The Tyler Junior College Medical Laboratory Technology program has received accreditation for 10 years.
Ten years is the highest possible number of years awarded for continuing accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
“We are so happy with this outcome,” said Zelia McGaha, department chair and professor. “Professor Lisa Baker was instrumental and a vital part of this effort, and we are honored to be a part of this great institution and have the interest of our students as the driving force in all we do.”
McGaha continued, “We also appreciate the support of both Dean Paul Monagan, who retired in July 2018, and our new Dean Dr. Cliff Boucher in the accreditation process.”
Dr. Cliff Boucher, dean of the TJC School of Nursing & Health Sciences, said, “This is a tremendous feather in our cap; but, more importantly, it’s a testament to our professors and staff, who work so hard to give their best to our students.”
The medical laboratory technology profession combines the challenges and rewards of medicine and science. Technicians perform a variety of laboratory procedures in both public and private labs within the health care sector.
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians specialize in determining the presence, extent or absence of disease. They accomplish this by performing a full range of routine laboratory procedures, from simple blood screens to more complex tests to detect diseases such as cancer, coronary artery disease and diabetes.
The job outlook is favorable as the need for registered lab techs is projected to grow by 26 percent over the next 10 years.
Graduates of the TJC program are qualified to take national certification exams sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry or other certifying agencies.
TJC’s program currently has a three-year average of 89-percent Board of Certification pass rate, a 95-percent graduation rate, and a 100-percent placement rate as determined by guidelines from NAACLS.
For more information on the program, go to www.TJC.edu/MLT.