Four North Carolina universities have programs in medical technology.
Clinical laboratory scientists, also known as medical technologists, are the white-coat associates who perform and analyze laboratory tests. The results are crucial in diagnosing, monitoring and treating medical problems. Those who seek this technical career must obtain training and legal certification. Several universities in North Carolina offer degree programs in medical technology.
East Carolina University
East Carolina University's College of Allied Health Services in Greenville offers a bachelor's degree program in medical technology. The pre-professional portion includes general studies and a high-level concentration of courses in biology and chemistry; the professional phase includes lectures, management techniques and clinical study. According to the school's website, student laboratories require work in, "hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology and immunohematology." Upon completion of the program, graduates are fully certified to work in a hospital or any other laboratory setting, and after two years of field work, they are eligible to assume supervisory roles.
Elon University
Elon University is located in the town of Elon, and it offers a health professions program in medical technology that prepares students for entry into this medical field. A Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology consist of 40 to 44 semester hours of study and course work, which takes three years as well as completion of a full year's clinical curriculum. Seven courses in biology, five in chemistry and three in physics are required as well as classes and labs in other sciences. The clinical program occurs at the school's affiliated hospital. According to the school website, "Admission to the affiliated program is competitive and based on overall GPA, evaluation by faculty and personal interviews."
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in medical technology.The curriculum includes completion of basic undergraduate requirements in liberal arts plus a science concentration, particularly in biology, of 39 semester hours. In addition, graduates must complete the clinical portion, which consists of 32 semester hours, and this part of the program occurs at a hospital-based location. The university's website states that, "Satisfactory completion of the twelve-month clinical training phase qualifies students to take the national examination of the Registry of Medical Technologists of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists." Passing this exam allows for certification in all states.
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University, in Hickory, has small class sizes of less than 20, which allows for personal instructional attention; this includes those who major in medical technology, which is part of the biology department. The required courses provide the fundamentals of biology and chemistry; they are followed by a year of clinical study. Students who complete the degree program, according to the university's website, have the," basis to understand both theory and application of medical laboratory procedures and are capable of teaching, supervising and performing complex laboratory tests."
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