Medical Technology at UHMānoa

*At present, the Department of Medical Technology is temporarily suspending admission of new students due to re-organization. Students interested in medical laboratory profession are urged to contact the Department advisor to learn about alternative paths to pursue the profession. There is a nation-wide shortage of qualified medical laboratory professionals. Please call or drop by the office to make an appointment with an advisor:

Dick Teshima, MPH, MT
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Department of Medical Technology
Office: Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Website: www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.

(Text compiled from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science webstie, www.ascls.org, the UHM 2005-2006 Catalog, and UHM's Medical Technology website, www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.)

Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Programs
Coursework
Contact Information
Additional Information
Downloadable Brochure

Medical Technology (MedT or MedTech), also known as Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS), is a healthcare profession in which practitioners help diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases by performing laboratory procedures, such as venipuncture and microscopic examinations. The field encompasses many disciplines, including microbiology (isolating and identifying organisms and testing antimicrobial agents); immunohematology (blood banking); clinical chemistry (measuring chemical components of blood and bodily fluids, such as as urinalysis, immunology, serology); and hematology and hemostasis (diagnosing disorders using a microscope and cell analyzers).

Practitioners, called medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists, often work in hospital or clinic laboratories, but many also work in reference labs, physicians' offices, research and DNA laboratories, medical examiners’ offices and crime labs, veterinary clinics, and laboratory industries. Some practitioners go on to pursue careers as forensic scientists, researchers, educators, or health administrators.

MedTech, or CLS, evolves constantly in response to advances in technology and is growing rapidly. Career opportunities are plentiful nationwide.

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Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Programs

Medical technology, or clinical laboratory science, is one of the few health careers that you can enter with a Bachelor degree, certification, and licensure.

In fact, medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists can enter their career at several levels. MedTech or CLS technicians complete Associate degrees (2-3 years), and MedTech or CLS scientists complete Bachelor degrees (4-5 years).

  • Associate's degree (2-3 years);
  • Bachelor's degree (4-5 years).

A certificate or graduate degree commands a higher salary and usually speeds promotion and advancement.

Optional furthur education:

  • Certificate (1 year)
  • Master's degree (2-3 years)

A Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) is currently under discussion but not yet a reality. Becoming a laboratory director usually requires a doctorate in a related field, such as the biological sciences, chemistry, management, or education.

Kapiʻolani Community College offers an Associate degree; UHM offers both a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a Post-baccalaureate Certification in Clinical Training.

Students who graduate from an accredited program are eligible to take the national certification exam, offered by both the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Some states, including Hawaiʻi, also require licensing. State laws on licensure vary but usually include minimum competency requirements, continuing education requirements, and licensing fees. A professional license is required to practice in the state of Hawaiʻi.

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Coursework

Students enter UHM's MedTech program at the Junior level and must apply to be accepted. The following courses (or their equivalents) must be completed or in progress when applying:

MedT 151 and 251
Introduction to Medical Technology I and II
Biol 171/171L
Introductory Biology I
Math 241
Calculus I
Chem 161/161L and 162/162L
General Chemistry I and II
Chem 272/272L
Organic Chemistry I
Chem 274/274L
Principles of Analytical Chemistry
Phys 151/151L and 152/152L
College Physics I and II
Micr 351/351L
Biology of Microorganisms
Eng 100
Composition I

A maximum of one C- (C minus) is allowed among the related prerequisite courses, but all MedT courses must have grades of C or higher.

Applications are accepted once each year during the Spring semester and are available through the MedTech office. Applications include transcripts, an essay, two personal evaluations, and an interview. UHM's MedTech program is looking for students who are detail oriented, enjoy science, are able to multi-task and prioritize, and are well-organized. Criteria for admission are listed on the website.

Graduates of Kapiʻolani Community College's Medical Laboratory Technician program (KCC-MLT) who meet specified criteria may have some requirements waived and may be accepted provisionally to UHM's program while completing the remaining prerequisites. KCC-MLT graduates who do not meet the specified criteria must follow the usual admission procedures.

In the summer of their junior year, MedTech students complete a 6-week clerkship at a local hospital, working under professional medical technologists in a laboratory for 8.5 hours per day. Near the end of their training, MedTech students complete six months of clinical training before taking one of the national board exams.

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Contact Information

Dick Teshima, MPH, MT
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Department of Medical Technology

Office: Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Website: www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.
Mailing address: 1960 East-West Road; Honolulu, HI 96822

For advising, contact:

Dick Y. Teshima, MPH, MT
dick@hawaii.edu
Biomedical Sciences C-201

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Additional Information

UHMānoa's Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books, lists of volunteer opportunities, academic planning worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for your MedTech program.

UHM's Division of Medical Technology www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html
American Medical Technologists www.amt1.com
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science www.ascls.org
National Credentialing www.nca-info.org
American Society for Clinical Pathology www.ascp.org
National Accrediting Agency for CLS www.naacls.org

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