MLT Distance Learning Program

The MLT Program offers a distance learning option for students living outside the Portland metropolitan area. The option was established to help meet the needs of underserved communities throughout Oregon. Many clinical laboratories in these areas do not have enough trained practitioners to meet the employment demands in their respective area. Students must live outside the Portland metro area (approximately fifty miles) to qualify for the distance option.

In the distance option, students can complete the program pre-requisites, general education requirements, and first year co-requisites at their local college or university, and MLT program requirements through PCC's distance education option. MLT courses are delivered online, but periodic, hands-on, campus based laboratory activities are required as part of the program. Clinical laboratory practicums, which are part of the second year of the program, are provided at local hospitals and clinical laboratories. Some of the hospitals and laboratories affiliated with the online program include: Asante -Grants Pass/Medford, Peace Health-Eugene, Cascade Health Systems-Central Oregon, Sutter Coast Hospital-Crescent City, California, Mid-Columbia Medical Center-The Dalles, Mercy Medical Center-Roseburg and Salem Hospital-Salem. Students that live in other areas should contact the department to see if a clinical affiliate is available in the area.

If the student is interested in completing prerequisites and general education classes at an area community college, some locations provide limited advising. Colleges include: Lane Community College, Rogue Community College, and Central Oregon Community College.

Important Information for DL Students

When can I apply for the Program?
You may submit a MLT application packet prior to applying for admission to PCC. The department begins accepting applications January 7-March 29, 2013 for the class starting the following fall 2013. All students must meet the prerequisite requirements (see the "Admissions" link on the MLT homepage) before submitting application to the program.
How do I apply for distance learning program?
  1. Once pre-requisites are complete, submit unofficial transcripts (non PCC transcripts only) along with the completed application to the department. Be sure to check the box indicating you are applying for the distance-learning program on the front of the application. Please remember, the transcript MUST be submitted WITH the application, do not send transcripts to student records or send them separately to the department. Applications will not be reviewed if prerequisites are not complete, or if the application packet does not have unofficial transcripts included.
  2. Contact the Admissions Coordinator Karen Henry through email about setting up an advising/orientation session. These sessions are conducted over the phone for all online applicants.

Online students must reside outside the Portland metropolitan area in order to be eligible for the online program. Residents of Washington state, California and other states which boarder Oregon may be considered depending on availability of clinical sites in those areas.

If you have any questions about the status of your application contact the PCC-Cascade Health Admissions Specialist at: 971-722-5667 or healthca@pcc.edu.

Is this an open enrollment in the program?
No, you must begin the MLT classes in the fall, and be officially accepted into the program. However, non-MLT (chemistry, A&P, general electives, etc.) and prerequisite classes can be completed at any time and students do not have to be officially accepted in the program.
How many students are accepted into the distance learning MLT program?
In most instances, because of the large number of applicants, acceptance into the first year of the program is done using a lottery system. The number of students accepted varies depending on the location, and the availability of clinical sites within the area. Most clinical providers have very limited capacity and can only accommodate a few students each year. Selection into the program begins after mid April.
Additionally, acceptance into the first year of the program does not guarantee acceptance into the second year. Acceptance into the second year is based on performance in the first year of the program.
Do students need to travel to take any classes?
All MLT classes are available online; however, periodic travel to Portland and Eugene is required for MLT campus based laboratory activities. These full day, campus based laboratory exercises occur 3-4 times each quarter. Sometimes the labs are spread throughout the term, and on other occasions they are conducted over a long weekend.
Examinations are required to be proctored at testing centers approved by the MLT Department. Expect 3 to 4 midterm examinations per term plus finals exams.
Clinical Laboratory Practice (practicums courses) requires students to go to an affiliated laboratory to receive their training. This training (800 hours)is spread throughout the entire second year of the program, starting in the Summer following first year.
Where can I take non-MLT classes?
Many students take these, or equivalent, courses and prerequisites at the their local college or university; however, PCC offers most general education, math, writing and chemistry courses via an online format. PCC does NOT currently offer anatomy and physiology online, so students must take these classes through their local college, or find an online option at another college in order to meet the biology requirement (speak with an MLT advisor about specific course substitutions). All science courses required for the program must be taken for a letter grade. Audit and pass/no pass are not accepted for any first year required science courses.
What do I do if my college doesn't offer chemistry or a two-term anatomy and physiology?
Students must finish a complete biology sequence in anatomy and physiology. The sequence can either be at the one hundred level (for example BI121 and BI122), or at the two hundred level (BI231, BI232 and BI233). The anatomy and physiology requirement can be waived for students that have completed a two hundred level Principle of Biology sequence (example: BI211, 212 and 213). Speak with the MLT department for all course substitutions.
The minimum chemistry requirement for entry into the second year of the program is completion of a, year-long freshman level chemistry sequence. Majors' chemistry, 200 level, may be substituted (speak with an MLT advisor for details). If you would like to take chemistry online, or if your local college doesn't offer the complete chemistry series, PCC offers chemistry 104, 105, and 106 totally online (no campus labs required).
All science courses must be completed within the last 10-12 years with a grade of C or above to meet the program requirements.
Can I take the courses on a part time basis?
Many first year courses can be spread out over two or more academic years, however, first year MLT specific courses must be completed just prior to entering the second year of the program.
Because of the complexity associated with the program schedule, the second year of the program must be taken as a full time student. To be successful in the second year of the program, the department highly recommends outside employment be kept to a minimum. Online programs of this nature require significant time be devoted to studying program materials. Many online students try to juggle to many activities and this can have a deleterious effect on their performance in the program.
When do I start the clinical practice?
For students that have been officially accepted into second year of the program, clinical rotations may begin in the summer immediately following completion of the first year of the program.
Do I have to find a facility for my clinical laboratory practice?
No. Students should not be contacting the area laboratories. The MLT program has agreements with certain affiliated laboratories in each area. MLT faculty are responsible for contact and communicating with all potential affiliates, so please contact the MLT department prior to speaking with any clinical providers in your area.