Six schools in California are approved to offer a medical laboratory technician academic program, according to the California Department of Public Health. Medical laboratory technician programs in California range from a 1,200-hour part-time program to a two-year, full-time associate's degree.
Throughout the degree and certificate programs, students take courses in medical terminology, medical law and ethics, pharmacology for medical assistants, and clinical laboratory procedures. Students receive hands-on training through laboratory components completed in microbiology, urinalysis, hematology and clinical placements in hospital departments, medical offices and clinics.
Before enrolling in a medical laboratory technology program, prospective students must complete a secondary school education and a variety of college-level courses, including human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and microbiology.
Graduates of the programs must take either the Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry examination or the American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry examination for licensure as a medical laboratory technician in California.