CAREER ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
Contact: Robin Bradshaw, (912) 279-5865 or rbradshaw@ccga.edu

The Associate of Science curriculum in Clinical Laboratory Technology (CLT) at the College of Coastal Georgia prepares individuals to perform laboratory procedures in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunohematology, urinalysis, and immunodiagnostics. Graduates are usually employed in clinical laboratories, although employment opportunities are not restricted to this environment. A wide variety of non-medical opportunities are also available.

Laboratorians are vital members of the health care team although they have limited direct patient contact. They play a critical role in collecting the information needed to give quality care. Laboratory tests evaluate the makeup of blood, urine, body fluids and tissues for early warning signs of disease. Such tests are crucial to the health and well-being of individuals. Laboratorians provide clinical practitioners with 70-90% of the information needed to aid in confirming or ruling out diagnoses, monitoring chronic disease changes, and analyzing the effects of medical therapies.

Applicants for the CLT Program should have an interest in health and science and have taken high school or college courses in chemistry and biology. Personal qualifications essential for success as a clinical laboratory technician include a sense of responsibility, an ability to be precise with detail, and a willingness to work in order to reach goals.

Program Information and Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet specific requirements to be considered for admission to the CLT Program. Enrollment is limited. If Learning Support classes are required, students must complete Learning Support prior to admission to the CLT program. To be considered for admission, the student must complete the College of Coastal Georgia admission application and the CLT application. Both applications are available at: http://www.ccga.edu/. CLT Applications for fall semester are due by April 15 or until the program is full. Applications will be considered based on qualifications and space availability. The application process will include a formal interview with the Program Director and the Admissions Committee. Letters of program status (acceptance or denial) will be mailed to all candidates in late spring for fall semester admission.

An applicant to the CLT Program may begin general education requirements during any semester of the academic year. A minimum grade of "C" is required in all CLT courses for graduation. These requirements are in addition to the general graduation requirements listed in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog. The traditional program is 5 semesters in length, and CLT courses are taught on an annual rotation. The clinical component of the curriculum occurs during the last semester and consists of 400 hours of laboratory training in an approved health care facility. Students have rotations through the departments of clinical chemistry, immunohematology, hematology, microbiology, immunology/serology, and urinalysis. There is a separate clinical rotation for phlebotomy which may be scheduled any semester after successful completion of the first CLT course. Upon successful completion of the CLT program the student is qualified to take a national certifying examination to become a registered Clinical Laboratory Technician.

The Clinical Laboratory Technology program at the College of Coastal Georgia selects students without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, sex or age. In order to apply to the program, a student must:

The CLT program requires students to have Liability insurance, which can be purchased at the College business office at the cost of $15.00 annually. Medical insurance is not required, but is strongly recommended. A CLT student is responsible for providing his/her own transportation to clinical sites. Clinical affiliates include Southeast Georgia Health System-Brunswick and Camden Campuses; Wayne Memorial (Jesup), Internal Medicine Associates (Brunswick), Southeastern Pathology Associates (Brunswick & Savannah), Liberty Regional Medical Center (Hinesville) and St. Joseph/Candler (Savannah). Vaccination against Hepatitis B is recommended and a TB skin test is required annually for students in the program. Criminal background checks and/or drug testing are required by individual agencies and the cost will be the responsibility of the student. Background checks can result in denial of access to the clinical site and inability to pass a course or complete the program.

The CLT program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119 (847-939-3597).

For career associate degree completion University System of Georgia requires a minimum of 21 general education hours. The College requires that at least one general education course is completed in the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics. These courses do not specifically focus on a particular occupation or profession. Additionally, each program may offer additional general education courses that support the career major.

Discuss Humanities requirements with your advisor. Beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, students will be required to take a pure humanities elective. These courses are limited to: philosophy, art, music and theater. You may take these courses during the 2011-12 academic year and the course will be substituted for the current required course.