MLS ASCP Exam Requirements: Routes and Experience Explained for (ASCP& ASCPi)

Achieving excellence in medical laboratory science undoubtedly needs a perfect blend of expertise, efforts, dedication, and recognized credentials.

The preparation for becoming a professional medical laboratory scientist starts right before the candidate sits for his exam through ASCP.

However, people interested in pursuing an established career in this field always need to meet specific requirements and criteria before being eligible to get MLS ASCP certification.

MLS ASCP exam requirements for certifications are major prerequisites determined primarily by the BOC (Board of Certification) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

All aspiring medical scientists can effectively get laboratory work and build their foundation to enter their profession by acknowledging the requirements and starting early.

From clinical experiences to certification requirements, let’s explore the in-depth details of becoming an MLS ASCP-certified professional. Here we go:

What Are MLS ASCP Exam Requirements?

The requirements of the MLS ASCP exam encompass a comprehensive set of criteria that students should fulfil in order to embark on the certification path in the best way possible.

But wait—there’s more! BOC also establishes prerequisites for this exam that vary based on the applicant’s international and U.S. status.

So, people who are working as medical laboratory scientists require a bachelor’s degree from a well-reputed institution, including biology, chemistry and other courses.

A quick and straight path to getting MLS certification is through the NAACLS program because it allows students’ exam eligibility within the next 5 graduation years. In addition, graduates from other programs would have to meet extra criteria – potentially extending the specific certification timelines.

Some top-notch alternative ways can also be chosen for eligibility. All the non-NAACLS graduates are now able to quality just by completing their bachelor’s degree with any of the related coursework and either:

• Almost 5 years of full-time laboratory experience
• Completion of military lab training and 1 years’ experience
• MLT certification and 2 years of lab experience
• Expired CLA (ASCP) certification along with 4 years of lab experience
• Having MT/MLS certification and 5 years of lab experience

Upon overlapping the decided eligibility criteria, all the applicants may fit within the category & take their certification exam after meeting the crucial requirements.

Point to Note: You must address any missing criteria before you proceed with ASCP.

U.S. MLS ASCP Exam Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements of one of the below routes:

Route 1

• Bachelor's degree from a reputed college or university.
• Completion of the NAACLS-accredited specific Medical Laboratory Scientist program in the past 5 years.

Route # 2

• MLT (ASCP) certification
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institute (nationally or regionally).
• Two years of clinical experience in hematology, body fluids, microbiology, chemistry, or blood banking in a well-reputed laboratory within the past 5 years.

Requirements for Route 3

• Starting from January 1, 2023, the MLS Route 3, which necessitated a valid certification of CLA (ASCP), was discontinued.

Route 4

• A bachelor's degree from a well-reputed college/university with specific biology & chemistry coursework.
• 5 years of recent full-time clinical experience in approved labs covering various specialties are required.

Route 5

• Valid certification of MLS (ASCPi)
• An effective transcript evaluation confirming the equivalence of degree to the U.S. bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university or college.
• A minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in labs, encompassing chemistry, immunology, microbiology, blood banking, and urinalysis, is necessary.

Route 6

• Completion of an almost 50-week exceptional medical laboratory course from the U.S. military within the past 10 years.
• A bachelor's degree from a college or university (regionally) with specified coursework in chemistry and biology – possibly obtained as an important part of the degree.
• One year of clinical experience within the past 10 years in chemistry, body fluids, immunology, microbiology, and blood banking within an acceptable laboratory is important.

Documentation of MLS ASCP Exam Requirements

Routes 1 & 3 Training Docs

For routes 1 & 3 of the MLS exam, candidates need comprehensive training documentation on the go.

Being a new candidate, you need to fill out a certain documentation form given by ASCP, whether you’re a supervisor or an applicant.

The initial part of the form needs to be correctly filled by the applicant itself, where they need to mention their name and the name of the program.

Whereas, part 2 involves the form that has to be completed by the Program Director, so that it gets accepted.

Remember, all the eligible clinical training should be finished outside the classroom as an important part of their particular academic program.

Moreover, it is the topmost responsibility of the applicants to ensure that the clinical training is perfectly documented in 4 major areas as per requirements. These areas are microbiology, chemistry, blood banking, and hematology.

Routes 2, 4 & 5 Experience Docs

For Routes 2,4, and 5 of the MLS ASCP exam, it is mandatory for you to submit experience documentation.

In part 1, the students need to fill out certain things, such as the applicant’s name, email address, home address, as well as ASCP Customer ID#.

Meanwhile, the form’s second part must be completed by an employer or laboratory manager.

Apart from that, applicants are keenly responsible for ensuring experience in 4 main areas, including microbiology, blood banking, hematology, and chemistry, as per eligibility requirements.

To qualify for this exam, you should be competent enough to perform all the important procedures and tests mentioned.

International MLS ASCP Exam Requirements

If you wish to be eligible for this category, you need to go the extra mile to satisfy the requirements of at least one of these routes:

Route 1

• Bachelor's degree from a reputable institution in MLS, chemistry, or biological science.
• Completion of an MLS training program. The training program must involve blood banking, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology.

Route 2

• Bachelor's degree from an approved educational institution in MLS.
• Three years of clinical experience in a well-reputed laboratory. Experience in chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and blood banking (immunohematology) is also crucial.

Route 3

• Bachelor's degree from a credited institute.
• Successful completion of a 2-year MLS program. Plus, the training program should have chemistry, blood banking, hematology, as well as microbiology.

Route 4

• Bachelor's degree from a good college or university in chemistry or biological science.
• Additionally, 5 years of valuable clinical experience in a well-known laboratory. Also, the experience must involve chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and blood banking.

Route 5

• A bachelor's degree from a reputable institute.
• A two-year diploma from an authorized educational institute in chemistry or biological science.
• 5 years of valuable clinical experience in an exceptional laboratory. Plus, the experience must involve chemistry, microbiology, hematology, as well as blood banking.

Documentation of MLS ASCPi Exam Requirements

Routes 2 – 6 Experience Doc

In order to qualify for certification as an exceptional medical laboratory scientist, you need to be highly competent in all the indicated procedures. Most importantly, you must have the equivalent skills and sufficient knowledge to those of a graduate of a well-versed Medical Laboratory Scientist program.

Part 1 of the form has to be finished by the candidates, in which they are supposed to add their name, ASCP Customer ID, email address, zip code, home address, and social security #.

On the contrary, Part 2 should be filled by a reputable program director. Above all, it must be verified that this specific individual has applied for the examination of Certification Medical Laboratory Science.

Some vital information will also be included to establish the eligibility of applicants for this certification.

This involves the date when the experience started and ended, as well as how many hours he or she served per week (on average).

Be sure to add an authenticity letter from the program director with the training documentation form in the form of its original letterhead.

Note: Any training documentation form received without authentic letters will be strictly unacceptable. No exceptions!

Routes 2 – 4 Program Completion Doc

You can only submit the program completion doc for routes 2 – 4 if you’ve got at least one year of experience in lieu.

Just like other forms, Part 1 will be done by applicants. There, you need to fill up the necessary information as inquired, like the applicant’s name, address, ASCP Customer ID, city, state, email address, zip code, & the last 4 digits of your social security #.

Simultaneously, the program director fills up Part 2 of the form after signing up.

After signing it up, the program director has to verify that this specific applicant has successfully completed the program, as mentioned.

Completing an accredited NAACLS MLS program, an ANHES-accredited or NAACLS MLT program, or any clinical training program in medical laboratory science (foreign) within the past 5 years can substitute for one year of clinical experience (full-time).

FAQ for MLS ASCP Exam Requirements