SPC Medical Laboratory Technology

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FAQ for Prospective Students

FAQ for Prospective Clinical Affiliates

Student Info Packet

Prospective Students Frequently Asked Questions

What is an online class like?

What are the technical requirements for the course?

How can you teach Medical Laboratory Technology skills online?

Do you accept students from outside of the Tampa Bay area?

Are the courses self-paced?

I have an unpredictable work schedule. Will I have to be online at a specific time and day?

I would feel more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. Can I take the MLT Program on campus?

Won't I feel isolated in an online course?

What if I have questions or need extra help?

When will I start clinical assignments?

When would I have to attend clinicals?

How often will I have to go to campus?

What about tests? Won't I have to go to campus to take tests?

I've already earned credits at another college. Will those credits transfer?

I understand that the MLT courses are all online. What about the general education and support courses?

How long does it take to complete the program?

Can I enroll in the program part-time?

How long does it take for part-time students to complete the program?

I have to work full-time. Do you think I could attend school full-time too?

How many hours a week will I need to spend on coursework?

How often do classes start?

When should I apply?

What must be done before I can begin the program?

Who can be a clinical affiliate?

Am I guaranteed placement in the clinical affiliate of my choice?

Is the program accredited?

Which national certification exam are graduates eligible to take?

What is an online class like?

We use course management software called ANGEL. The instructor puts the course syllabus, learning objectives, lecture notes, assignments, learning activities, and tests into web pages that can be accessed from any computer at any time. The class has discussions on electronic bulletin boards. Email and chats may also be used.

What are the technical requirements for the course?

This E-campus link provides information about the computer and software requirements for our online courses. Although you can access the courses with a telephone modem, a high-speed cable or DSL connection is preferable.

How can you teach Medical Laboratory Technology skills online?

The labs are only partly online. The hands-on portion takes place in an accredited clinical laboratory.

Do you accept students from outside of the Tampa Bay area?

Yes, if they are employed by a U.S. facility with an accredited, full-service laboratory that is approved to become a clinical affiliate and if they do not reside in the service area of another Florida community college MLT program (Brevard, Duval, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, or St. Lucie Counties).

The program is not offered outside of the U.S.

Are the courses self-paced?

No. All courses are instructor-led and, although the online delivery offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of when the student logs on to the courses, there are weekly schedules to follow and due dates for assignments.

I have an unpredictable work schedule. Will I have to be online at a specific time and day?

No. All communication within the MLT courses is asynchronous, that is, by bulletin boards and email. Students (and the instructor) can log on and participate when it is most convenient for them. You will, however, have to be available some week days during first shift hours (usually 7 AM - 3:30 PM) to do your clinical assignments.

I would feel more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. Can I take the MLT Program on campus?

No, the program is only offered online.

Won't I feel isolated in an online course?

Not at all. Students and the instructor communicate almost daily by bulletin boards and email. Some students have reported feeling that they actually got to know their classmates better in an online class than in a face-to-face class. In addition, you will be interacting face-to-face with the personnel at your clinical affiliate.

What if I have questions or need extra help?

Your instructor will be available by email and telephone. If you live nearby, you may also schedule an appointment to meet with your instructor. Classmates are another good source of help. You will be able to contact your classmates by email and you can make arrangements to meet them in a chat room. This is helpful for review sessions.

When will I start clinical assignments?

Once you begin the courses in the major, there are clinical assignments each semester.

When would I have to attend clinicals?

The days and times for completing the clinical assignments are scheduled by mutual agreement between the student and the clinical affiliate. Times may be restricted at some sites based on workload and staffing. Most of the clinical work must be done on weekdays during first shift hours (usually between 7 AM and 3:30 PM). In most cases, clinical affiliates are unable to take students during the evenings or weekends because of decreased staffing.

Review the clinical hours required in each semester.

How often will I have to go to campus?

It's possible to complete the program without ever coming to SPC. All of the courses in the major are online or at affiliated clinical laboratories. Registration, financial aid, and counseling can be done online. You can even order your books and apply for graduation online.

What about tests? Won't I have to go to campus to take tests?

No. Testing is online. The final exams must be taken in a proctored setting, but that can be arranged in your area.

I've already earned credits at another college. Will those credits transfer?

Credits earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities usually transfer. You will need to submit an official transcript and it will be evaluated by the SPC registrar.

I understand that the MLT courses are all online. What about the general education and support courses?

All of the general education courses can be taken online. General science labs (biology, microbiology, chemistry) should be taken on campus, either at SPC or another accredited college or university.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The program can be completed in 2 years by attending full-time.

Can I enroll in the program part-time?

Yes. Most of our students are enrolled part-time because they are working full-time.

How long does it take for part-time students to complete the program?

Most part time students complete the program in about 3 years.

I have to work full-time. Do you think I could attend school full-time too?

No, the curriculum is too demanding. We only recommend full-time enrollment for students who work 20 hours or less per week. The college’s recommended academic loads are as follows:

Work Hours per Week	Recommended Credit Hours per Semester
20 or less	12-15
20-30	9-12
30-40	6-9

If you work full time, you must have the flexibility to be able to go to your clinical affiliate some weekdays during first shift hours (usually 7 AM - 3:30 PM) to do your hands-on assignments.

How many hours a week will I need to spend on coursework?

That depends on whether you enroll in the part-time or full-time track. As a general rule, for every credit hour, you should plan to spend 3-4 hours a week on coursework. Refer to the Program Completion Plans to see the number of credits in each semester under the two tracks. Note that the plans only show the courses in the major. If you will need to complete any general education or science support courses, be sure to add in the time that will be required for those too.

How often do classes start?

Once a year, in August.

When should I apply?

Admission is on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. You can apply at any time of the year. It is recommended that application be made at least 6 months in advance. Although April 1 is the official application deadline for the August class, the class may be full by that time.

What must be done before I can begin the program?

You must:

Apply to the college and program
Submit official transcripts (International students must submit a course by course evaluation by a foreign transcript evaluation service.)
Have a physical and visual exam
Provide documentation of immunizations
Have a background check and drug screen
Obtain a trainee license from the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel (Florida residents only)

In addition, you must have a clinical affiliate who will provide your hands-on experiences. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you will be assigned to one of our approved clinical affiliates. We regret that we can only accept students from outside of the Tampa Bay area if they are employed by a facility with an accredited, full service clinical laboratory that is willing to become a clinical affiliate and is approved by the MLT Advisory Committee.

Who can be a clinical affiliate?

Accredited, full-service clinical laboratories who meet certain requirements with regard to workload, test menu, equipment, and staffing. Prospective affiliates must complete an application, be approved by the MLT Advisory Committee, and sign an affiliation agreement with the college. The affiliation process takes several months and students cannot begin the program until the agreement is signed by both parties. The clinical affiliate application deadline is April 1. We cannot guarantee that an affiliation agreement will be in place by August since the length of time to complete the process depends upon the amount of time required to negotiate the terms of the contract and the workloads of the college and hospital attorneys’ offices.

Clinical laboratories that are interested in more information about the program and the affiliation process should contact the MLT Program Director at 727-341-3714.

Am I guaranteed placement in the clinical affiliate of my choice?

No. The college will attempt to place you in an affiliate of your choice, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Is the program accredited?

Yes, the program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Which national certification exam are graduates eligible to take?

Graduates are eligible to apply for certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), and the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB).