TY - JOUR T1 - Standard of Practice: What Constitutes a Passing Grade for MLT Courses? JF - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science JO - Clin Lab Sci DO - 10.29074/ascls.119.001578 SP - ascls.119.001578 AU - Pamela Primrose Y1 - 2019/01/01 UR - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/early/2019/04/15/ascls.119.001578.abstract N2 - Institutional policy for what constitutes a passing grade for MLT programs varies across the nation. Institutions allow programs to set the lowest passing grade at a C and others a D for all courses unless otherwise defined NAACLS. Many programs are required to accept a D as passing since there is no NAACLS standard. This puts MLT programs at risk of not meeting metrics for certification pass rates, employment rates, and may lead to loss of clinical sites. A Survey Monkey with eight questions was sent October 27, 2018 to 123 NAACLS MLT programs with the goal of identifying a standard of practice and potential development of a NAACLS standard. Survey has current completion rate of 88/123 (72%). Results: 74% of programs require students to pass lab: 76% with a grade of C and 56% of programs can then issue a grade of F. Programs (35%) not requiring C in lab required a combined lec/lab grade of C to pass. The lowest C was 70% and C+ 75% at 39% and 33% respectively. A grade of D (70%) was reported as passing by 62% (16) of programs. Many comments received. Recommendation to NAACLS for standard stating students must pass lab to pass course was supported by 73% of programs. It appears that the majority of programs are in favor of a NAACLS standard to set a requirement for passing lab with a grade of C. At the very least, a standard of practice has been defined. National discussion needed. ER -