Department of Biological Sciences
256 Cunningham Hall
Tel: 330-672-3613
Fax: 330-672-3713
Web: http://www.kent.edu/cas/biomedical
Medical Technology Major—2009-2010 Roadmap
Students majoring in medical technology combine three years of study at Kent State with 12 months of professional training at an approved hospital. Medical technologists find employment in hospital laboratories, independent clinical laboratories or public health agencies. Medical technologists are trained to perform complex chemical, microscopic and microbiological procedures. Students completing the Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology are eligible to take the Medical Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) exams.
The medical technology program consists of 89 semester hours of undergraduate study at Kent State University followed by 12 months of professional training at an approved hospital.
Students who wish to pursue their professional education in an accredited program other than the approved affiliates must obtain permission to do so from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and from the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University at least one semester before beginning such training.
Students must complete all coursework at Kent State University before beginning their clinical training. However, clinical training at an approved hospital affiliate is not an automatic event that occurs after completion of Kent State coursework. Students are required to make application with the hospital affiliates who then select appropriate student candidates through a highly competitive process. While there is often no required GPA for acceptance into a hospital training program, applicants with higher GPAs are given preference in the selection process. Selection of applicants for clinical training is based upon successful completion of all Kent State coursework, strong letters of reference and a solid interview with the hospital program admissions committee. Because of the unique nature of this Three-Plus-One program, completion of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology is dependent upon a student’s ability to secure placement with one of the hospital affiliates. The university does not assume responsibility or liability for completion of the major in cases of student dismissal from a hospital program or loss of hospital training sites due to program closures beyond university control. For their professional study, students register through Kent State University for the CLS courses taught in the hospital facility.
Students who successfully complete the clinical (professional study) year are eligible to take a certification examination such as those offered by the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). The Kent State University degree, however, is not contingent upon passing the Registry Examination.