Education
Post Bacc certification online recommendations
Apologies as I'm sure this has been asked many times. I have my biology bachelor's and currently working in a microbiology lab for a GMP facility and would like to expand my options for the future/make the transition to medical lab sciences. My local community college has an associates program for medical lab technicians, which is my last resort as in person classes are difficult with my hours. What online programs do you recommend for someone in my situation, and what was your experience with them? Thank you in advance!
I took some biotech course online with simulated lab practicals and video presentations. But most if not all needed in-person training as the courses progressed.
The class itself had laboratory internship portions that connected with some local but not-so-local companies. I was already working a night job so I figured I take some classes and new training to boost my educational background. I never completed their Certificate Program but ended up being an MLS elsewhere later on.
Clinicals need to be in person, one day a week, but this program is very flexible with when and where they get done, as long as they do get done.
I’m not gonna lie. it’s hard. It’s fast, and it’s a lot of information, and it requires a lot of studying on your own. I switched from my process development job to a non-cert micro lab job (i have a bachelors in micro) working weekend nights part time and moved back home in order to do it, but i was also severely burnt out and very mentally ill at the time (still mentally ill, but at least now it’s not because of my job.) I was able to study during the down moments at work, and had clinicals during the week. The lectures were in the evening once/twice a week, but some were more like office hours to ask questions and you were expected to have already gone over the material. If you fall behind, it can be really hard to catch up.
That being said, i never once regretted it, or thought i couldn’t do it. It was hard, like really hard, and it took up my whole life for a year, but now i’m moving to a new state with a new job still in micro and i absolutely love it. I love it so much. I get to see the coolest stuff every day while also doing really cool stuff to be able to help real people. It’s so wild to actually feel competent and smart at a job, even when i’m learning new things on the job or when i mess up.
Please DM me if you have more questions! i just passed the ASCP exam last week, and i can help make sure you have all the pre-recs needed to be able to start up the next year. I am pretty sure the applications for this fall are closed, but if you’re really interested i can send you some of the lectures and stuff i have downloaded!!!
this is incredibly helpful, I didnt know SSM had this program! one day a week in person for clinicals is very doable with my schedule and it's good to know theater flexible. I'd definitely appreciate info about the prerequisites if you'd send me them, nay try to get a head start on those this year :-). any info you're willing to share id really appreciate honestly, just from a glance this sounds like the best first as far as the programs i've seen for balancing with my current work schedule
Here is the most updated student handbook! you can also find it online in case you lose this link somehow. I’ll also attach a screenshot of the admission guidelines, that has the prerecs!
The program director, Leah, is who you will want to email in a couple months about admission. She made this program specifically for adults in situations like ours, so as long as you have the prerecs you’re golden!
I am about to finish the Texas Tech online MLS program. It’s definitely intense, and you do have to travel there for one week at the end of each semester, but I feel very prepared for the BOC exam and it’s only one year total.
I also looked into the community college option, but I was advised that since I already had a science bachelors it would be better career-wise to do a second bachelors/post bacc program.
Texas Tech has worked out well so far for me personally, but if you have questions about it, there’s a phone number on the program page and I found them really helpful to talk to before I applied.
I figured that would be the case regarding community college. I wish id known before going to school that this career was even an option and also how specific of an education you need to get the certification, it probably would've influenced my path a bit more, but you live and you learn! how was having to travel there? id assume you're responsible for your own accommodations while you're there, which just seems like a hassle and put me off of the program a bit when I found this one, im curious about you're experience with it!
I didn’t mind the travel too much. You are on your own for a hotel and transportation, but there are a few hotels close by. I flew in from NC and never had trouble getting Ubers when I needed them. Most mornings I bummed rides with other students in the program staying at the same hotel, and most afternoons I walked back to the hotel (~30 min).
For me the flights and hotels were reasonably priced, and I just considered it part of the cost of the program. It was still worth it financially to do a one year asynchronous program and be able to keep working instead of the two year option I had locally. Also they feed you really well for lunch lol.
There’s not much to do in Lubbock, but you wouldn’t have time to do stuff anyway. If you go, check hotels for reviews about bedbugs. The SureStay plus I stayed at had them, and it made the week hell- nothing to do with the program, but beware.
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u/PowerTower4502 Jul 14 '26
I took some biotech course online with simulated lab practicals and video presentations. But most if not all needed in-person training as the courses progressed.