ASCP MLS Routes: ASCP and ASCPi Explained
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) selects a highly proficient medical lab scientist for lab operations. It conducts a test to monitor their expertise and hire them. Besides this, the Board of Certification also monitors the candidates' previous experience through ASCP MLS routes.
Many medical lab candidates want to get this certificate. However, only those candidates who meet the requirements of the ASCP MLS route are permitted to sit for the exam. Therefore, knowing the route requirements should be your first step to entering the ASCP world for an exam.
In this article, you will get complete details about the ASCP MLS routes and how to check your eligibility for the test.
What are ASCP MLS Routes?
The ASCP Board of Certification only allows candidates who have previous experience in their medical lab scientist field to sit the exam. It may be a bachelor's degree or clinical experience in chemistry or another relevant subject. The BOC offers these eligibility requirements for the MLS (ASCP) exam in the form of routes that are called ASCP MLS routes.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) conducts this exam for U.S. and international candidates. Therefore, it determines different eligibility routes for both.
ASCP MLS Routes for U.S. Candidates
- Route 1: Baccalaureate degree from an approved institution. Besides this, the NAACLS Medical Laboratory Scientist program (which must be completed within the previous five years).
- Route 2: Bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry with a combination of 24 quarter hours (16 semester hours). One microbiology semester with 16 semester hours of biology and one biochemistry or organic semester with 16 semesters of chemistry. ASCP MLT certification and microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and other relevant clinical experience from an approved laboratory (experience must be of at least two years)
- Route 3: The requirements of route three that are valid CLA (ASCP) certificates have ceased from January 1, 2023.
- Route 4: Biology or chemistry baccalaureate degree with the combination of 16 semester hours for both from an accredited institution. One semester in microbiology (with 16 semester hours of biology) and one semester in biochemistry (with 16 semester hours of chemistry). Blood bank, chemistry, and immunology clinical experience (experience must be at least five years) from an accepted lab.
- Route 5: ASCPi MLS certification and U.S. baccalaureate degree. Besides this, clinical experience of at least five years in body fluids/urinalysis, microbiology, hematology, and other relevant subjects.
- Route 6: One year of clinical experience in microbiology, blood banking, hematology, and other appreciated subjects. Military medical laboratory training course (U.S.) of 50-week. Baccalaureate degree from an approved institution with 16 semester hours in chemistry and 16 semester hours in biology.
ASCP MLS Routes for International Candidates
- Route 1: Biological science, medical lab science, or chemistry baccalaureate degree from an approved college or university. MLS training program (must be in hematology, chemistry, blood banking, and microbiology)
- Route 2: Clinical experience of three years in hematology, immunohematology (blood bank), chemistry, and microbiology. Besides this, an MLS (Medical Laboratory Science) baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- Route 3: Hematology, blood banking, microbiology, and chemistry medical lab science training program (must be two years) and bachelor's degree.
- Route 4: Bachelor's degree in chemistry/biological science from an authorized educational institution. Clinical experience (five years) in microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and blood banking from an accepted lab.
- Route 5: Chemistry/biological science two-year diploma and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Microbiology, chemistry, blood banking, and hematology clinical experience (five years).
How Can I Check My Eligibility for the MLS (ASCP) Exam?
ASCP BOC offers many certificates for various fields of medical labs; each has its requirements. You can check your eligibility using the above-mentioned ASCP MLS routes.
Furthermore, the ASCP Board of Certification offers a BOC Eligibility Assistant on its official website. You can check your eligibility by using the BOC assistant tool. It detects your eligibility automatically. To determine your eligibility for this tool, you must follow the following process:
Choose the Right Certificate Category and Route
For each certificate, you have many routes to meet the requirements. Your education, experience, or training must match at least one route requirement to apply for the exam.
CAAHEP, ABHES, or NAACLS education programs are acceptable under five years from the date of receiving the program. After this period, your clinical experience will matter to meet the eligibility requirements.
You have five chances to apply for the exam by meeting one specific route requirement. But if you do not succeed after your five attempts, you cannot use this route eligibility requirement again. If you want to apply after your fifth attempt, you have to meet the requirements of other routes under a particular examination category.
Examination Eligibility Assistant
This tool helps you figure out your eligibility for a specific certificate. Following is the process of using the BOC Eligibility Assistant.
- Select your interested certificate, like MLS (ASCP).
- Answer the questions that will be related to your education, training, and experience (yes/no question series).
- After this, the BOC Eligibility Assistant will show your result (whether you are eligible or not).
BOC Determined Eligibility After Application
The ASCP Board of Certification does not review documentation, consult with a candidate, or determine the applicant’s eligibility before application. The board only proceeds with the process after receiving the candidates' applications with fees. This application fee is non-refundable because it covers all administrative expenses. So be careful to add documents and submit the application form.
Common Required Documents for U.S. and International Applicants
- Academic transcript
- Graduation credential
- Foreign transcript evaluation
- Letter of authenticity with experience documentation form
- Letter of authenticity training documentation form
Candidates have to follow some regulations when submitting documents.
- All documents must be uploaded in PDF (pictures are not allowed).
- Maximum size is 10 MB
- Only handwritten and original signatures are acceptable (not electronic signatures)
- Documentation sent via email will not be processed.
FAQs for ASCP MLS Routes?
What are ASCP MLS routes?
ASCP MLS routes are BOC-recommended eligibility requirements for the ASCP medical laboratory scientist exam. These requirements are related to applicants' previous experience or education degree in the medical lab science field.
Are eligibility routes different for U.S. or international applicants?
Yes, of course, ASCP BOC determined different routes for both. It is 6 for U.S. candidates and 5 for international candidates.
Where can I check my eligibility for the ASCP medical lab scientist exam?
You can check your eligibility from ASCP MLS routes or BOC Eligibility Assistant.
What are some common eligibility requirements for the MLS ASCP exam?
A baccalaureate degree and a few years of clinical experience in blood banking, hematology, chemistry, and other related subjects are some common requirements of every MLS ASCP route.
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.
