Before Applying

Students must be currently admitted and in good standing with Chattanooga State Community College before applying to the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program.

Transfer Credits

The program currently only accepts transferred credits for general education or prerequisites from an accredited college or university. Advance Placement or “AP” credit is accepted by the program based on the decision of the Records Office and Chattanooga State’s policies. Experiential learning can be assessed through the ePortfolio evaluation performed by Chattanooga State to determine if prior learning or work experience can transferred as potential college credit.   However, all MLAB courses must be taken at Chattanooga State.
 

Essential Functions

Before applying to the program, it is necessary for students to understand the essential functions required of working medical laboratory technicians. The following functions are expected of every student with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Observational - Ability to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory activities and clinical experiences in the professional program component. Such observation and information require functional use of visual, auditory and somatic sensations.
• Movement - Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective performance of duties.
• Communication - Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal and written formats with faculty, other students, clients, families and all members of the healthcare team.
• Intellectual - Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.
• Behavioral - Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student’s intellectual abilities, the exercise of professional judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with faculty, fellow students, clinical instructors, patients and other members of the healthcare team.

Applying:

Students must attend a required information session within the academic calendar of the year they plan to apply and complete the online application. Applications are due Feb 15^th of every year, if the 15^th is a weekend day, applications are due the following business day. Students must meet the following criteria:

Pre-requisite Courses:

Students interested in MLT must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Completing these courses does not guarantee program acceptance.

• MLAB 1301- Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology
• BIOL 2010 - Anatomy & Physiology 1
• BIOL 2230 - Microbiology
• CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry 1
• MATH 1710 or Higher - Precalculus Algebra

No students may register for MLAB courses, other than Introductory to Medical Lab Technology until they have been fully accepted and admitted to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program. Students may apply while pre-requisites are in progress, but admission to the program is contingent upon meeting the above requirements.

Additional Opportunities

Additional points will be awarded to those applicants who have successfully passed the following general education courses with the grade of “C” or better. Completing these courses does not guarantee program acceptance.

• ENGL 1010 - Composition 1
• PSYC 1030 - General Psychology
• *CHEM 1010 or 1110 - Intro to Chemistry or General Chemistry
• *MATH Elective or 1710 (or higher)
• Humanities/Fine Arts Directed Elective

NOTE: Beginning Fall 2025 only CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry and MATH 1710 or higher will be accepted.

Acceptance

Students will be selected from the applicant pool based on a point system, utilizing the MLT points calculation worksheet.  Applicants will be notified in March of acceptance and will have two weeks from notification to accept their seat in that year’s cohort. Failure to notify the program director of acceptance is assumed to be a rejection of program acceptance and an alternate will be selected. Any alternates will be notified as quickly as possible should an opening occur throughout the month of April so they may begin in the summer term. Those not accepted may reapply for the next summer start.

MLT Points Calculator

Courses that are “In Progress” will not be used in calculations and the total possible points will be adjusted accordingly. Pre-Requisite courses must be completed before the start of program (May) with a grade of “C” or higher.

Total Possible Points: 23