ASCP MLS Route 5: What Inside in It?

If you are deciding to get the ASCP medical laboratory scientist certificate, you have to try for it in your early education.

Because, the board recommends eligibility routes, like ASCP MLS Route 5, that require you to verify your past education, clinical or research experience, and training program in your related field.

To meet all these requirements, you have to get an educational degree like a baccalaureate or master’s from an approved institution, a few years of clinical experience, and a training program in the required time frame.

You cannot apply for the ASCP medical lab scientist certificates until you satisfy at least one route requirement.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) fixes eligibility routes for all its certifications, including the ASCP MLS.

For MLS ASCP certificates, the board determines the six routes for United States (U.S.) professionals and five routes for international (foreign) professionals.

Here, we are going to explore all the requirements of ASCP MLS Route 5.

Stay with us to know what you need to get to meet the prerequisites of ASCP MLS routes.

ASCP MLS Route 5: Eligibility Criteria

Following is detailed information about the ASCP MLS route 5 requirements for U.S. and international candidates:

ASCP MLS Route 5: For U.S. Candidates

• Valid international ASCP medical lab scientist certification
• Transcript evaluation for the verification of a bachelor’s degree equivalence to a U.S. degree from the regionally approved institution.
• Clinical experience (full-time five years) in immunology, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, blood banking, and body fluids/urinalysis in the approved lab: This experience must be obtained within the last ten years.

Special Note

• If you are a MLS ASCPi certificant, you do not need to retake the certification examination
• If the acceptable evaluation agency submits the course by transcript evaluation with your original ASCPi MLS application, you do not need to resubmit unless the ASCP Board of Certification requests to submit it.
• Once you transfer your MLS ASCPi certification to MLS ASCP, there is no way to convert it again into MLS ASCPi: You can use this ASCP MLSi certificate to meet requirements for additional U.S. certification

Approved College and University
Approved colleges or universities in the United States are listed by the USDE:

• USDE- United States Department of Education

Approved colleges or universities in Canada are Listed by the following association:

• AUCC-Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

Following clinical Laboratory

• Accreditation under ISO 15189
• JCI accreditation
• DOD CLIP credential of registration, compliance, accreditation
• CMS CLIP credential of registration, compliance, accreditation

For more information, make sure to visit the following routes

• ASCP MLS Route 1
• ASCP MLS Route 2
• ASCP MLS Route 3
• ASCP MLS Route 4
• ASCP MLS Route 6

MLS ASCP Common Requirements

With the ASCP MLS Route 5, you have to get the following documentation.

• An official transcript is required to verify the academic requirements within the U.S. or Canada.
• A transcript evaluation (foreign) for education outside of the U.S. or Canada.
• Training and experience documentation with a letter of authenticity
• Notarized or military training official certificate.

ASCP MLS Route 5: For International Candidates

• Two years diploma in chemistry or biological science from an approved lab
• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution
• Clinical experience (5 years) in chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and blood banking from approved lab.

Special Note

• Your educational institution must be authorized by the Ministry or governing regulatory association.
• If the country does not have a prevalent system of approval, you must get a degree from an institution that is accredited by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP BOC, or an acceptable transcript evaluation is required to meet your eligibility.
• This degree (foreign) must be equal to a U.S. degree.
• The lab where you earn the clinical lab experience must be accredited by the CAP, JCI, or under ISO 15189.
• If the country does not have any prevalent system of accreditation, your institution must be approved by the International Advisory Board recommended by the ASCP BOC.

You can consider the following routes, if the ASCP MLS Route 5 prerequisites is not relevant for you:

• ASCP MLS Route 1
• ASCP MLS Route 2
• ASCP MLS Route 3
• ASCP MLS Route 4

Documentation with ASCP MLS Route 1: For International Candidates

• Academic transcript and foreign transcript evaluation
• Graduation certificate
• Experience & training documentation form with the letter of authenticity.

Right Format to Submit the Documentation for Application

• Use a PDF file to submit all the documents: the file size should not be longer than 10 MB
• All the signatures should be original and handwritten
• Never send a letter of authenticity and documentation form via mail or email

FAQs for ASCP MLS Route 5

Resources: ASCP BOC.