UPMC Altoona's School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is an accredited, 50-week internship program offering clinical theoretical concepts with clinical experience. View the information below to learn how to apply for admission, tuition fees, the application deadline, and more.
We are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
For questions and more information, please contact:
Andrew Baughman, MHS, MLS (ASCP)
Program Director/Outreach Manager
UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science
620 Howard Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601814-889-2835
The mission of UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is to provide a quality program for directing students in acquiring the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and values necessary to be a successful Medical Laboratory Scientist. The Program is also committed to providing students with the resources necessary to pass certification examination as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
The vision of UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is to be a world-class program where we will provide an exceptional educational experience.
We at UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science show compassion, care and concern for our patients. We respect the dignity of each individual. We provide quality care to those we serve, and we respect the culture, beliefs and needs of those we serve.
There are two questions that are inevitably asked when a laboratorian is questioned as to his profession, and they are: "Medical Technologist (Medical Laboratory Scientist), sounds good, but what do you DO and, "Are you one of those vampires who draws the blood?"
A deeper look into the general public's lack of awareness of the Medical Technologist's role in the care and treatment of the sick makes it somewhat easier to understand. When a patient is admitted into the hospital, he is surrounded by health care professionals to whom his well being is their primary concern: dedicated nurses see to his every need, from blood pressures in the morning to pain medication at night; physicians visit him regularly to see his recovery and recuperation; dietitians insure that his food is nourishing and appetizing; even paramedical professionals such as respiratory therapy, point of care providers and environmental services are part and parcel of the patient's everyday life when confined to the hospital.
And then there's the Lab. Generally, the sole contact that the patient has with the laboratory is some person in a white coat coming at them with a needle. The phlebotomists constitutes the patient's only awareness of the fact that the hospital has a laboratory at all and this knowledge, coupled with the reply, " We haven't gotten the lab tests back yet," to his frantic questions concerning his condition, does not make for a particularly good public relations.
The following, then is an endeavor to explain, both to the public and to the prospective student, precisely who and what a Medical Technologist (Medical Laboratory Scientist) is, and what his function is in the diagnosis of disease.
Many definitions have been proposed for the term, Medical Technologist (Medical Laboratory Scientist). Perhaps the best is attributed to a Medical Technologist named Fagelson, who added an important dimension to the profession when she defined Medical Technology as "that branch of medicine concerned with the performance of the laboratory determinations and analyses used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the "MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH."
A Medical Laboratory Scientist performs the full range of laboratory test from routine to the most complex with little or no supervision. As medical investigators, they are responsible for the operation of an array of complex electronic equipment, computers and precision instruments costing millions of dollars. These individuals are trained to work in the following areas of the laboratory: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Immunohematology (Blood Bank), Microbiology, Immunology, Urinalysis and Phlebotomy.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist may choose to work in one of the specialty areas or to work as a generalist covering all areas. Some clinical laboratory scientists prefer to work "at the bench" and directly perform clinical analysis. Others combine skills and interests to create a career suited to their particular goals.
Education preparation for clinical laboratory science begins with a high school curriculum strongly based in sciences. Courses that will be beneficial include general science, biology, chemistry, computer science and mathematics.
The clinical internship year provides the theoretical and clinical training for students that meet all pre-clinical requirements. The hospital based internship is a 3 + 1 program that leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science). The three years pre-clinical (90 semester hour minimum) of college work at an accredited college/university must include:
These Technical Performance Standards/Essential Functions represent the non-academic requirements that students must possess, with or without a reasonable accommodation to successfully participate in the Altoona Regional Health System hospital based program. Applicants MUST be able to affirm their ability to comply with the following:
Possess the gross/fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination to safely manipulate, maneuver, adjust, control and/or use:
All verbal/written communications are in English as the primary language.
The UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is affiliated with seven institutions of higher learning. They include:
The hospital embraces a 3 + 1 program, in which students spend the first three years of their college careers at an accredited institution in a Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science) curriculum. Their fourth year (senior year) is spent doing a clinical internship. College credit for this senior year is assigned by the institution granting the degree upon successful completion of the internship year, and is sufficient to guarantee a baccalaureate degree in Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science). Individuals who have already earned a degree in Biology, Chemistry or some other related science are also considered for admission to the program. These students are generally considered 4 + 1.
Students at affiliated institutions are given priority over those student applicants from non-affiliated schools. Admission of a student from a non-affiliated school will not result in the exclusion of a qualified student from an affiliated program.
The UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, 773-714-8880.
The Laboratory and its sundry sections are accredited by:
Graduates from the UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science are eligible to apply to take a certification examination. Individuals certified by the Board of Certification of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists are recognized as professional technologists by the designation MLS(ASCP) after their names.
The clinical internship at UPMC Altoona begins on or about July 1 each year and runs continuous for 50 weeks. Orientation is held the first week of class. General schedule during the internship year is Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lectures are held Monday and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. The clinical rotations are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Medical Laboratory Science Student will study the clinical and diagnostic aspects along with case studies, pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical components of laboratory services, problem solving, instrumentation, point of care, safety, quality control and quality assurance for the courses listed below.
