Therefore, it only awards its ASCP MLS certification to highly qualified and well-experienced professionals who meet its eligibility requirements and pass its challenging exam by proving their abilities in lab work.

In this article, we will navigate the ASCP MLS requirements and its common documentation that you must have to apply.

Besides this, you will also know the ASCP MLS CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) requirements.

ASCP MLS Requirements: Eligibility Routes Requirements

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) specifies six eligibility routes for United States candidates and five routes for international candidates.

The following are the details of these routes:

ASCP MLS Requirements for U.S. Candidate

ASCP MLS R0ute 1

Baccalaureate degree from an approved institution
NAACLS-approved medical lab scientist program that must be obtained within the last five years.

ASCP MLS R0ute 2

ASCP medical laboratory technician certification
Baccalaureate degree with the combination of 16 semester hours in biology (must be with one semester in microbiology) and 16 semester hours in chemistry (with one semester in biochemistry).
Clinical experience in hematology, chemistry, blood banking, immunology, or other related field, this experience must be of two years.

ASCP MLS R0ute 3

ASCP Clinical laboratory assistant credential was the requirement of this r0ute, which has been banned by the board.

ASCP MLS Route 4

Bachelor’s degree with 16 semester hours in chemistry (one semester of biochemistry or organic) and 16 semester hours in biology (one semester of microbiology) that must be obtained in addition or within the bachelor’s degree.
Chemistry, immunology, hematology, blood banking, or other related field clinical experience of five years from an approved laboratory.

ASCP MLS Route 5

International ASCP medical lab scientist certification (MLS ASPi)
Transcript evaluation that shows the equivalency to a United States bachelor’s degree from an authorized institution.
Clinical experience in microbiology, hematology, blood banking, or other related fields, this experience must be of five years.

ASCP MLS Route 6

Medical lab training course of 50 weeks within the last 10 years, the course must be sponsored by the U.S. military.
A bachelor’s degree from an approved institution with 16 semester hrs in chemistry and biology (microbiology one semester is also vital) that must be achieved within or in addition to a bachelor’s degree
Immunology, microbiology, chemistry, or other relevant field clinical experience of one year that must be get within the last 10 years from the acceptable lab.

ASCP MLS Requirements for International Candidates

ASCPi MLS Route 1

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in biological science, chemistry, or medical lab science.
Medical laboratory science training program, this program must be microbiology, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and blood banking.

ASCPi MLS Route 2

Bachelor’s degree in medical lab science
Clinical experience of three years in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, & microbiology.

ASCPi MLS Route 3

Baccalaureate degree from an authorized institution
Medical laboratory science program in microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and blood banking.

ASCPi MLS Route 4

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biological science
Clinical experience of 5 years in microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and blood banking.

ASCPi MLS Route 5

2 year diploma in chemistry or biological science from an approved institution
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biological science
5 years of clinical experience in chemistry, blood banking, microbiology, & hematology.

Some Common Documentation to Meet ASCP MLS Requirements

With the ASCP MLS route requirements, you must have the following documentation at the time of applying:

Letter of Authenticity with training and experience documentation
Official transcripts need to verify the academic requirements with the U.S. or Canada.
Military training official certificate (only for U.S. applicants)
Transcript evaluation (foreign) to verify the academic degrees outside of the U.S. or Canada.

MLS (ASCP) Recertification Requirements

Once you achieve your ASCP MLS certificate successfully, it only remains active for three years of getting it.

After this time, you have to participate in CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) that revive your credential for the upcoming three years.

To take part in the ASCP certification renewal process, you have to earn 36 CMP points in different areas.

These areas and point distribution are:

Area of specialization (blood banking, hematology, microbiology, chemistry), 2 points in each: 8 points
Patient safety or lab (quality control, quality insurance, etc.): 1 point
Medical ethics ( DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), HIPAA, compliance, IRB, confidentiality, sexual harassment, etc.): 1 point
Area of lab specialty, molecular diagnostic, education, management, etc: 26 points

FAQs for ASCP MLS Requirements

How many routes does the ASCP Board of Certification determine for the U.S. & international candidates?

6 eligibility routes for United States candidates and 5 for international candidates.

What are the ASCP MLS requirements to apply?

You must have a bachelor’s degree or with the combination of 16 semester hrs in biology or chemistry, clinical experience, etc.

Resources: ASCP BOC.

Elshawadfy Abdelhalim, PhD, MLS(ASCP), SM, MB

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.

ASCP MLS Requirements: What You Must Have To Get It