Medical Technology at UHMānoa
*Students interested in medical laboratory profession are urged to contact the Department advisor to learn about the new 2+2 MLS curriculum. There is a nation-wide shortage of qualified medical laboratory professionals. Please call or drop by the office to make an appointment with an advisor:
Dick Teshima, MPH, MT
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Department of Medical Technology
Office: Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Website: www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.
(Text compiled from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science webstie, www.ascls.org, the UHM 2011-2012 Catalog, and UHM's Medical Technology website, www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.)
Medical Technology programs offered in Hawai'i: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Bachelors of Science
Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Programs
Coursework
Admission
Contact Information
Additional Information
Downloadable Brochure
Medical Technology (MedT or MedTech), also known as Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS), is a healthcare profession in which practitioners help diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases by performing laboratory procedures, such as venipuncture and microscopic examinations. The field encompasses many disciplines, including microbiology (isolating and identifying organisms and testing antimicrobial agents); immunohematology (blood banking); clinical chemistry (measuring chemical components of blood and bodily fluids, such as urinalysis, immunology, serology); and hematology and hemostasis (diagnosing disorders using a microscope and cell analyzers).
Practitioners, called medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists, often work in hospital or clinic laboratories, but many also work in reference labs, physicians’ offices, research and DNA laboratories, medical examiners’ offices and crime labs, veterinary clinics, and laboratory industries. Some practitioners go on to pursue careers as forensic scientists, researchers, educators, or health administrators.
MedTech, or CLS, evolves constantly in response to advances in technology and is growing rapidly. Career opportunities are plentiful nationwide.
Related fields include Medical Lab Technician (MLT), Forensics, laboratory sciences, and research.
Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Programs
Medical technology, or clinical laboratory science, is one of the few health careers that you can enter with an undergraduate degree, certification, and licensure.
Technicians (MLT or CLT) complete Associate degrees (2-3 years), and scientists (MedTech or CLS) complete Bachelor degrees (4-5 years).
A certificate or graduate degree commands a higher salary and usually speeds promotion and advancement.
Associate degree (2-3 years);
Bachelor degree (4-5 years).
Licensure.
Optional further education:
Certificate (1 year)
Master degree (2-3 years)
A Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) is currently under discussion but not yet a reality. Becoming a laboratory director usually requires a doctorate in a related field, such as the biological sciences, chemistry, management, or education.
Kapi’olani Community College offers an Associate degree in MLT; UHM offers both a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a Post-baccalaureate Certification in Clinical Training.
Students who graduate from an accredited program are eligible to take the national certification exam, offered by both the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Some states, including Hawaii, also require licensing. State laws on licensure vary but usually include minimum competency requirements, continuing education requirements, and licensing fees. A professional license is required to practice in the state of Hawai’i.
Coursework
Students enter UHM’s MedTech program at the Junior level and must apply to be accepted. To be eligible for admission, students must have completed an accredited Associate degree in MLT that includes all required education and training specified by NAACLS. Students who complete KAP's MLT program are eligible to apply.
Note: All applicants to UHMs MedTech program must have completed the following courses.
Required for admission to KAP’s MLT program:
ENG 100 or higher 3cr. |
Composition I |
MATH 103 or higher 3cr. |
Fundamentals of College Algebra |
BIOL 103 or 4cr. |
Anatomy & Physiology I |
BIOL 171 or 3cr. |
General Biology I |
ZOOL 141 and 142 6cr. |
Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II |
CHEM 161/162L 4cr. |
General Chemistry I & Lab |
MLT 100 1cr. |
Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory |
Recommended for KAP's MLT Program
CHEM 162/162L 4cr. |
General Chemistry II & Lab |
MICRO 130 3cr. |
General Microbiology |
MICRO 161 2cr. |
Immunology & Protein Chemistry |
Social science elective 3cr. |
|
Arts and Humanities elective 3cr. |
Required for admission to UHM's MedTech Program
|
Composition I |
|
Pre-calculus, recommended |
|
Introductory Biology |
|
General Microbiology |
|
Immunology & Protein Chemistry |
|
General Chemistry I & Lab |
|
General Chemistry II & Lab |
You also need national certification as an MLT.
