Medical technology is a profession that provides both routine and specialized clinical laboratory testing on a variety of patient specimens. Graduates of the program are employed in diverse settings, including hospital and independent laboratories, commercial and academic research laboratories, public health services, pharmaceutical companies, scientific sales and service, education, supervision, and laboratory administration. Most laboratories are organized into five departments: blood banking, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and hematology.

The medical technologist is a highly trained and skilled professional member of the health-care delivery team. With the aid of microscopes and sophisticated instrumentation, the medical technologist is able to examine samples of body fluids for purposes of developing data which are used in maintenance of health, and diagnosis and treatment of disease. The medical technologist has the skills to perform tests manually and understands the scientific theories which underlie these tests.

The medical technologist's teammates include fellow medical technologists, the pathologist, the physician, the patient, as well as other hospital personnel. Mutual respect must be developed among all members of the team if health care is to be delivered with maximum efficiency. The medical technologist thus plays a major role in meeting the needs of the whole patient.

The medical technology program at Slippery Rock University is relatively small. Because class size is small, there is ample opportunity for meaningful student-faculty interaction. That faculty get to know the abilities of their students provides a distinct advantage when letters of recommendation for clinical placement must be provided.

The medical technology curriculum at Slippery Rock University includes three years in residence, during which a minimum of 96 semester hours of coursework must be successfully completed, followed by one year in training at an American Medical Association accredited hospital school of medical technology. Upon successful completion of the fourth year, for which the university will accept 32 semester hours of transfer credit, the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree is awarded. After the degree is awarded, the graduate becomes eligible to take one of several national certification examinations. The American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry as a medical technologist or the National Certifying Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel as a clinical laboratory scientist. With certification, the graduate becomes recognized as a qualified medical technologist.

 Admission to the clinical year of training is highly competitive and is not guaranteed. The application for placement consists of three parts: application form with transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. Slippery Rock University is presently affiliated with the Altoona Hospital, The St. Vincent Health Center, Rochester General Hospital , The York Hospital, and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

Because of the nature of the medical technology program, it is strongly recommended that no more than 32 semester hours of credit be transferred into the program, not including the 32 semester hours accepted in transfer for the clinical year of training. For further information, please contact the Department of Biology Chair or the Paramedical Program Director.