ASCP MLS Exam Information: Necessary to Know
The ASCP MLS certificate is the most powerful certificate in all the ASCP certifications.
Therefore, the ASCP BOC presents all the ASCP MLS exam information that you need to navigate it.
From certification preparation to recertification, you will get all the information about it.
Once you get this certificate, you will get the following advantages:
- A work license to practice at any hospital in the world independently
- Double salary and a top seat among other peers
- Professional development & continuing education program
- ASCP MLS renewal process introduces you to the latest technologies.
- Live events where you will meet with the best experts in your field and increase your area of network.
- After earning the certificate, you automatically become an ASCP member: ASCP membership has various advantages for you, including free shipping, discounts on all the study products that you will get from the ASCP store, membership scholarships and award programs, & much more.
Here, we will concentrate on navigating the ASCP MLS exam information. Hopefully, you will find solutions to all your problems regarding the ASCP MLS exam.
What is the MLS (ASCP) Certification?
A candidate who can perform a wide variety of lab experiments (simple to complex) can qualify for the ASCP MLS certification.
You must be able to perform a full range of experiments in different areas of your specialty, including immunology, hematology, blood banking, chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and urinalysis on biological samples to offer necessary information for the diagnosis & treatment of diseases.
For this certificate; first, you have to meet the BOC-recommended eligibility requirements, and second, you must pass the challenging exam.
This certificate goes to U.S. (MLS ASCP) and international (MLS ASCPi) candidates.
ASCP MLS Exam Content Area
To comprehend the ASCP MLS exam information, you must consider its syllabus clearly.
The ASCP MLS exam content area comprises seven subjects.
These subjects are
- Blood Banking
- Chemistry
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Laboratory Operation
- Urinalysis and Body fluids
The ASCP Board of Certification provides complete ASCP MLS exam information regarding the exam content area in ASCP MLS exam content guidelines.
ASCP MLS Exam Format
- The ASCP medical laboratory exam comprises 100 multiple-choice questions, each with one right answer.
- 2.5 hours is the given time frame to complete your MLS ASCP exam.
- This exam is formulated by the CAT (computer adaptive testing), which shows a series of easy or difficult questions based on your previous question.
- Your correct answer will trigger the difficult questions and your incorrect answer will trigger the easy questions.
- Your ability to solve questions (easy or difficult) has a deep impact on your results.
Application Process for ASCP MLS Exam
The following is the application process for the ASCP MLS exam:
- First, you need to select your certificate types and one eligibility route
- First, you create your account on the official ASCP website or open it if you already have one.
- To access the application form, click on the “Apply Now” button
- Make sure you verify all content details.
- Choose your certificate and eligibility routes from the drag-and-drop option
- You must submit all your documents in a PDF file to make your application successful.
- The ASCP Board of Certification does not take any action without an application fee, so make sure to submit the application fee with the application form.
- Request your institution’s authority to send your official transcript directly to the ASCP Board of Certification
- You will receive an email notification to login to view your admission notification after approval of the application.
ASCP MLS Application Fee
The ASCP Board of Certification also fixes the application fees for all its credentials, including the MLS (ASCP).
The application fee for the MLS ASCP (U.S. candidate) is $250 and for the MLS ASCPi (international candidate), it is $210.
But if you apply for the recertification, you have to pay $95 as a CMP application fee
The CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) is a program that updates your certificate for the next three years because all the ASCP certifications are only valid for three years.
Scheduling your MLS ASCP Exam
After receiving the email notification, to login to view your admission notification, you can schedule your exam date, center, and time at Pearson VUE testing center.
You must schedule your exam within the eligibility period that is mentioned in your admission notification.
All the appointments that you make for scheduling, rescheduling, and canceling the exam are all between you and Pearson VUE.
You must set your appointment to one business day in advance.
Once you schedule your exam appointment, Pearson VUE sends you confirmation that describes your exam date, time, center address, and phone number.
If you want to set the exam date, time, and center according to you, you must set your appointment as soon as possible.
ASCP MLS Results/Scoring System
The total score range for the ASCP MLS certificate is 0-999, but 400 is the minimum score range that is vital to get.
If you answer enough difficult questions, you will get higher scores, but if you only cover the easy questions, you may not get passing scores.
ASCP MLS Reporting System
You pass or fail the exam; it will promptly appear on your computer screen after completing the exam.
But your score report will be received within 4 business days by email notification.
This score report is important to get because you are not considered ASCP-certified without it.
If you have passed the exam, your score report demonstrates your achieving scores and certification expiration date.
But unfortunately, if you fail the exam, your score report explains your getting score in all content areas so that you may know where you need to focus on your second attempt.
Never apply to retake the exam until you get your score report.
FAQs for ASCP MLS Information
What ASCP MLS exam information is unnecessary to know?
Eligibility routes, application, fee, exam content area, exam format, etc. are all important sets of ASCP MLS exam information that you must know.
What is the difference between MLS ASCP and MLS ASCPi?
MLS ASCP certificate is for U.S. candidates and MLS ASCPi is for international candidates.
Which exam content areas is ASCP BOC offered for MLS ASCP/ASCPi?
You have to get knowledge in seven subjects including hematology, chemistry, immunology, blood banking, lab operations, urinalysis/body fluids, and microbiology.
How many scores should I earn to get the MLS ASCP credentials?
400 out of 999 is vital to earn to qualify for the MLS (ASCP) exam.
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.
