Publications

Medical Laboratory Technicians in California: Lessons from the Field

Author(s): 

Lisel Blash, Catherine Dower, Susan A. Chapman

Date: 
April 22, 2015

Licensed Medical Laboratory Technicians, or MLTs, are a relatively new occupation in California. In 2002, California legislation authorized the creation of the MLT job category (SB 1809) and delineated educational and licensing requirements. Although all other states and the US military have employed this classification of worker for years, it was not until December 2007 that “Medical Laboratory Technician” became an officially licensed occupation in California. 

In this qualitative research study sponsored by the Health Workforce Initiative, California Community Colleges, Center researchers explore challenges and best practices in incorporating MLTs into hospital laboratories.  These findings are based on a number of interviews and five site visits to promising practice sites around the state.