Dear Dr. NAACLS,

My CLT/MLT program is considering an increase in the credit hours required for graduation of our students. Could this increase affect our accreditation?

Very Concerned

Dear Very Concerned,

Yes, a change in the length of your program could affect your accreditation. NAACLS is recognized by the Department of Education as an accreditor of postsecondary programs. Accordingly, we are bound by the regulations contained in the 1992 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Contained within those regulations is the requirement that NAACLS "have standards that effectively address the quality of an institution or program in… [p]rogram length and tuition and fees in relation to the subject matters taught and the objectives of the degrees and credentials offered. "

If your program is an associate degree program, NAACLS Essentials require that "[t]he program shall be no longer than two calendar years or equivalent and requirements should be equivalent to other associate degree programs within the institution. " (CLT/MLT Essential 11A) This Essential allows for part-time students or those needing remedial coursework to take longer than two calendar years to complete the program. For instance, if a student needs a remedial English course prior to matriculation in the CLT/MLT program, that student may be enrolled for more than two calendar years. However, as long as the credits required for graduation from the program do not change, the program would be in compliance with the Essential. Also, if a part-time student takes four years to complete the associate degree program, as long as the credits required remain consistent, that program would also be in compliance.

The total number of credits required to graduate from the program must be equivalent to other associate degree programs, particularly other allied health programs, within the institution. If your program's graduation requirements for CLT/MLT programs are not equivalent to those of the other programs at your institution, your program could be found in violation of Essential 11A.

For certificate programs, the Essentials read, "The certificate program shall be no longer than one calendar year or equivalent to other certificate programs within the institution. " If your certificate program requires excessive time to complete, your program may be in violation of Essential 11B.

These Essentials are written to protect students from requirements that may be excessive to educate associate degree or certificate Clinical Laboratory Technicians/Medical Laboratory Technicians. The skills and knowledge of these valuable laboratorians should be appropriate to their degree or certificate, and NAACLS works to ensure that this is the case.

Dr. NAACLS

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