Medical Laboratory Technology Admission Requirements
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Moorhead campus
Application deadline: Aug. 10, 2025
Thank you for your interest in Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s Medical Laboratory Technology program. The M State MLT program prepares students for careers as entry-level medical laboratory technologists in a variety of laboratory settings (e.g. clinical, hospital or reference labs) and equips students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful.
The M State MLT program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), which allows graduates to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology’s Board of Certification Examination and become employed as medical laboratory technologists.
- MLT courses are delivered via the online classroom D2L Brightspace, with in-person weekly labs on the Moorhead campus and clinical rotations as arranged.
- There are 15 available seats on the Moorhead campus.
- Students must participate in a total of 640 hours of clinical rotations, offered in spring term only.
- PSEO students are not eligible to take MLT courses. High school students are encouraged to register for college general education courses while they pursue acceptance into the MLT program.
- Applicants who have already completed the following biology courses, must have completed them within the five years prior to their start date/acceptance into the core program: BIOL 2260/2261 Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture/Lab; BIOL 2262/2263 Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture/Lab.
We are pleased you are considering M State and look forward to receiving your application. For more information and assistance, please call 877.450.3322 or email info@minnesota.edu.
Admission
Applicants who meet all requirements for admission will have the greatest chance of being admitted into the program. Students are encouraged to submit the program application even if they are in the process of meeting all the requirements for admission to the program. Applications will be reviewed after prerequisite coursework is complete.
To be considered for the MLT program, students must be accepted to M State. The application for the MLT program is separate. You must be accepted to M State to access the MLT program application.
New to M State - Follow the admissions checklist at Admissions.
Returning to M State - Submit an online application for admission at Admissions. If you have attended another college since you last attended M State, you will also need to request the official transcript be sent to the M State Processing Center.
M State Processing Center
1414 College Way
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Students should allow up to six weeks for transfer work to be received, evaluated and entered onto their Degree Audit Report. Transfer courses will not count toward admission to the program until they have been evaluated by the M State transfer specialist and successfully transferred.
Current M State student - If you are currently attending M State, you will not need to update your application to the college.
The MLT program application must be submitted for an applicant to be considered for the program. Students who miss the fall start deadline may be eligible to enroll in general education courses and complete program admission requirements prior to the next fall start.
MLT applicants must complete all developmental English and/or math courses with a grade of C or higher. Placement in these courses may be determined by ACT, SAT, Accuplacer assessment or high school GPA. Guided self-placement for students who do not have an ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or high school GPA waiver on file cannot be used for MLT applicants.
Complete the Accuplacer assessment to determine which, if any, English and/or math developmental courses you need to complete. Sign up for the Accuplacer assessment at Placement Testing.
High school graduates are encouraged to apply for college general education courses while they pursue acceptance into the program. GED completers must supply the college with a GED transcript or certificate in order to be considered for acceptance.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following eligibility criteria.
Math scores on the Accuplacer/ACT or high school GPA must place the student into Math 1114 College Algebra or higher. Students testing into developmental math must complete the highest-level developmental course with a grade of C or higher prior to starting the program.
Reading scores on the Accuplacer/ACT or high school GPA must place the student into ENGL 1101 College Writing. Students testing into developmental English must complete the highest-level developmental course with a grade of C or higher prior to starting the program.
Additional program requirements for accepted students
Correspondence from the college will provide more information related to the following. However, program applicants are encouraged to consider these requirements ahead of time.
Accepted students must review the Medical Laboratory Technology program handbook. The most current version can be found here - Medical Laboratory Technician Program Handbook.
Students will need to complete a Minnesota Department of Health background check prior to starting their clinical rotation. A $54.50 fee will be required for processing the background check and fingerprinting/photo.
Students who choose not to complete the background study or who do not clear may not be permitted to attend clinical experiences or service learning opportunities. In such cases, the college cannot guarantee alternative learning opportunities, which ultimately will affect the students’ ability to complete the program.
M State does not require a National Background Check for admission to the MLT program, but the National Background Check is necessary when required by a clinical rotation site. The MLT program director or site coordinator will assist with this process if/when necessary. Students required to complete a National Background Check are responsible for the fees. A discrepancy may prevent the student from participating in or completing clinical rotations.
Students who choose not to complete the background study or who do not clear may not be permitted to attend clinical experiences or service-learning opportunities. In such cases, the college cannot guarantee alternative learning opportunities, which ultimately will affect the students’ ability to complete the program. Students are to upload documents to the Student Passport system.
Students are required to complete the Health Division Health Form prior to starting their clinical rotation.
M State does not require drug screening for admission to the MLT program. Clinical rotation sites and employers have regulations related to drug use and criminal backgrounds; therefore, drug screening is necessary when required by a clinical rotation site. Students required to complete a drug screening are responsible for the fees. The clinical site will assist the student with this process. An unclean drug screening may prevent a student from participating in or completing clinical rotations, meeting program requirements and/or receiving a degree. Refusal to participate in a drug screen is equal to an unclean test result. The student will be removed from the clinical site or denied participation. This will prevent the student from meeting program requirements and/or receiving a degree.
If you experience any issues with the application, please call 877.450.3322 or email info@minnesota.edu.
