Section 1200-06-02-.05 - MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST PROGRAM MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS(1) Minimum Curriculum Requirements: (a) The program must provide a structured curriculum that documents the clinical education with clearly written program goals and a course syllabus which includes both individual course objectives and competency levels to be achieved. The curriculum shall include all the major subject areas commonly offered in the clinical laboratory. Objectives which address the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains must be provided for didactic and clinical aspects of the program and must include clinical significance. These course objectives shall show progression to the level consistent with entry into the profession. The curriculum shall include: 1. Principles and methodologies for all major areas commonly practiced by a modem clinical laboratory;2. Clinical significance of laboratory procedures in diagnosis and treatment;3. Principles and practices of quality assurance;4. Principles of laboratory management, supervision, safety, and problem solving;5. Educational methodology; and6. Computer application in the clinical laboratory sciences.(b) Educational programs for medical laboratory technologists shall be conducted by accredited colleges and universities, hospitals, or other institutions that have been approved in advance by the Board.(2) Minimum Prerequisites for Admission of Students:(a) The educational prerequisites for admission to schools for medical laboratory technologists shall be three (3) years of academic study plus one (1) year of a training program (3 + 1) with graduation (or equivalent) from high school and successful completion of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) of academic credit in a college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or an equivalent thereto. The 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) shall be acceptable as the first three (3) years of a baccalaureate program. The three years of collegiate education must include biological sciences, chemistry and mathematics that provide the foundation for course work required in the laboratory science program that is currently accredited by NAACLS.(b) The educational prerequisites for admission to a medical laboratory technologist (2+2) program based in a college or university shall be graduation from high school or equivalent and successful completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of academic credit in a college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or an equivalent thereto. The 60 semester hours of collegiate education must include biological sciences, chemistry and mathematics that provide the foundation for course work required in the laboratory science program that is currently accredited by NAACLS.(c) The educational prerequisites for admission to a medical laboratory technologist 4+1 program shall be a baccalaureate degree including successful completion of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) of academic credit in a college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or an equivalent thereto. The four years of collegiate education must include biological sciences, chemistry and mathematics that provide the foundation for course work required in the laboratory science program that is currently accredited by NAACLS.(3) Additional Administrative Requirements: (a) Unless a student is given equivalent credit by examination, the curriculum shall consist of a minimum of 12 months of structured educational experience.(b) Clinical laboratory experience acceptable to the Board shall be included in the college or university-based programs.(c) Reasonable vacation or sick leave may be granted at the discretion of the director. General rules regarding this should be in the program's brochure/student handbook.(d) Students shall be oriented in medical ethics and institutional functions or regulations at the beginning of their clinical experience.(e) The curriculum shall be comprised of all the major subjects commonly involved in the clinical laboratory. The curriculum must also include but not be limited to:1. Principles of representative procedures and instruments: clinical significance of laboratory procedures in diagnosis and treatment including normal values; principles and practices of quality control and problem solving;2. Principles of laboratory organization, management, and supervision;3. Uses of laboratory data by physicians in patient management; and4. Such other topics which may be of value in laboratory medicine.(f) A complete outline of the curriculum must be submitted to the Board with the application form for approval to operate. It must include:1. Expected capability of the graduates (what they should be able to do and at what level of competence);2. Outline of learning experience, including:(iii) Laboratory rotational plan;3. Description of procedures to be used in evaluation of knowledge, performance, professional attitude, and competence. Criteria for pass/fail decisions should be established and failing performance must be documented; and4. A grievance process for student objections.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-06-02-.05
Original rule filed October 26, 1979; effective December 10, 1979. Repeal and new rule filed January 7, 1997; effective March 23, 1997. Amendments filed January 13, 2022; effective 4/13/2022.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 68-29-105, and 68-29-110.