NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

HARRISON, ARKANSAS

 

ADMISSION INFORMATION

 

The curriculum in the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program is full-time course of study, requiring a full-time commitment from its students.  The faculty of the MLT Program discourages strongly full-time employment while enrolled in the program.  If a student must work it is recommended that he/she work no more than 20 hours per week.  Students with financial difficulties should discuss alternative to employment with the Financial Aid Office.  Clinical Practicums are held at area hospitals and because of this transportation, childcare, and any employment should be considered prior to entry into the clinical phase (2nd year) of the MLT Program.

 

PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

To be eligible for admission, the student must:

 

1.         be accepted as a student in the college (see admission requirements).

 

2.         have completed ACT, ASSET and/or COMPASS test and have scores sent to Northark (see college requirements for placement).  Transfer students must submit a complete transcript.  All college preparatory classes (bases on the ACT, ASSET and/or COMPASS test scores) must be completed with a “C” or above before being accepted into the program.

 

3.         receive a “C” or above for any prerequisite courses (Basic Phlebotomy ALDH 1012 and Basic Anatomy & Physiology BIOL 1434 or higher) required for the MLT Program as well as each course required in the MLT curriculum.

           

4.         hold a 2.5 grade point average for admission to the MLT Program.

 

5.         complete the Medical Laboratory Technology Program application by May 1 for program consideration.  The application process must be renewed yearly.  The student will be subject to any revised entrance requirements that may be in effect at the time of reapplication.  The application file must include the following:

            a)   Medical Laboratory Technology Program Application form

            b)   Reference Forms (2) from employers, teachers, medical personnel, etc.

            c)   Health-related Work Experience Form (if applicable)

            d)   All transcripts

 

6.         complete the health statement and turn it into the MLT Program Director by the first day of MLT classes.  Immunizations listed are required of all persons participating in the clinical component associated with the Northark’s MLT Program.  The only exception would be for medical reasons.  An annual tuberculosis skin test (PPD) or chest x-ray is required.  Students must furnish proof of MMR and varicella verified or declination.  Students must obtain the Hepatitis B vaccine series or sign a waiver.

 

7.         carry malpractice insurance which is obtained each fall when paying fees.

 

8.         students who are offered a place in the entering class of the MLT program must accept by phone or in writing by the date indicated on the acceptance letter.

 

9.         it may be required by some clinical affiliates to undergo criminal background checks before being placed into that clinical site.

 

10.       complete MLT 1003, Orientation to Clinical Laboratory Science, the Fall semester in which the student has been accepted into the program if they have not already completed the course.

 

            MLT students must have available transportation to the college and to the following clinical sites:

 

            1.         North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison, Arkansas

            2.         St. John’s-Berryville, Berryville, Arkansas

            3.         Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home, Arkansas

            4.         Skaggs Community Hospital, Branson, Missouri

            5.         Stone County Medical CenterMountain View, Arkansas

            6.         Community Medical Center of Izard County, Calico Rock, Arkansas

            7.         Ozark Health Medical Center, Clinton, Arkansas

            8.         St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Russellville, Arkansas

            9.         Other clinical sites, as they become available

 

            Students that withdraw or are dropped from the program must reapply for admission and retake all previously completed clinical courses unless a waiver is approved by the Program Director and the Dean, Allied Health.

 

            A grade of “C” or better must be maintained in each MLT course in order to be retained and progress in the program.

 

ADMISSION CRITERIA

 

The following criteria will be used in the candidate selection process for the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program.  All applicants will be ranked numerically and selected to available openings according to their rankings.

 

The top candidate will be chosen to fill available seats.  Should a tie occur for the final seat, the student with the highest cumulative grade point average (CGPA) will be selected.  Should a tie still occur, the student with the highest ACT score will be selected.  All remaining candidates will be placed in numerical order, as determined by the selection criteria.  If one of the top candidates declines acceptance into the program, the first alternate is offered a seat.  Selection to the clinical phase continues in this manner until all seats have been filled or there are no remaining alternate candidates.

 

Once courses have started in the program, no further students will be admitted into the class.  All candidates not selected can reapply for selection.  Students not selected the previous year only need to fill out “Request for Admission, Medical Laboratory Technology Program Clinical Phase” by class consideration date deadline.  All previous forms submitted for application to the program will be held for these individuals for one (1) year.  Should a student apply to the clinical phase of the program a third time, he/she will be required to complete an entire application package.  It is recommended that all students reapplying to the clinical phase of the program complete a new admission packet to insure that there have been no changes in application requirements that could preclude selection.

 

All candidates designated as an “alternate candidate,” the previous year will be awarded 25 points toward selection into the next clinical phase of the program, if he/she has completed all course requirements.  Alternate candidates that still have not completed all of the course requirements at the completion of the spring semester will not be awarded these 25 points.

 

1.         10 points CGPA = 4.00-3.81

            08 points CGPA = 3.80-3.61

            06 points CGPA = 3.60-3.31

            04 points CGPA = 3.30-2.91

            02 points CGPA = 2.90-2.50

 

2.         Grade points from previous courses applicable to the program

 

3.         Points from two (2) personal reference forms.

4          Points for health related work experience

 

            10 points = Clinical laboratory (hospital) experience

            06 points = Other laboratory experience

            02 points = Other medical experience

 

5.         Grades received for completing the following courses:  General Chemistry I & II, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I or II, College Algebra or higher math, and Orientation to Clinical Laboratory Science

 

            10 points = A

            06 points = B

            02 points = C

 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSIDERATION:

 

Initially, only students that have completed all courses in the pre-clinical phase of the program with a “C” or better will be considered for the clinical phase of the program. 

 

If all clinical seats are not filled then students requiring not more than two (2) of the pre-clinical courses (only one course may be a science course) will be considered for the program.  All grades of “D” or lower will be considered as having not completed that particular class.  These candidates will be ranked numerically and selected to available openings according to their ranking.

 

1.         MLT 1003 will be considered a science course.

2.         ALDH 1012 must be completed prior to selection into the program or with director’s approval, taken while in the program.

 

At no time will students requiring more than 2 classes or more than 1 science class to complete the course requirements will be selected to the pre-clinical portion of the program unless after counseling with the program director it can be reasonably believed that the individual will be successful in the program.  Selection of these individuals will normally be reserved for OJT trained laboratory personnel that have completed ALDH 1012:  Basic Phlebotomy and have been working in the field a minimum of 2 years.  These students will only be considered if seats are available after selection of the normal tracked students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2007