Dec 11, 2024  
College Catalog 2024 - 2025 
  
College Catalog 2024 - 2025

Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate


* Milestone Courses should be taken in the order shown. This will help you stay on track and graduate on time.

Admission Requirements


Total Credits: 4


Admission Requirements Advising Note

Students are encouraged to meet with the Program Director to discuss the application process and to explore the profession.

If you are accepted into the program, you must complete the following steps:

  • Complete a CORI Form during the first semester in the Program.
  • Complete the first page of a Student Health Form - this form must go to your doctor, and when completed, must be brought to Room E154 at the Charlestown Campus of BHCC. Health clearance is required to participate in clinical internships.

Total Credits: 8


Semester 1 Advising Note

Total Credits: 8


Semester 2 Advising Note

  • MLA-222  must be completed with a B- or higher.

Semester 3 Summer


Total Credits: 7


Semester 3 Summer Advising Note

  • MLA-223  must be completed with a B- or higher.

Upon Completion of This Concentration Graduates Will Be Able To:


  • Develop an attitude of professionalism and be knowledgeable of the ethical considerations of dealing with patient and laboratory information.
  • Correctly perform basic venipuncture techniques using a variety of blood drawing apparatuses.
  • Explain the proper method to process and store various specimens used for laboratory testing.
  • Describe the routine workflow of the clinical laboratory.
  • Describe the importance of and correctly utilize a laboratory information system (LIS).
  • Discuss the various types of laboratory equipment that would be best utilized for various testing procedures.
  • Describe the roles of laboratory staff.
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of instrumentation.
  • Discuss the importance of and how to perform maintenance and quality control on instrumentation.
  • Perform assigned procedures, demonstrating competency in the performance of the test, understanding the underlying principles of the test, and the determination of appropriate actions necessary in handling and reporting of sensitive data.
  • Demonstrate organizational skills in the performance of assigned workload in a timely manner.

Career Outlook


A Medical Lab Assistant (MLA) is someone who works in a laboratory setting and assists in the processing of patient samples and the preparation of tests that need to be done. They play a key role in aiding the medical technologist and allowing for everything to run as efficiently as possible. They perform phlebotomy, specimen processing, testing preparation for the Medical Technologist to perform the actual testing, maintenance and calibration of instrumentation, and work with the Laboratory Information System (LIS).

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