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Southwest launches Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate program

By Marketing and Communications Staff

Southwest launches Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant Certificate programSouthwest Tennessee Community College’s Allied Health Department is launching a new healthcare program for students during the second 2024 summer term.

The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) program will give students the skills needed to sit for a national MLA certification exam upon its completion. The lab-based technical certificate is a fast-track program that takes one semester, or two separate terms, to complete. 

The first half of the certificate program is open to all students. Selection for the second half of the program, or the second term, is based on a student’s overall GPA and the grades received in introductory healthcare courses. 

Southwest launches Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant Certificate programMichelle Hill, associate professor in the Medical Laboratory Technician program, said the medical laboratory assistant’s focus is in providing the skills and knowledge to support the laboratory in testing patients’ specimens. “Those who receive the Medical Lab Assistant certificate will be qualified to work in hospital and reference clinical laboratories, physician office laboratories and clinics,” Hill said.     

This certificate can also be stacked with other laboratory programs offered at Southwest, such as the Laboratory Phlebotomy Program and Medical Laboratory Technician Program. 

During the clinical assignment half of the program, students will be sent to train in a local laboratory for a minimum of 120 hours alongside medical laboratory professionals and must pass a comprehensive final exam to receive their technical certificate.

For more information about the MLA certificate, contact Michelle Hill at mhill@southwest.tn.edu.