Academic Programs

The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program at Lake Region State College (LRSC) is a college-based program started in 2026. The program features a dedicated, non-biohazard teaching laboratory where students learn foundational laboratory skills, including microscopy, pipetting, and essential laboratory operations. For biohazardous and clinical-specific learning, students gain hands-on experience in laboratory spaces at clinical affiliate sites. Additionally, simulation-based learning is used to introduce clinical procedures in a safe, controlled environment before students practice in real-world settings.

The MLT program is located at the LRSC Grand Forks Education Building, 1300 S. Columbia Rd, Grand Forks, ND 58201-4012.

Mission

The mission of the Medical Laboratory Technician program is to provide high-quality education that prepares students to enter the workforce as skilled professionals, positively impacting healthcare and community health through accurate laboratory practice in the state and surrounding regions.

Program Goals

1. Deliver a high-quality, current curriculum that reflects best practices, promotes critical thinking, and aligns with Lake Region State College and National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science standards.
2. Provide a student-centered learning environment that supports success through individualized advising, mentorship, accessible instruction, and engagement with faculty and staff.
3. Prepare competent, career-ready graduates who meet entry-level standards, are employable across diverse laboratory settings, and are positioned for career and professional advancement in medical laboratory practice.
4. Promote and advocate for medical laboratory professions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program:

1. The student will develop the technical skills required for practice as an entry-level Medical Laboratory Technician.
2. The student will apply troubleshooting techniques and problem-solving strategies relevant to entry-level medical laboratory practice.
3. The student will integrate theoretical knowledge with laboratory procedures to support accurate testing and patient care.
4. The student will recognize and demonstrate professional behaviors essential to entry-level practice in the medical laboratory profession.
5. The student will incorporate principles related to LRSC student learning goals, including communication, critical thinking, and professional readiness.
    

Accreditation

The LRSC MLT Program has applied to the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) which is located at 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119.

The LRSC MLT Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Please see the following website for verification and dates for each college. https://hlcommission.org/

Students interested in the Medical Laboratory Technician program should refer to the application timeline and review admission requirements. Application questions may be directed to Heather Mayers, Instructor & Program Director.

The following outcome statistics are tracked and monitored as part of continuous program assessment and accreditation for the LRSC MLT program.

Graduation Rate

• The percentage of students beginning the second half of the program that go on to successfully graduate will be at least 70% each year*.

Certification Exam Pass Rate

• The percentage of graduates passing ASCP or AMT Certification exam will be at least 75% each year*. 

  This excludes graduates with first attempts greater than one year after graduation.

Employment/Placement Rate

• The percentage of graduates that find employment (for those seeking it) or continue their education within one year of graduation will be greater than 70%* each year.

  *Rate established by the NAACLS as a quality measure of its accredited programs

Clinical Immunology (MLS 226)
Miller, L. E. (2026). Stevens’s clinical immunology: A laboratory perspective (Sixth edition). F.A. Davis.
ISBN: 978-1-7196-5071-7

Clinical Laboratory Operations (MLS 220)
Turgeon, M. L. (Ed.). (2023). Clinical laboratory science: Concepts, procedures, and clinical applications (9th edition). Elsevier.
ISBN: 978-0-323-82934-2

Molecular Diagnostics (MLS 112)
Buckingham, L. (2026). Molecular diagnostics: Fundamentals, methods, and clinical applications (4th edition). F.A. Davis. 
ISBN: 978-1-7196-5113-4

Clinical Hematology & Hemostasis (MLS 222 & MLS 224)
Rodak, B. F., Keohane, E. M., Butina, M. M., Mirza, K. M., & Walenga, J. M. (2025). Rodak’s hematology: Clinical principles and applications (Seventh). Elsevier.
ISBN: 978-0-3239-3768-9

Clinical Immunohematology (MLS 242 & MLS 244)
Harmening, D. (Ed.). (2019). Modern blood banking & transfusion practices (Seventh edition). F.A. Davis.
ISBN: 978-0-8036-6888-1

Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluids (MLS 114 & MLS 234)
Brunzel, N. A. (2023). Fundamentals of urine & body fluid analysis (Fifth edition). Elsevier.
ISBN: 978-0-323-71197-5

Clinical Chemistry (MLS 230 & MLS 234)
Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., Siclen, C. V., Mistler, J. M., & Moy, M. (Eds.). (2023). Clinical chemistry: Principles, techniques, and correlations (Ninth edition). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
ISBN: 978-1-284-23886-0

Clinical Microbiology (MLS 250 & MLS 254)
Mahon, C. R., & Lehman, D. C. (2023). Textbook of diagnostic microbiology (Seventh edition). Elsevier.
ISBN: 978-0-3238-3272-4

Recommend Parasitology: Leventhal R. Medical Parasitology a Self-Instructional Text. 7th Edition. Philadelphia: F.A.Davis, 2020.
ISBN: 978-0-8036-7579-7