ASCP MLS exam eligibility
Who Can Take the ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Exam?
To be eligible for the ASCP MLS exam, you must meet specific education and experience requirements as outlined by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification.
Routes to Qualification (as of latest ASCP guidelines)
Route 1 – Bachelor’s Degree + NAACLS Program
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Completion of a NAACLS-accredited MLS program (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences).
- No work experience is required if the MLS program is completed.
Route 2 – Bachelor’s Degree + Lab Experience
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university.
- At least 1 year of full-time clinical experience (within the last 5 years) in a medical laboratory.
- Must include experience in:
- Blood banking
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Urinalysis/body fluid
Route 3 – MLT(ASCP) + Bachelor’s Degree + Lab Experience
- Current ASCP-certified MLT (Medical Lab Technician).
- Bachelor’s degree
- 2 years of full-time clinical lab experience in all required areas (as above).
Route 4 – International Route
- Foreign education equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or related field
- Evaluation by a credentialing agency like WES or ECE
- 2 years of clinical experience in a licensed lab within the past 10 years
Accepted Degrees for ASCP MLS Exam:
- Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science/Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related science
- Must include sufficient coursework in biology and chemistry (and sometimes math)