Clinical Lab Students at Chattahoochee Tech Learn about Careers

In less than a year the first cohort of Chattahoochee Technical College’s Clinical Laboratory Technician Program will be graduating. But the group of students at the college’s Canton campus is already hearing from potential employers such as BioLife Plasma Services, a subsidiary of Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

Brian Hammond, a recruiter for BioLife Plasma Services, recently visited the students to discuss careers at the new Plasma Testing Center being built in the Atlanta area.  At BioLife’s new laboratory center in Georgia, testing will be performed on donated plasma for use to treat hemophilia, immune disorders and chronic blood related conditions.

“Careers  in the clinical lab technician field offer competitive starting pay and have advancement opportunities for candidates who have a CLT degree and want to make a positive contribution to healthcare,” said Program Director Robin Aiken. “The demand is out there from local hospitals and labs wanting to know when our students will graduate and how fast can we get them on the job.”

Clinical Laboratory Technology is a seven semester associate of applied science degree program. Students learn to perform clinical laboratory procedures under the supervision of a qualified pathologist and/or clinical laboratory scientist. Classroom training is integrated with clinical experiences under the medical direction of cooperating hospitals. Graduation from this program allows students to take a national certification examination which is necessary for clinical employment. The program is designed to prepare students to work in hospitals, blood banks, physician offices, research centers and other laboratory settings.

A new cohort of students in the program is scheduled to begin classes at the Canton Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College in August.

For more information on this and other programs at Chattahoochee Tech, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.