Molecular Genetic Technology

Executive Advisor
Rajyalakshmi Luthra, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Hematopathology
Professor, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology
Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center

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Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Board of Certification (BOC) exam offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

LABORATORY INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT POLICY

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the process by which a student enrolled in the Molecular Genetic Technology Program is informed and affected by a laboratory internship rotation cancellation.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions Program in Molecular Genetic Technology to limit student enrollment to that of available laboratory internship rotations. In case of an internship rotation site cancellation, affected student/s must be informed within 5 school days of the cancellation. Student placement in the remaining laboratory internship rotation will be picked up by one of the MD Anderson rotation sites; or an equitable experience will be offered in the program’s student laboratory; or by other Houston sites to ensure their clinical education will not be interrupted.

STUDENT INTERNSHIP WORK POLICY

Students at the MD Anderson School of Health Professions Program in Molecular Genetic Technology are required to perform regular service work in molecular genetic technology laboratories as a part of their internship education. This allows students to become competent with molecular genetic technology techniques and prepares them to enter the workforce with the necessary entry-level competencies to function in any routine molecular genetic technology laboratory. All laboratory service work  performed by students will be monitored by the assigned preceptor in each laboratory.

THE USE OF STUDENTS IN PLACE OF QUALIFIED HISTOTECHNOLOGY STAFF IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Note: If the student must be left alone in any laboratory area for an extended period, please notify the Program Director to ensure proper supervision of the student. Students are also exempt from the “on call” rotation and other laboratory experiences outside of the regular working hours.

Molecular genetic technologists also learn the latest, newest methodologies and topics in genetics, such as:

• Bioinformatics
• Cloning
• DNA microarrays
• DNA sequencing
• Forensic medicine
• Gene therapy
• Human Genome Project
• NGS
• Transgenic animals

According to the salary survey conducted by Academic Affairs at MD Anderson, the average starting salary for a staff molecular genetic technologist with certification is $47,600. In other locations around Houston, molecular technicians can earn a salary of $45-50,000.

^ Indicates employed or pursued additional education.

* The NAACLS certification exam benchmark standard for accredited programs is three years of consecutive results demonstrating an average of at least a 75% pass rate on the ASCP-BOC examinations, for students within the first year of graduation as calculated from the most recent three-year period. (NAACLS Standard II. B. 1.).