Laboratory Assistant Program Admission Information

The Laboratory Assistant Program takes pride in its safety program, which follows national guidelines published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Students admitted to the program must arrange for a physical examination and submit the completed health examination form to the Program Coordinator prior to the first day of classes. The completed health examination form is required for full admission into the Lab Assistant program.

Essential functions for acceptance into the Lab Assistant program include:
• Sufficient vision to effectively operate a microscope
• The ability to visually differentiate colors
• Motor functions sufficient to permit performance of venipuncture and manipulation of clinical laboratory instruments and equipment
• Communications skills adequate for transmitting to and receiving information from patients and hospital personnel
• Behavioral and social skills acceptable to the hospital setting
• Good general health as evaluated by a physician during a physical examination including urinalysis, and PPD tests.
• Appropriate vaccinations including a current tetanus toxoid, DPT, Varicella, MMR, polio and Hepatitis B vaccine. A Hepatitis B surface antibody test demonstrating sufficient antibody titer may be submitted in lieu of the hepatitis vaccine series. All students are required to obtain a Hepatitis B surface antibody titer six months after their final vaccination.

Admission Procedures
Applicants are admitted each year to the Laboratory Assistant Program prior to the opening of the fall semester. To be considered for admission, applicants must:
1. Meet the general admission requirements of Pierpont Community & Technical College.
2. Have a high school GPA and, if applicable, a college GPA of 2.0 or better.
3. Meet the prerequisites for English 1104. These include successful completion of an academic skills writing course, OR a score of 18 or better on the English section of the ACT (or SAT equivalent) OR a score of 71 on the English COMPASS test.
4. Meet the prerequisites for CHEM 1101 or SCIE 1110. These include successful completion of the appropriate academic skills math class, OR a score of 19 or better on the Math section of the ACT (or SAT equivalent) OR a score of 36 on the Algebra COMPASS test.
5. Submit an application for admission.

**Note: Students may be able to complete mathematics, English or chemistry prerequisites in the summer prior to admission in the fall semester.