*Recommended for KAP’s MLT program
Additional General Education Requirements for graduation from UHM:
DA/DH/DL elective (Two different groups) 6cr.
DS elective (Two different departments) 6cr.
FG (Two different groups) 6cr.
Note: Students from other MLT programs must have equivalent course work.
In addition to the courses listed above, you must also fulfill the General Education Core (http://www.catalog.hawaii.edu/corerequirements/default.htm) in order to complete the Bachelor degree. The Hawaiian/Second Language requirement is waived for Medical Technology majors.
You may either start at KAP and transfer to UHM, or start at UHM, transfer to KAP to complete the MLT program, then return to UHM.
Admission
UHM’s MedTech department is part of the John A. Burns School of Medicine. To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Associate degree in MLT from KAP or equivalent;
- National certification as MLT by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP);
- Minimum 2.5 GPA at KAP (*if transfer student, GPA will be calculated based on relevant MLT courses only); and
- Submit a complete application before the deadline
For those who earned the MLT degree from colleges other than KAP, eligibility will be determined based on course work, GPA (overall and math/science), interviews, essays and external evaluations.
You must also be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Manipulate labware to transfer or prepare reagents and samples (e.g., pipet, charge hemocytometers, prepare blood smears).
- Operate simple instruments according to instructions (e.g., cell counter, centrifuge, spectrophotometer).
- Perform microscopic examination on various specimens and report the results (e.g., leukocyte differential counts, cell morphology, urinary sediments).
- Follow written and verbal directions to perform laboratory tests and report results.
Students may apply to be admitted in the Fall or Spring semesters. Because some courses are offered sequentially, the curriculum is generally completed at the end of Spring semester. Applications are available through the MedTech office. Applications require:
- application form
- transcripts
- an essay
- two personal evaluations
- an interview
UHM’s MedTech program is looking for students who enjoy science, are detail-oriented, are able to multi-task and prioritize, and are well-organized. Criteria for admission are listed on the website.
A six-month Clinical Training (MEDT 591) follows graduation. After Clinical Training, you are eligible to take an exam administered by a national certification agency. In Hawaii, both the certification and the state licensure are required for employment. Alternatively, with an MLT certification and a bachelor’s degree, 2 years of work experience would qualify you to challenge your MLS national certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Contact the academic advisor or the certification agency for detailed information.
Additional requirements include professional liability insurance, which costs about $40 per year, and immunizations (immunization for Hepatitis B virus is highly recommended). Clinical affiliates for MEDT 591 may have additional requirements (e.g., specific immunizations, TB clearance, CPR/AED training, criminal background check, etc.).
Contact Information
UHM Department of Medical Technology
Office: Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Fax: (808) 956-5457
Website: www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.
Mailing address: 1960 East-West Road; Honolulu, HI 96822
KAP MLT Program
Health Sciences Department
Phone: (808) 734-9270
Website: http://programs.kvv.hawaii.edu/
Mailing address: 4303 Diamond Head Road, Kauila 122; Honolulu, HI 96816
For advising at UHM, contact:
Dick Y. Teshima, MPH, MT, Department Chair
dick@hawaii.edu
Biomed C-201
Sheri M. Gon
sgon@hawaii.edu
Biomed C-206
Additional Information
UHMānoa's Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books, lists of volunteer opportunities, academic planning worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for your MedTech program.
| UHM's Division of Medical Technology | www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html |
| American Medical Technologists | www.amt1.com |
| American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science | www.ascls.org |
| National Credentialing | www.nca-info.org |
| American Society for Clinical Pathology | www.ascp.org |
| National Accrediting Agency for CLS | www.naacls.org |
| Preparing for Graduate School by the Honors Program | http://preparingforgraduateschool.weebly.com/ |