external vendor for a verification check.

Student Health Record

MLT students entering the clinical rotation component of the program must have a complete Health Record Form on file with the program that was completed no more than 12 months prior to the beginning of the clinical rotation. Students are advised in MLT 103 that all of our clinical affiliates require evidence/validation of immunizations and health records. The MLT Program has a standard health records form that must be completed by an approved medical provider. The following information must be completed as part of this process:

Two Step PPD process (evidence of Neg TB screen) or QTB performed within the last 12 months. Note some clinical affiliates require a QTB performed within the last 90 days.
Evidence of immunization history
Required Titer levels
Hepatitis B vaccine or waiver form
Physician Evaluation

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these requirements, please contact the MLT program administration.

Applicants who do not meet these requirements may qualify for admissions by completing comparable course work at UMA and will be admitted into the Pre-Medical Laboratory Science track of the Liberal Studies program. Enrollment in the Pre-Medical Laboratory Science track does not guarantee admissions to the Associate of Science, Medical Laboratory Technology degree program.

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
High School Biology with lab or BIO 110 (grade of C or higher)
High School Chemistry with Lab or CHY 100 (grade of C or higher)
ENG 100 – Introduction to Academic Reading & Writing 3 CR
2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher
This program will prepare you to be eligible for licensure in the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.

Associate Degree Requirements:

Minimum 74 Credit Hours
Writing Intensive Course
Minimum Cumulative G.P.A.: 2.00
15 Credit Hours of Residency Courses
9 Credits of Major Residency Courses
Minimum G.P.A. in the MLT & Science Courses: 2.33

Program Major Requirements (39 Credit Hours):

All courses must be passed with a “C+” or better.

Students must complete the program in three years once they begin MLT courses.

MLT 100 – Clinical Chemistry I 3 CR taken in fall via UMPI
MLT 103 – Phlebotomy 2 CR taken in summer (first semester of program) via UMA
MLT 104 – Phlebotomy Clinical Practicum 1 CR
MLT 105 – Urinalysis 3 CR taken in summer (first semester of program) via UMPI
MLT 200 – Clinical Immunology 3 CR
MLT 203 – Clinical Chemistry II 3 CR taken in spring via UMPI
MLT 204 – Clinical Microbiology 4 CR taken in fall via UMA
MLT 205 – Immunohematology 4 CR taken in fall via UMPI
MLT 206 – Hematology/Coagulation 4 CR taken in summer via UMA
MLT 395 – Hospital Practicum 12 CR taken in the final spring semester via UMA

Other Program Requirements (35 Credit Hours):

ENG 101 – College Writing 3 CR
MAT 115 – Elementary Statistics I 3 CR
BIO 110 – General Biology I 4 CR must be passed with a “C+” or better
BIO 210 – Anatomy and Physiology 4 CR must be passed with a “C+” or better
BIO 321 – Microbiology 4 CR must be passed with a “C+” or better
CHY 115 – General Chemistry I 4 CR must be passed with a “C+” or better
CHY 116 – General Chemistry II 4 CR must be passed with a “C+” or better

Complete one of the following Communications electives (3):

Complete one of the following Fine Arts or Humanities (3):

Writing Intensive Course Recommended

ARH xxx any Art History course
ART xxx any Art course
ASL 1xx/2xx any 100- or 200-level ASL course
DRA xxx any Drama course
ENG 351W – Creative Writing 3 CR
ENG 452W – Creative Writing II 3 CR
ENG xxx any literature course (except ENG 100 ENG 101 ENG 210W ENG 317W or ENG 320W )
FRE xxx any French course
HGH xxx any Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide course
HTY xxx any history course
HUM xxx any humanities course
MUS 1xx any 100-level MUS course
MUH xxx any MUH course
PHI xxx any philosophy course
SPA xxx any Spanish course
WGS xxx any Women and Gender Studies course

Complete one of the following Social Science electives (3):

ANT xxx any anthropology course
JUS xxx any justice studies course
ECO xxx any economics course
GEO xxx any geography course
POS xxx any political science course
PSY xxx any psychology course (PSY 100 – Introduction to Psychology recommended)
SOC xxx any sociology course
SSC xxx any social science course