My Profession in my country

THE PROFESSION:
‘MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE’

PHILOSOPHY; Medical Laboratory Science entails the study of human and animal tissues, body fluids, excretions, and production. Biological samples for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment and research.

Life as a circular entity full of strenuous activities continues to experience rapid and tremendous changes. Consequently, there is need to train a group of health professionals to address the changing needs of man. However, the programme is designed to train Medical Laboratory Scientist that would have an in-depth scientific and professional background needed in research and diagnosis across all areas of health care delivery in Nigeria.
SCIENTIST; A Medical Laboratory Scientist is a person whom by virtue of knowledge and academic attainment (in a certified tertiary institution) is licensed by the Medical Laboratory Science Council Of Nigeria(MLSCN) to carry out laboratory investigative procedures and analysis on biological samples.
THE JOURNEY OF A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST;
Admission requirements to a certified tertiary institution to offer the course includes:
✍BY UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination); Candidates must satisfy the minimum university requirements for admission and are therefore required to have obtain credit in required SSCE (Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination) subjects like English, mathematics, physics and chemistry in not more than two sittings with a desired grade in the UTME and post UME has required by the school of interest.
ADMISSION BY DIRECT ENTRY;
👉A ‘Level candidates with minimum of 8points in relevant courses plus credits in SSCE subjects.
👉Candidates who transfer from other facilities of the university with relevant pre-requisite and minimum CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 2.8
👉HND/B.Sc. degree in relevant science discipline like; biochemistry, microbiology, physiology and anatomy as approved by the Senate of the institution with at least upper credits or second class lower.
👉Holders of Medical Laboratory Technician Certified by Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria in addition to credits relevant SSCE subjects.
👉The UTME candidate shall commence the programme at 100level while the direct entry candidate after relevant screening proceed the journey at 200level.

  Following admission into university, every students is expected to be indexed with MLSCN latest within the first year of admission. The date of registration/indexing determines the date of professional examinations that will be conducted and co-ordinated by the regulatory body. The first professional exam comes up in the second semester of the fourth year. There after the students are required to register and pass some prescribed Basic Natural Science courses, Basic Medical Science course and some Medical Laboratory Science courses at Basic Medical Level (100level $ 200l) and clinical level(300l,400l $ 500level) respectively.

After successful completion of a minimum 217 registered credit units throughout the 5years period in the programme, and success in the professional examinations written at 400level and 500level, the student are eligible to be inducted into the profession which is performed by MLSCN with issuance of Associate provisional license to all inductee.
The provisional licence qualifies the graduands to undertake one year mandatory internship in a reputable and approved government health institution in which such internee is placed on monthly salary scale of GL9 step 2 or CONTISIS 8 STEP2. After internship, a letter of completion shall be issue by the employer health institution which will be taken to MLSCN for issuance of NYSC eligibity letter, a document that must be presented at the NYSC orientation camp in addition to evidence of completion from the university before they are eligible for the scheme. After completion of NYSC, in addition to the discharge certificate by the university, professional licence is also issued by MLSCN to make one become a qualified licensed Medical Laboratory Scientist.
DESCIPLINES IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE;
👉Haematology and Blood transfusion science
👉Histopathology and Cytology
👉Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
👉Chemical Pathology and Immunology
PROSPECTS/CAREER IN MLS;
👉ACADEMICS like lecturing
👉HEALTH WORKER
👉RESEARCH
👉ENTREPRENEUR like trading in laboratory equipment’s and opening private laboratory
👉QUALITY CONTROL AGENCIES like NAFDAC
And many more lucrative prospects.