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UNIT 3.0 Medical Technology Curriculum
UNIT 3.0 Medical Technology Curriculum
Medical technology education in the Philippines is governed and regulated by the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) under CMO no. 13, series of 2017. The medical technology program
leads to a degree in Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science/ Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology which is a four-year course with professional licensure examination upon
the completion of the required units. To become a professional/practicing medical laboratory
scientist/medical technologist, a graduate of this program needs to pass the licensure
examination in medical technology, following which a license is granted by the Professional
Regulation Commission by virtue of RA 5527 (Medical Technology Act of 1969). A practicing and
duly licensed medical technologist/ medical laboratory scientist can then become a member of a
professional organization, namely the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET)
or the Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology/Public Health (PASMETH), and
enjoy the benefits and Privileges extended by such organizations. In other countries, medical
technology education is regulated by the ministry of education, except those universities where
the program is accredited by the accreditation agency or enjoys autonomous status. There are
international professional organizations that can absorb registered medical technologists or
clinical laboratory scientists of other countries under the provision of a reciprocity clause.
Professional Courses
Professional courses are taken for learners to develop the knowledge, technical competence,
professional attitude, and values necessary to practice and meet the demands of the profession.
Critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, collaboration, and teamwork are also developed. Some
of the professional courses are
1. Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 1: Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science,
Laboratory Safety, and Waste Management
This course deals with the basic concepts and principles related to the Medical
Technology/Medical Laboratory Science profession. Its emphasis is on the curriculum, practice of
the profession, clinical laboratories, continuing professional education, biosafety practices, and
waste management.
2. Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 2: Clinical Laboratory Assistance and Phlebotomy
Clinical Laboratory Assistance encompasses the concepts and principles of the different
assays performed in the clinical laboratory. Phlebotomy deals with the basic concepts, principles,
and application of the standard procedures in blood collection, transport, and processing. It also
involves the study of pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic variables that affect reliability of
test results.
3. Community and Public Health for MT/MLS 1 Public Health for MT/MLS
This course involves the study of the foundations of community health that include human
ecology, demography, and epidemiology. It emphasizes the promotion of community, public, and
environmental health and the immersion and interaction of students with people in the
community.
4. Cytogenetics
This course is focused on the study of the concepts and principles of heredity and
inheritance which include genetic phenomena, sex determination, and genetic defects rooted in
inheritance, among others. It also discusses the abnormalities and genetic disorders involving the
chromosomes and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Emphasis is given to the analysis of nucleic acids
and their application to medical science.
5. Human Histology
This course deals with the study of the fundamentals of cells, tissues, and oro with
emphasis on microscopic structures, characteristics, differences, and functi The laboratory
component of this course primarily deals with the microscopic identification and differentiation
of cells that make up the systems of the body.
7. Clinical Bacteriology
This course deals with the study of the physiology and morphology of bacteria and their
role in infection and immunity. Its emphasis is on the collection of or to specimen and the
isolation and identification of bacteria. It also covers antimicrobial susceptibility testing and
development of resistance to antimicrobial substances.
Some of the procedures and tests that students perform for the laboratory Dos
component of the course in a school-based laboratory are .
• Preparation of culture media
• Collection of specimen
• Preparation of bacterial smear
• Staining of smear
• Inoculation of specimen on culture media
• Characterization of colonies of bacteria growing in culture media
• Performing different biochemical tests for identification of bacteria.
• Biosafety and waste management
• Quality assurance and quality control
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
8. Clinical Parasitology
This course is concerned with the study of animal parasites in human and their medical
significance in the country. Its emphasis is on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, life cycle,
prevention and control, and the identification of ova and/or adult worms and other forms seen
in specimens submitted for diagnostic purposes.
Some of the procedures and tests that students perform for the laboratory component of
the course in a school-based laboratory are
· Microscopic identification of diagnostic features of different groups of parasites pathogenic
to man (e.g., nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, protozoa, plasmodium, among others)
· Different methods of preparing smear for microscopic examination (direct fecal smear,
Kato-Katz, among others)
13. Hematology 1
This course deals with the study of the concepts of blood as a tissue. Formation,
metabolism of cells, laboratory assays, correlation with pathologic conditions, special
hematology evaluation are given emphasis. Quality assurance and quality control in hematology
laboratory as well as bone marrow studies are also discussed.
Some of the procedures and tests that students perform for the laboratory - component
of the course in a school-based laboratory are:
· Complete blood count (CBC)
· Hematocrit blood test
· Platelet count
· Preparation of blood smear and staining
· Red cell morphology
· Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
· Fragility test
· Erythrocyte indices
· Reticulocyte count
· Instrumentation
· Osmotic fragility test
· Quality assurance and quality control
· Biosafety and waste management
14. Hematology 2
This course deals with the concepts and principles of hemostasis, and abnormalities
involving red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets. Laboratory identification
of blood cell abnormalities, quantitative measurement of coagulation factors, and disease
correlation are emphasized.
Some of the procedures and tests that students perform for the laboratory component of
the course in school-based laboratory are
· Identification of abnormal RBC and WBC
· Special staining techniques
· Coagulation factor test (e.g., activated partial thromboplastin time (API, Prothrombin time
[PT], Bleeding time [BT), Clotting time P retraction time [CRT])
· Instrumentation
Research Courses
Research courses required in the BSMT/BSMLS program are Research 1: Introduction to
Laboratory Science Research and Research 2: Research Paper Writing and Presentation.
Research 1 deals with the basic concepts and principles of research as applied in Medical
Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science. Ethical principles, as applied in research, are also
emphasized. Research 2, on the other hand, covers the methodology of the research (approved
in Research 1), writing the research paper in the format prescribed by the institution and
international research agencies for possible publication, and presentation of the finished and
completed research in a formal forum.
Licensure Examination
The Medical Technologist Licensure Examination is conducted in order to identify graduates who
possess the basic qualifications or the minimum conceptual skills and technical competencies to
perform the tasks with minimum errors.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is the government agency, under the Office of the
President of the Philippines, tasked to administer licensure examinations to different
professionals. Meanwhile, the Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) for Medical
Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, under the PRC, is tasked to prepare and administer the
written licensure examinations for graduates qualified to take the examination. PRB is composed
of a chairperson, who must be a duly licensed pathologist, and two members should be both
registered medical technologists. All members of the PRB are required holders of PRC licenses.
At present, the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination is administered twice a year, on the
months of March and August.
Listed below are some of the provisions included in Republic Act 5527, "The Technology
Act of 1969," in relation to the licensure examination:
1. The courses included in the licensure examination and their corresponding percentages are
as follows:
· Clinical Chemistry 20%
· Microbiology and Parasitology 20 %
· Hematology 20 %
· Blood Banking and Immunology and Serology 20%
· Clinical Microscopy 10%
· Histopathologic Techniques (MTLaws and Bioethics and Laboratory Management -
not written in R.A. 5527, but are now included in the board exam) 10%
3. If an examinee passed the examination and is 21 years old and above, he or she will be
issued a certificate of registration and a PRC card as a licensed medical technologist. If an
examinee is younger than 21 years old, he or she will register as a professional after his or her
21st birthday.
4. If an examinee failed to pass the licensure examination three times, he or she needs to
enroll in a refresher course before retaking the examination.
5. If an examinee failed to pass the examination but garnered a general weighted average of
70%-74%, he or she may apply for certification as a medical laboratory technician.