ASCP BOC MLS: 5 Issues You Need to Know

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) has brightened the future of many medical lab candidates by offering more than 610,000 certificates, including ASCP BOC MLS. The ASCP MLS certificate is designed for medical lab scientists.

The experiences of the different candidates may be distinct in getting an MLS (ASCP) credential, but many candidates consider it tough. Hence, if you have made up your mind to get an ASCP medical lab scientist certificate, you must know all about the exam.

In this article, we will cover all the details of the ASCP BOC MLS exam, including the exam content area, study guide, eligibility routes, exam format, and prep course. Stay with us to get all the information.

ASCP BOC MLS Exam Content Area

The ASCP Board of Certification determines seven subjects for the ASCP MLS Exam. Getting command of all subjects is vital because the board chooses different percentages of questions from each subject. Following are the subjects and their percentages:

• Blood Bank: 17 – 22%
• Chemistry: 17 – 22%
• Immunology: 5 – 10%
• Hematology: 17 – 22%
• Lab Operation: 5 – 10%
• Microbiology: 17 – 22%
• Body Fluids/Urinalysis: 5 – 10%

ASCP BOC MLS Exam Reading List

ASCP BOC determines the big list of exam preparation resources. A few of them are given below.

Study Guide

• Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices (7th ed.)
• Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (8th ed.)
• Technical Manual (21st ed.)
• Rodak’s Hematology: Clinical Principles & Applications (6th ed.)
• Mathematics for the Clinical Laboratory (4th ed.)
• Molecular Diagnostics: Fundamentals, Methods, & Clinical Applications (3rd ed.)
• Color Atlas of Medical Bacteriology (3rd ed.)
• Color Atlas of Mycology: An Illustrated Field Guide Based on Proficiency Testing.
• Gram Stain Benchtop Reference Guide.
• Fundamentals of Urine and Body Fluid Analysis (5th ed.)
• Urinalysis and Body Fluids (7th ed.)

Journals

• Clinical Laboratory Science. Published by American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
• Medical Laboratory Observer. Published by Endeavor Business Media, LLC.
• Laboratory Medicine. Published by Oxford University Press.

Online Association

• ClinMicroNow – American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
• Blood Bank Guy – Transfusion Medicine Education
• CellaVision CellAtlas – Blood Cell Morphology Guide
• AACC Clinical Chemistry Trainee Council (CCTC)
• Indian Immunohematology Initiative

ASCP BOC MLS Exam Eligibility Routes

ASCP BOC offers many eligibility routes for U.S. and international candidates. To fulfill at least one route requirement is crucial to apply for the MLS (ASCP) exam.

U.S. Candidates Eligibility Route

• Route 1: Baccalaureate degree and NAACLS MLS program

• Route 2:  MLT(ASCP) credential, baccalaureate degree, and relevant subject clinical experience of two years.

• Route 3: Requirements have been banned since January 1, 2023.

• Route 4: Bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry and five years of clinical experience in required subjects.

• Route 5: MLS ASCPi certificate, five years of clinical experience in related subjects, and a U.S. baccalaureate degree.

• Route 6: 50 weeks of the MLS training program, a baccalaureate degree, and clinical experience of one year in preferred subjects.

International Candidates Eligibility Route

• Route 1: MLS program and baccalaureate degree

• Route 2: Three years of clinical experience and a bachelor's degree in relevant subjects

• Route 3: Two years of the MLS program and a baccalaureate degree in related subjects

• Route 4: Clinical experience of five years and  bachelor's degree

• Route 5: Two-year diploma in chemistry or biological science, a baccalaureate degree, and acceptable clinical experience (must be five years)

ASCP BOC MLS Exam General Information

The ASCP medical lab scientist exam is formulated based on CAT (computer adaptive testing). With CAT, when your answer of a question is correct, the upcoming questions will be a little tougher than the prior ones. But if you answer incorrectly, the next question will be easier than the previous ones.

The exam contains 100 questions (all MCQs) that are selected from seven subjects: chemistry, immunology, hematology, blood bank, body fluids and urinalysis, and microbiology. You have two and a half hours to complete this test. The application fee for U.S. candidates is $250, and for international candidates, it is $210.

0-900 is the total score range for the ASCP BOC MLS exam, and 400 is the maximum score necessary to earn the credential. You will get your pass or fail result on your computer screen after finishing the exam. Your score report will be received after four business days.

ASCP BOC MLS CMP

Your MLS ASCP certificate is only valid for three years. After this period, you cannot use this certificate without renewal. The ASCP BOC established a CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) to update your credential.

This program helps you stay current in your medical lab scientist career by introducing new technologies and updating certificates for the next three years. The application fee for CMP is $95. But if you cannot participate in this exam on time, you have to pay $125 as a reinstatement fee.

You have to earn 36 points to participate in CMP to update your MLS (ASCP) certificate. These 36 points are distributed further. For instance, 1 point in medical ethics, and 2 points in all subjects, including chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and blood banking. 1 point in lab operation and 26 points in different areas, including immunology, education, lab specialty, etc.

ASCP BOC MLS Exam Prep Course

The ASCP MLS exam content area is extremely tough. You cannot control this content without establishing a proper plan. Therefore, if you want to succeed in this exam, you must login to an ASCP MLS Prep online course like MLSiACADEMY.com.

MLSIA offers you tremendous services, including live classes, recordings, comprehensive study material, and practice Q&A (flashcards, mock tests, etc.).

The MLSIA study guide covers all ASCP BOC MLS exam content areas, including reading list resources and content guidelines. It uses visual illustrations to explain the complicated concepts.

Besides this, the academy offers you a one-sitting success guarantee with more than 400 scores. You will also get expert support until the exam's final day.

Frequently Asked Questions for ASCP BOC MLS