The Clinical/Medical Technology Advanced Certificate Program

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Program Handbook

The program handbook includes a description of the program, the University of Rochester, and Strong Memorial Hospital, information about program policies, a listing of didactic faculty (with links to professional profiles) and clinical instructors, and course descriptions. The program handbook is found here

Program Mission

The Advanced Certificate Program in Clinical/Medical Technology at the University of Rochester strives to educate future clinical laboratory technologists who are committed, dedicated, skilled and innovative in their work. We seek to achieve this goal by utilizing educational experiences that emphasize patient care in the cultivation of excellence, competency, teamwork, and integrity in all aspects of laboratory science.

Program Outcomes

The program admits 15 graduate students on an annual basis. Admission is competitive.
 

American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Pass Rate within 1 year of Graduation

  • Class of 2023-2024: 13/13 (100%)
  • Class of 2022-2023: 15/15 (100%)
  • Class of 2021-2022: 13/14 (93%)*

*One graduate had ASCPi certification as an MLS upon admission to this program and did not have to retake the exam again upon completion.
 

Program Completion Rate for Students Entering the Last Half of the Program

  • Class of 2023-2024: 13/13 (100%)
  • Class of 2022-2023: 15/15 (100%)
  • Class of 2021-2022: 15/15 (100%)

Job Placement Rate for Graduates Actively Seeking Employment

  • Class of 2023-2024: 13/13 (100%)
  • Class of 2022-2023: 14/14 (100%)
  • Class of 2021-2022: 14/14 (100%)

Program Description

This full-time program prepares students for professional careers in clinical laboratory science. Students will complete both didactic and clinical experiences (preceptorships) at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Instructors include NYS licensed Clinical Laboratory Technologists and clinical faculty from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. All clinical experiences take place in the Department of Pathology, UR Medicine Laboratories located at Strong Memorial Hospital, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642 and the Central Labs located at 211 Bailey Road, W. Henrietta, NY 14468.

The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), located at 5600 N. River Suite 720 Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, phone number 773.714.8880, through April 30th, 2034. The Program Director contact information is: Vicki_Roberts@urmc.rochester.edu and office number is 585-276 3688.

Graduates are qualified to apply to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science to take the national board examination and achieve national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Visit http://www.ASCP.org  for more information. The ASCP exam has also been adopted by New York State as the state licensing exam.

The program is registered with New York State as licensure qualifying (see the New York State Education inventory of registered programs). Upon completion graduates meet the educational requirements for licensure. In order to practice the profession in NYS they must fulfill additional requirements for the licensing; including: submission of the licensing application; fees; and achievement of a passing score on the NYS licensing/ASCP national board examination. These requirements are found here: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/clinical-laboratory-technologists/laws-rules-regulations/article-165.

The program has not made the determination that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and or certification in other states. Information regarding these requirements is found here: https://ascls.org/licensure/.

Conferral of the Certificate in Advanced Studies upon completion of the program is not dependent upon receipt of a passing score on any external board or licensing examination.

View salary information for New York State Please keep in mind this is the average salary at that designation, not entry level.

Educational Objectives

Upon completing the Advanced Certificate Program in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technology, graduates will:

  • Have knowledge of and adhere to institutional, regional, national and international safety regulations in the clinical laboratory setting. 
  • Achieve the full range of competencies as entry level clinical laboratory technologists in the following domains: clinical chemistry; hematology/hemostasis, urinalysis, & body fluids; immunohematology/transfusion medicine; immunology; microbiology; and laboratory management & operations.
  • Accurately correlate laboratory findings to the diagnosis, prognosis, and disease management in the clinical and/or research setting.
  • Effectively troubleshoot outcomes that do not conform to prescribed protocols or outcomes.
  • Demonstrate leadership capabilities. Have knowledge of the basic principles of management, education, regulatory oversight, quality management, continuous process improvement, and operations in the clinical laboratory setting.
  • Meet the licensure requirements in practice of Clinical Laboratory Technology in the state of New York.
  • Be eligible for certification by the ASCP as Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Curriculum

Students must complete 35.5 credits (2 semesters) of coursework. This full time program is a combination of didactic lectures integrated with 720 hours of clinical experiences.