Includes the theory and operation of the major classes of instrumentation, the theory and application of the biochemistry, fundamental analytical principles, laboratory calculations, case histories, Enzymology, molecular diagnostics, endocrinology, lipids and lipoproteins, carbohydrates, proteins, tumor markers, electrolytes, ABG's, point of care testing, toxicology, liver function, quality control and quality assurance.
Includes renal pathology, routine physical, and chemical tests, sediment examination, and correlation of test results, case histories; also includes examination of other body fluids, feces and quality control.
Includes morphology, cultural characteristics, case histories, secondary identification, specimen collection, and interpretation of results of gram positive and gram negative cocci, gram positive aerobic and anaerobic rods, enteric and other gram negative rods, mycobacterium, and miscellaneous organisms; also includes media preparation and reagents, quality control, antibiotics and sensitivity testing, epidemiology and viruses.
Blood antigens and antibodies; crossmatching; hemolytic diseases and related diagnostic tests. Also included are donor selection, processing of blood, blood collection, preparation and administration of blood and blood products, case studies, quality control and other general immunohematoloy considerations.
Includes the formation, function, enumerative procedures, basic tests, normal and abnormal peripheral blood and bone marrow for the formed elements of the blood, case studies, pathologic states; also includes coagulation theory, special testing and quality control.
Includes the morphology, life cycles, source and collection of specimens, pathological states, various types of parasitic organisms and quality control.
Includes discussion of natural immunity and immunologic substances, antigen and antibodies, humoral and cellular immunity, complement, autoimmunity, and delayed hypersensitivity; also includes serologic testing for syphilis, non-syphilitic serodiagnostic tests, case studies and quality control.
Includes morphology, cultural characteristics, secondary identification, specimen collection, and interpretation of results for yeast, molds yeast like molds, and quality control.
Includes job entry indoctrination, continuing education for laboratory employees, interdepartmental rotation, inservice education and effective mechanisms of teaching.
Includes discussions of budgeting, personnel, laboratory space, supplies and equipment, concepts and principals of laboratory operations, general principles of federal and state regulations, laboratory safety, laboratory and hospital information system, ethics and medical/legal matters. Also includes phlebotomy. The primary function of the phlebotomist is to assist the health care team in accurate, safe and reliable collection and transportation of specimens for clinical laboratory analysis.
To apply for internship with UPMC Altoona’s School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, please complete our online application form and send us the following information:
Deadline: Friday, October 27, 2023 to be considered for the class starting on Monday, July 8, 2024.
Fee: A $25 application fee payable to School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Scientist Account #11/2243.0 must be included with your application packet.
Personal interviews with selected applicants will be held during September, October and November, therefore, prospective students are encouraged to submit a completed application packet as early as possible. Applicants not receiving an interview request may assume that their applications will not be given further consideration.
Following the interviews, the Admission Committee will meet to select the class and a letter of acceptance or declination will be sent in December.
Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon successful completion of all pre-clinical requirements, including the junior year (if applicable), and upon the findings of a complete physical examination, drug screen and background check as performed by UPMC Altoona Employee Health before the start of the school year.
Admission to the program is granted without reference to race, religion, ancestry, age, physical handicap, sex or other legally protected classification.
Tuition for the School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is presently $1,250.
This is subject to change. A $150 deposit is required at the time of acceptance to hold the student's spot in the upcoming class.
Books will be provided by the UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science at an approximate cost of $1,000. Payment is due on the first day of the first semester.
Housing for one year is approximately $6,600. However, many of the students from prior years have opted for rooming together, which decreases costs.
Protective gear including laboratory coats must be worn while the students are in the clinical rotations. This protective gear will be provided by the hospital. A $150 laboratory fee will be assessed to the student and will be due the first week of school. Uniforms (lab coats/jackets, shoes, etc.) worn during the clinical rotations are to be provided by the student. The hospital dress code must be followed.
A $150 activity fee will be assessed to the student. This fee will cover the cost of graduation and will be due the first week of the second semester.
Students who withdraw from the UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/ prior to the beginning of the term forfeit the $150 deposit fee.
Students who withdraw from program after the beginning of the term will be given a refund for tuition paid as follows:
The $150 lab fee and $150 activity fee are also non-refundable after 31 school days are completed.
In December 1989, federal regulations were instituted that require all post-secondary institutions to provide all incoming students consumer information reflecting graduation, placement rates, and licensure information in the career program being pursued by the student.
In an effort to comply with these regulations, the UPMC Altoona School of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science is providing the following information based on its most recent graduate follow-up statistics.
| School/Internship Year | Students Starting Program | Students Graduating (%) | Students Passing Certification Exam (%) | Students Employed in the Profession After Graduation (%) |
| 2022-2023 | 8 | 8 (100%) | 8 (100%) | 8 (100%) |
| 2021-2022 | 8 | 8 (100%) | 8 (100%) | 8 (100%) |
| 2020-2021 | 5 | 5 (100%) | 5 (100%) | 5 (100%) |
| 2019-2020 | 6 | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) |
| 2018-2019 | 6 | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) |
| 2017-2018 | 6 | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) |
For more information, please see the Student Handbook (PDF)*.
*Subject to change without notice.
