Mission & Goals


Mission & Goals

Mission Statement

The Medical Laboratory Technology program of Austin Community College will strive to be an exemplary program graduating highly qualified and competent individuals to fill the employment needs of clinical laboratories. Upon graduation from the college, students receive the Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry national certification examination.

Teaching Philosophy

The Program is committed to serving students and the medical laboratory community through guidance, excellent academic instruction and professional training utilizing traditional and innovative means while understanding the cultural diversity of individuals, maintaining a student-centered philosophy, striving to make wise use of community and educational resources and materials, continuing an ongoing process of self-evaluation and self-renewal, and maintaining an outstanding accreditation rating. The faculty and staff of the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to assisting the student toward the greatest academic, personal, and professional potential through quality courses and instruction. The Medical Laboratory Technician Program, with the assistance of its clinical affiliate laboratories, is committed to providing quality didactic and clinical instruction, encompassing the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning, to prepare its graduates to work upon career entry as competent medical laboratory technicians in healthcare facilities. The program is committed to meeting the employment needs of medical laboratories and to providing a quality continuing education to laboratory professionals in our service area.

Program Goals

The primary goals of the Medical Laboratory Technology program are:

  1. To provide students both academic instruction and professional training in the field of laboratory medicine to meet employment needs of Austin and surrounding communities.
  2. To provide a climate conducive to stimulating interest in MLT education and participating in professional organizations, and encouraging awareness in changing trends in medical laboratory technology.
  3. To produce graduates who meet entry-level competency in the profession.
  4. To produce skilled clinical laboratory workers who:
    • through general and technical education, are qualified to perform with minimal supervision, the tests routinely performed in clinical laboratories.
    • are able to collect, label, identify, and log in specimens accurately.
    • have a working knowledge of the principles of the tests they are performing.
    • keep accurate and legible records and are able to communicate reports clearly to fellow medical personnel.
    • are able to correlate test results in order to confirm them.
    • will strive for accuracy in the performance of tests, will make every effort to eliminate error through their ability to recognize irregularities in test results and procedures, make corrections according to preset strategies and criteria, and refer them to more qualified personnel when appropriate.
    • are skillful in the operation of laboratory instruments.
    • are able to demonstrate and explain routine procedures to others in the laboratory.
    • will take responsibility for their own work and are able to organize their work to make the most efficient use of time.
    • will adapt well to various work situations.
    • maintain the confidentiality of patient results.
    • are constantly aware of patient welfare.
    • will co-operate with their co-workers and all members of the health care team.
    • are able to perform efficiently under stress.
    • will strive to keep their competence and knowledge current in relation to the changing work environment.
    • will have the qualities of honesty and intellectual integrity beyond reproach.
    • are skillful in the operation of laboratory instruments and are able to recognize instrument failures and take appropriate actions.
    • will actively participate in professional organizations in their specialty.
  5. To carry out the education of each student in a manner that encourages further education, participation in community service, and maintenance of special interests in the field.
  6. To maintain accreditation of the program through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
  7. To produce graduates eligible to take and pass a nationally recognized certification examination upon completion of the program.
  8. To maintain high academic and professional standards both in the program and in its students.
  9. To serve as a resource for the clinical laboratories in the Austin area.

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Medical Laboratory Technology Updates

  • TEAS Testing Requirements for Health Sciences Applicants

    A TEAS Exam score is required to apply to the following programs: Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiology, and Vocational Nursing.

    If you are not applying to one of the programs above, then you are not required to take the TEAS Exam at this time. Please refer to the Application Process page for your program to see all application requirements.

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  • Online Application Submission Process

    Due to public safety concerns, applications will not be accepted in person until further notice. Effective immediately, applicants for all Health Sciences programs except Associate Degree Nursing, Mobility Nursing, and RN-to-BSN should follow these instructions when submitting their application and supporting documents:

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  • Phlebotomy Technician Program Applications

    To apply to the Phlebotomy Technician program, please upload your supporting documents to CastleBranch using code UL78im. To learn more, visit the Phlebotomy Technician Application Process page.

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