Click here to download a program description.

Required Prerequisites

*Must be completed prior to admission in order to be accepted into the program.

Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree in the biology, chemical or physical sciences with successful completion of the following courses and subject areas that include laboratory content:

  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Analytic chemistry and/or biochemistry
  • Physiology, with anatomy content
  • Molecular biology and diagnostics
  • Microbiology

The following courses are also required:

  • Organic chemistry
  • Statistics
  • Immunology

It is recommended that applicants have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 with a minimum math/science GPA of 2.8.

Click here to download a program description.

Technical Standards/Essential Functions

Description: All candidates for the Advanced Certificate Degree in Clinical/Medical Technology must possess essential skills and abilities necessary to complete the program curriculum successfully either with or without reasonable accommodations for any disabilities the individual may have. Note: The use of an intermediary that would in effect require a student to rely on someone else’s power of selection, detection and observation will not be permitted.

The technical standards/essential functions for this program

Students admitted to the program are required to review the essential functions and to sign a statement certifying that they have read, understand and are able to meet the standards with or without reasonable accommodations.

How To Apply

This program (CMT) only accepts applications for the fall semester. Review the Application Timeline to ensure your application and all supporting materials are submitted prior to the deadline. Early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Eligibility

Applicants must have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor's degrees are awarded before they matriculate. Evidence of the earned degree is required prior to matriculation in the form of an official transcript noting degree conferral.

Application Requirements 

It is expected that all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please note that the University of Rochester reserves the right to verify the accuracy of all transcripts and to require submission of official documentation at any point in the admissions review process.

  1. Online Application (recommended browser is Google Chrome). We will begin accepting applications in September for admission the following Fall semester.
  2. Statement of Purpose
  3. Uploaded copy of transcript(s) to online application.
    Please do not mail a hard copy at this time.
  4. Official TOEFL (institution code: 2948) or IELTS Scores
    For applicants whose native language is not English.
  5. CV or resume
  6. Payment of the $60.00 application fee
  7. Research papers, publications and other original works may also be submitted for consideration, but are not required.
  8. 2 letters of recommendation

It is expected that all application materials be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please do not include secondary school documentation, financial documentation, etc., as these are not utilized during the admissions process.

Financial Information

Tuition Fees

The cost of tuition for the Advanced Certificate in Clinical/Medical Technology is $7,760 for the 2024-25 academic year.

Please review the tuition refund refund policy and refund schedule. Withdrawal policies are available at: https://www.rochester.edu/registrar/students/leave-of-absence-and-withdrawal.html

Health Insurance

UHS offers health insurance for individual full-time University of Rochester students and their spouses/domestic partners through AETNA. Full-time students are required to participate in this plan unless they complete the Health Insurance Selection Process indicating they are waiving the insurance plan because they have other insurance. Insurance for spouses/partners and families is available for a fee payable by the student. For more information about enrolling and fees click here.

The University Health Service (UHS) provides a full range of confidential, high quality primary health care services for full-time students and other members of the University community. Full-time students participate in the Student Health Program, which covers primary care visits to UHS, time-limited therapy at the University Counseling Center (UCC), and health promotion services.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine offers a scholarship opportunity to program applicants. Learn more about scholarship information and how to apply.

Contact

Vicki Roberts
CMT Program Director and Director of Education of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Phone: (585) 276-3688
 
Heather Sassone
Education Manager of UR Medicine Labs Pathology and Lab Medicine
Phone: (585) 276-5461
 
Education Coordinator
This position is currently vacant

Mailing Address

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Ave., Box 626
Rochester, NY 14642

Phone: (585) 276-3688
Fax: (585) 756-4468

The University of Rochester provides equal opportunity in admissions and student aid regardless of sex, age, race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin. Further, the University complies with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Questions on compliance should be directed to the particular school or department and/or to the University's Equal Opportunity Coordinator, University of Rochester, Box 270501, Rochester, NY 14627-0501.

We actively promote Excellence through Diversity. We are highly committed to foster and promote the core values of the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Office for Inclusion and Culture.

More information, including information about resources that support the University’s commitment to equal opportunity, can be found at Equal Opportunity at Rochester.