Medical Laboratory Assistant, Occupational Certificate

Program Information

The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) program at San Jacinto College will help you learn the skills you need to work in this critical health care position. With our certificate program, you are trained to be part of the clinical lab team collecting, labeling and processing specimens, recording information, as well as maintaining equipment.

You’ll enjoy classes and labs as well as on-site experience at our affiliate hospital sites. After completing the one-year certificate, you’ll be eligible to take the national certification exam and apply for the certification examination given by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Career Opportunities

Job opportunities for graduates of the MLA program include but are not limited to:

  • Hospital and clinical caboratories
  • Research and specialty laboratories
  • Outpatient and doctors' offices
  • Urgent Care and free-standing ER clinics/labs

For more information, students may contact the Program Director at 281-478-3612 or lindsey.johnson@sjcd.edu.

Campus

Central Campus

Information

Upon completion of this program, including theory and labs on campus and at affiliate hospital sites, students earn an Occupational Certificate and are eligible to take the national certification exams and apply for the certification examination given by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site. 

Admission

In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair.  

Plan of Study

6MED-LBAS

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First TermCredits
HPRS 1206 Essentials of Medical Terminology 2
PLAB 1223 Phlebotomy 2
MLAB 1201 Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science 2
HPRS 2301 Pathophysiology 3
HPRS 2321 Medical Law and Ethics for Health Professionals 3
 Credits12
Second Term
HPRS 1260 Clinical Practicum 2
HPRS 1209 Interpretation of Laboratory Results 2
 Credits4
 Total Credits16

Capstone Experience: HPRS 1209 Interpretation of Laboratory Results  

Medical Laboratory Technology students must earn a grade of C or above in each Medical Laboratory Technology course and required science courses and maintain an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 to graduate from the Medical Laboratory Technology program.