Mission, Goals and Competencies
School of Medical Laboratory Science Mission
The School of Medical Laboratory Science is committed to providing high quality education and laboratory experience to prepare its graduates to work, upon career entry as competent and ethical professionals with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet the needs of the profession. The School also strives to prepare our graduates for leadership roles in the clinical laboratory and instill an understanding of the need for maintaining continuing competency in a rapidly changing and dynamic profession.
Program Goals
The goals of the School of Medical Laboratory Science are:
- Provide instruction and evaluation based on identified competencies and objectives relevant to the practice in all major areas of medical laboratory science.
- Provide students with opportunities to develop interpersonal attitudes needed to work independently and professionally with patients and other health care professionals.
- Assure that entry-level practitioners are adequately prepared to withstand the pressures of the job, including the ability to multitask, maintain stability under pressure, and work accurately and efficiently.
- Provide students with opportunities to meet specific course objectives and entry-level competencies, both cognitive and psychomotor, in all areas of the clinical laboratory.
- Prepare medical laboratory science graduates for entry level positions in the workforce.
- To encourage students to be lifelong learners as they seek to maintain professional competence and continuing education for career growth.
- Provide students with adequate knowledge and clinical experience to pass a national certification examination appropriate to their level of training.
Description of Entry Level Competencies of the Medical Laboratory Scientist
*At entry level, the medical laboratory scientist will possess the entry level competencies necessary to perform the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas such as Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/Hemostasis, Immunology, Immunohematology/Transfusion medicine, Microbiology, Urine and Body Fluid Analysis and Laboratory Operations, and other emerging diagnostics, and will play a role in the development and evaluation of test systems and interpretive algorithms.
The medical laboratory scientist will have diverse responsibilities in areas of analysis and clinical decision‐making, regulatory compliance with applicable regulations, education, and quality assurance/performance improvement wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed or performed.
At entry level, the medical laboratory scientist will have the following basic knowledge and skills in:
- Application of safety and governmental regulations and standards as applied to clinical laboratory science;
- Principles and practices of professional conduct and the significance of continuing professional development;
- Communications sufficient to serve the needs of patients, the public and members of the health care team;
- Principles and practices of administration and supervision as applied to clinical laboratory science;
- Educational methodologies and terminology sufficient to train/educate users and providers of laboratory services;
- Principles and practices of clinical study design, implementation and dissemination of results.
*National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (May 2020). NAACLS Standards for Accredited and Approved Programs (MLS Unique Standards).