Medical Laboratory Technician A.A.S.

The Medical Laboratory Technician program prepares men and women to work under the supervision of the medical laboratory scientist, pathologist, or other qualified physician in a medical laboratory. A technician performs tests that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Specific tasks which the Medical Laboratory Technician might perform include collection of blood and other specimens, preparation and examination of stained slides of blood cells or bacteria, microscopic examination of urine, blood, and other body fluids, grouping and typing of blood, and the analysis of body fluids for chemical components.

The first two semesters of the program may be taken at NIACC and the completion of the program is taken at Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa. The final semesters of the program are provided in the clinical setting, which may occur in a location of the student’s choice. This placement, however, is dependent on a space available basis in the agency of choice.

North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is a nationally-ranked, two-year institution located in North Central Iowa that serves students of all ages and abilities. Starting in 1918 as Mason City Junior College, NIACC has the distinct privilege of being the oldest Iowa community college. In 2018, the College celebrated its 100 year anniversary of providing high quality, community-responsive education to our students. Since 2012, the College has received numerous national rankings, including being ranked in the top 10 percent of all community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute.

Located two hours south of Minneapolis, MN and two hours north of Des Moines, IA, NIACC is big enough to provide many opportunities for students and small enough to give students the personal attention they need and deserve. We provide the four-year college experience at the two-year college price. The tuition at NIACC is generally about half the cost of the tuition at the state’s public universities, making the process of getting general education credits much more affordable for students and their families. We have transfer agreements with more than 40 four-year institutions, making it easy for NIACC graduates to transfer and continue their education.