Sherri Craddock, MLS, (ASCP)
Program Coordinator
205 Education Building
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367-4790
E-Mail: Sherri.Craddock@pierpont.edu
The Laboratory Assistant works under the supervision of analysts, scientists, technologists or technicians in the physical, chemical, biological and medical sciences. Laboratory Assistants may perform a variety of tasks depending upon the type of agency for which they work. They may perform phlebotomies use computers and computer-interfaced equipment; perform quality assurance checks; collect and prepare samples for analysis; clean, maintain and set up equipment used in experiments or laboratory analyses; follow safety procedures; properly dispose of biological wastes; maintain laboratory supplies; perform routine mathematical calculations; or prepare chemical solutions, reagents and media.
Program Overview:
The Laboratory Assistant Program at Pierpont Community & Technical College is a one-year certificate degree program designed to educate and prepare students for work in a laboratory under the supervision of a technologist, technician, analyst or scientist.
Students in the program receive one year of didactic instruction and laboratory training in basic and advanced laboratory skills, technical report writing, general chemistry, basic anatomy and physiology, CPR (Basic Life Support) and safety procedures, venipuncture and capillary puncture techniques and computer concepts and applications.
The Laboratory Assistant Program is currently affiliated with several medical institutions where students obtain practical experience in blood drawing techniques. Some clinical affiliates require background clearances.
Employment and Educational Advancement Opportunities:
After successful completion of the program, graduates may go directly into the workforce or apply for admission into one of the associate degree health careers programs or transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. Laboratory Assistants are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, research facilities, industry, federal and state agencies. Those graduates of the Laboratory Assistant program who are admitted into one of the competitive associate degree health careers programs at Pierpont Community and Technical College will have completed 13-19 hours of credit that will be applied to their specific area of study.
Click on the links for more information on jobs related to this program:
| COST 2010 -11 and 2011-12 | ||
| Q: How much will this program cost me? (on-campus, WV resident) | ||
| A: | Tuition and Fees: | $3,652 ($3920 in 2011-12) |
| Books and supplies: | $850 ($998-$1504 in 2011-12) | |
| On-campus room & board: | $6,925 ($6864- $8376 in 2011-12) | |
| Program Specific Costs | $450 estimate for travel costs to clinical sites and NHA exam | |
| 2011-12Catalog What's new for 2012-13 | ||
| FINANCING | ||
| Q: What are my financing options to pay for the program? | ||
| A: In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, 85 % of graduates used loans to finance their education in 2010-11 and 61% in 2011-12. The median debt for program graduates: | ||
| Federal loans completers on time | $3,500 in 2010-11 | |
| Federal loans completers not on time | $15,629 in 2010-11 | |
| Federal loans all completers | $$8996 in 2011-12 | |
| Private educational loans | no plans | |
| Institution financing plan no plans | ||
| SUCCESS |
| Q: How long will it take me to complete this program? |
|
A: The program is designed to take 9 months to complete. 19% of completers from this program finished on time in 2010-11 and 89% in 2011-12. |
| Q: What are the chances of getting a job when I graduate? |
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A: The job placement rate for students who completed the program in 2010-11 was 15% while 70% chose to stay in college and continue their education. This program designed to help students be able to compete for placement into Pierpont AAS health degree programs. Job tracking is still in progress for 2011-12, and there is no national formula. |
| Q: Will I be able to play back my student loans? |
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A: 91.9 % of students in this institution who took out federal student loans were successfully repaying them (2009 the repayment data was for Pierpont and Fairmont State University combined) In 2010, 81.5% of students in this institution who took out federal student loans were successfully repaying them (Pierpont 2 yr cohort rate 2010) . |
For a list of other institutions that offer similar programs, click here.
