CFCC to launch Medical Lab Technology Training program
WILMINGTON, NC —The new Cape Fear Community College Medical Laboratory Technology program, slated to start in fall 2022, will offer students the opportunity to train for careers as medical laboratory technicians. CFCC is among the first 16 community colleges in the state to offer the program.
The Medical Laboratory Technology program joins the college’s top-ranking health and human services program, providing a new career pathway for individuals looking to excel in the healthcare industry.
“The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a retiring workforce is creating an influx of medical laboratory technician job openings,” said CFCC Dean of Health and Human Services Mary Ellen Naylor.
“Local healthcare providers have expressed a need to grow their team of medical lab techs, she added. “Cape Fear Community College is excited to offer this program and enable students to learn and excel in a lucrative, fast-growing career, and we are committed to helping our community mitigate the workforce shortage.”
“Cape Fear Community College continually looks for opportunities to add programs that will benefit our student body and employers in the Cape Fear region,” said CFCC President Jim Morton. “The Medical Laboratory Technology program is an important addition to our Health and Human Services division. I am excited to see the program launch this fall.”
Meeting the Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for medical laboratory technicians to grow by 10 percent through 2030, a rate faster than average for all occupations. The Bureau also estimates nearly 26,000 job openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians per year.
“The job outlook for medical laboratory technicians is exceptional,” said CFCC Career Development Coordinator Emily Hawarny. “The median wage for this field in North Carolina is $52,155 and growing. Students who choose this career path can look forward to high earning potential and job security.”
An Essential Component to Patient-Centered Care
The two-year Associate in Applied Science program equips students to perform clinical laboratory procedures that aid in diagnosing, preventing, and treating disease.
“Laboratory technicians are a critical link in the chain of providing patient-centered care,” said Carolyn McCormick, a nursing instructor at CFCC. “Nurses rely on their expertise daily, as they run most of the laboratory tests while a patient is in the hospital. They are an integral part of a patient’s clinical care team.”
The program focuses on specimen collection, laboratory testing and procedures, quality assurance and reporting, and recording and interpreting findings.
Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology Certification. Graduates will find themselves working in laboratories in hospitals, medical offices, and industry and research facilities.
How to Get Started
Cape Fear Community College is now accepting applications for the Medical Laboratory Technology program. Apply today or schedule an appointment with an admissions representative to learn more. The CFCC Health Sciences Enrollment Center accepts walk-ins and appointments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
