Program offered is an Associate.

About the Program

Are you looking for a career that offers a team-oriented and self-directed work environment? Then you may be a good fit for a career as a Clinical Laboratory Technician. Clinical lab technicians play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases by performing complex tests on blood, urine, tissues, and cells. They may prepare specimens and operate automated analyzers or perform manual tests according to detailed instructions. Typically employed as part of the healthcare team in clinic and hospital laboratories, Clinical Laboratory Technicians have also found employment in environmental, reference, and research laboratories.

Curriculum

NAU's Associate of Applied Science degree program in Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) prepares students from diverse backgrounds for rewarding careers in medical and scientific laboratories. The program includes courses in various clinical laboratory disciplines, as well as a general education core curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, and the life sciences. Students acquire the knowledge and practical skills to perform a variety of laboratory tasks in a student-centered and supportive learning environment through courses such as:

• Introduction to the Medical Laboratory
• Basic Immunology and Serology
• Hematology I and II
• Clinical Microbiology I and II
• Clinical Chemistry I and II
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
• General Chemistry and Microbiology

The clinical laboratory courses include a classroom lecture component and laboratory activities conducted in a fully-equipped teaching laboratory. Students will also participate in a six-month externship with local laboratories.

NAU is currently pursuing initial program accreditation status through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Program accreditation will allow CLT program graduates to be eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) and achieve MLT (ASCP) certification.

Career Outlook*

Good news! As an in-demand career field, employment opportunities for clinical laboratory technicians are expected to grow by 14% between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. While most clinical laboratory technicians are employed in hospitals, job opportunities are expanding in medical and diagnostic laboratories, physician offices, and ambulatory health services facilities.

*Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at http://www.national.edu/disclosures.

Campus Offerings