ASCP MLS or CLS: There is Any Difference
The ASCP MLS or CLS is the certification the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) BOC (Board of Certification) offers for the lab scientist.
ASCP MLS is for the medical lab scientist and CLS is for the clinical lab scientist.
Do you know what is really the difference between ASCP MLS or CLS?
Here we are going to clear it.
ASCP MLS or CLS: What Difference
The ASCP MLS or CLS is the equivalent, both perform the same job .
If you are the ASCP medical lab scientist certified, you can do your practice as a clinical lab scientist (your job title may be CLS); there is no difference in both at all.
One more certificate MT (Medical Technologist) has the same power as the ASCP MLS or CLS.
The ASCP BOC offered credentials of MT ASCP while the NCA (National Credential Agency for Lab Personal) presented the CLS certificate.
In 2009, both institutions worked to eradicate the confusion between both (MT and CLS) and demonstrate the new certificate title after merging both credentials; the new title was the MLS ASCP.
Eligibility Requirement for ASCP MLS or CLS
For MLS ASCP
To earn the MLS (ASCP) certification, you need to meet the following requirements:
- From an approved college/university, 4 years of bachelor’s degree
- Get a full grip on all the relevant subjects including chemistry, immunology, microbiology, etc.
- Lab programs that must be approved by the NAACLS ( National Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Science
- Clinical experience from an authorized lab
- Passing the ASCP MLS exam with a great score of at least more than 400 out of 999.
For CLS
- If you are a CLS graduate, you can sit for the MLS ASCP certification examination.
- Besides this, if you have completed your Clinical Lab Science curriculum and B.S. degree, you are eligible for the MLS (ASCP) exam.
Expected Job Growth for the ASCP MLS or CLS
The job openings in the United States are expected to grow by 11% for clinical lab scientists and 16,800 jobs will be inserted under this title by 2032.
According to Glassdoor.com, the salary range of the ASCP medical lab scientist is $76K-$120K per year.
What are the Responsibilities of the ASCP MLS or CLS?
After getting the ASCP MLS/CLS certification, you are responsible for:
- Performing complicated experiments on biological samples/specimens
- Analyze the test consequences based on contextual reference and statistical data.
- You are also responsible for offering the best experiment results to researchers/physicians and helping them to diagnose and treatment of diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions for the ASCP MLS or CLS
What is the difference between the ASCP MLS or CLS?
There is no difference between the ASCP MLS or CLS certificate. Both certificates are the same with different names.
Can I do my job as a CLS if I am an ASCP MLS-certified expert?
Yes of course, because the CLS may be your job title with the ASCP MLS certificate.
What is the ASCP MLS or CLS stand for?
The MLS stands for the medical laboratory scientist and CLS represents the clinical lab scientist.
Resources: ASCP BOC.
Abdelhalim Elshawadfy is an ASCP certified Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP), Specialist in Microbiology (SM ASCP), and Molecular Biology Technologist (MB ASCP) with a distinguished career marked by expertise, continuous learning, and a commitment to elevating the standards of clinical laboratory science. As an ASCP Certification Expert and American Board Certification Expert, Abdelhalim Elshawadfy continues to make invaluable contributions to the field, leaving a lasting impact on the medical community.
