NAACLS Outcomes Data

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) is committed to ensuring quality in clinical laboratory science programs. McLennan Community Colleges' accredited MLT program tracks graduation rates, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) pass rates and the placement of graduates in laboratory settings or if the graduate continues their education as part of the required NAACLS outcome measures.

Note: The three-year weighted average pertains to the period 2019-2021. 

Graduation and attrition rates are cohort-based. Cohorts are defined as all students enrolled in the MLT program at McLennan Community College who have entered the final half of the program (MLAB 2534 - Microbiology) in the spring and go on to successfully graduate in August of the same year.  The MLT program coursework must be completed in a 12-month consecutive timeframe as defined by our MLT degree plan. The MLT program runs from August to August of the following year. The 2022 graduate data is incomplete and will be posted when all students in the cohort have tested or 1-year post-graduation.

Please Note: The August 2022 graduate data is as follows:

6 MLT students graduated in August 2022 and 5 of the 6 students have taken the ASCP BOC exam. Of the 5 students who have taken the exam, 4 have passed for a passing rate of 80%. The placement rate for the August 2022 graduates is 5 of 6 students are working in the field (83% - placement rate). All 6 of the MLT students who entered the 2nd half of the program went on to graduate for a 100% retention rate. The above data chart will be updated in August 2023 when the 1 year post graduation date has passed. (Note posted: May 2023)

Placement and exam pass rates are also based on cohorts. Of the individuals who responded to requests for information, including personal communication and/or surveys, graduates were counted as placed if employed in the field or if they are continuing their education within 12 months of graduation. Graduates were counted as passing the ASCP Board of Certification exam if they passed within one year of graduation. The MCC MLT program exclusively uses the ASCP Board of Certification data for the pass rates shown here.

MLT program outcomes measures are defined by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS, 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, 773‐714‐8880, www.naacls.org)

From the NAACLS Standards:

Standard II.B.1: NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR CERTIFICATION RATES For MLT: Results of the last three active years of graduate certification rates demonstrating an average of at least 75%* certification rates from all examinations (data from ASCP-BOC and/or AMT must be provided) for graduates who take the exam within the first year of graduation. 

Standard II. B. 2: NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR GRADUATION RATES At least the three active years of results of graduation rates demonstrating an average of at least 70%* of students who have begun the final half of the program go on to successfully graduate from the program as calculated by the most recent three-year period.

Standard II.B. 3: NAACLS BENCHMARK FOR GRADUATE PLACEMENT RATES At least the three active years of results of graduate placement rates demonstrating that an average of at least 70%* of respondent graduates either find employment in the field or a closely related field (for those who seek employment) or continue their education within one year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three-year period.