Southwestern College

New Program Approval and NAACLS Accreditation
The MLT Program at Southwestern College has received approval as a new program by the State of California as of December 1st 2009. We are in the process of seeking national accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont IL 60018 FAX, (773) 714-8886, Phone (773) 714-8880, or (847) 939-3597.

Our preliminary and self study reports have been submitted to NAACLS with our site visit scheduled for April 2010. Additional information concerning the accreditation process can be found on the NAACLS website: www.naacls.org.

Medical Laboratory Technician Program Directory
(619) 216-6665 x 4896
Rm. 7103

Luis A. Nunez Jr, CLS (ASCP), MA , MLT Program Director
Higher Education Center at National City
880 National City, Blvd
National City, CA 91950
E-mail: lnunez@swccd.edu
Phone (619) 216-6673
Fax (619) 216-6678

Introduction
The Medical Laboratory Technician program will provide a quality educational program that complies with the established essentials and guidelines of an accredited educational program for the Medical Laboratory Technician. The college recognizes that to achieve this, the student must be able to grasp technical and theoretical knowledge and to successfully apply this knowledge in a clinical setting.

The program recognizes the importance of professional standards, morals, and ethical obligations to the community while committing itself to an educational program. Development of professional competence, personal growth and effective patient care will be major areas of concentration in providing the community and the profession with entry level Medical Laboratory Technicians.

A class limited to no more than 30 students will begin each year in the Fall semester and continue for 18 months with graduation at the completion of the Fall semester. The Medical Laboratory Technician Program consists of lectures and laboratory experiences at the National City Higher Education Center, followed by practical clinical experience at affiliated clinical laboratories. Class days and times will vary.

General Description
A medical laboratory technician performs routine clinical laboratory testing procedures to provide scientific information needed in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease. Technicians use sophisticated instrumentation for these evaluations which encompass quantitative and qualitative chemical and biological analyses of body specimens. Technicians function under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

The program prepares students for a career in Medical Laboratory Technology through the studies in humanities, social and natural sciences, and the field of Medical Laboratory Technology. Emphasis is placed on the clinical practice in the context of laboratory medicine. Graduates are eligible to take and pass a nationally recognized certification examination.