MLS (ASCP) SH: What Does It Mean?
What does the MLS (ASCP) SH represent?
MLS ASCP is the ASCP certificate that goes to medical laboratory scientists and SH ASCP goes to specialists in hematology.
But what is the MLS (ASCP) SH?
The lab professionals who get both ASCP MLS and SH certificates are demonstrated as MLS (ASCP) SH.
Do you want to earn these ASCP certifications? Here, you will get detailed information about them.
Eligibility Requirements for the MLS (ASCP) SH?
The American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) awards almost 20 credentials to the entire laboratory team.
For all its certifications, the board determines some routes (6 routes for ASCP MLS, 5 for MLS ASCPi, and 6 for SH (ASCP/ASCPi).
To apply for the exam, you are responsible for satisfying at least one route prerequisite.
All the paths are related to your education degree (bachelor, master, or doctorate in your related field); for a few routes, you also need to earn the ASCP certificates, clinical experience for an approved lab, and a training program from an authorized institution.
MLS (ASCP) SH Exam Content Area
The ASCP Board of Certification also has specified exam content areas for all its certification exams.
Getting knowledge in all recommended areas is vital to passing the ASCP challenging exams.
For the ASCP medical lab scientist exam, you must be an expert in microbiology, hematology, blood banking, chemistry, lab operation, immunology, and urinalysis/other body fluids.
For ASCP specialists in hematology, the board-determined subjects are hematology disease states, hematology physiology, hemostasis, hematology lab testing, and lab operations.
MLS (ASCP) SH Exam Format and Question Style
Both the MLS/SH ASCP exams are composed of 100 questions.
All are multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
The time to cover these exams is 2.5 hours for each.
999 is the total score, and the minimum score that you need to earn is the certificate is 400.
All the questions offer you different scores because each has its own difficulty level.
The format of the exam is CAT (computer adaptive testing).
This computer first checks your answer to display the next question on your computer screen.
- The correct answer will trigger the difficult questions.
- If you answer the series of questions correctly, every next question will be a little tougher than the previous one.
- An easy question will result of an incorrect answer.
CAT has no skipping option, for every question that will appear on your computer screen, you have to answer it, whether you know it or not.
How to Get Preparation for the MLS (ASCP) SH?
Are you considering that getting the MLS (ASCP) and SH (ASCP) credentials is difficult?
Absolutely, these are.
But you can make it easy for you in one way.
Make sure to subscribe to the MLSIA MLS and SH ASCP prep course bundle offered by MLSIAcademy.com.
Astonish, why MLSIA?
It is an ultimate prep course that provides you with all the essential tools for the preparation of the MLS and SH ASPC exams.
The MLSIAcademy design prep course for all the ASCP certifications.
Each bundle consists of the following products:
- Live classes with recordings
- Unified study guide
- Flashcards
- Mock exams
- Q&A modules
- Quiz modules
- Practice exams
- CAT exams
- Study plan
- Tips to pass the ASCP exams.

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.
