MLS ASCP Route 2: Are You Eligible for It?
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) suggests 6 routes for U.S. (MLS ASCP) and 5 routes for foreign (MLS ASCPi) candidates.
Here, we will only focus on the MLS ASCP Route 2, because meeting only one route requirement is vital to applying for the exam.
In this post, you will learn all the necessary documents to satisfy the MLS ASCP Route 2.
MLS ASCP Route 2: For the United States Applicants
- You must have the ASCP medical laboratory technician credential.
- A baccalaureate degree from an authorized institution must with a combination of 16 semester hrs in biology and one semester hr in microbiology (including 16 semesters) and 16 semester hr in chemistry and one semester hr in biochemistry/organics (including 16 semesters).
- Clinical experience in hematology, body fluids/urinalysis, immunology, microbiology, hematology, and chemistry; this experience must be of 2 years.
Experience Documentation for the MLS ASCP Route 2
The experience documentation form for the MLS ASCP Route 2 comprises two parts: Part I for applicants and Part II for laboratory management or the immediate supervisor.
Description of Part I
Here, the applicant needs to fill out some personal information, which includes the
- Applicant’s Name
- Address
- ASCP Customer ID #
- Email Address
- Last Four Digits of the Applicant’s Social Security#
- State, City, Zip code.
Description of Part II
The part is only for the immediate supervisor or lab management so it must be completed and signed by them.
This part is divided into three sections.
Section 1: This section is related to the job experience of applicants.
Here, the date on which the applicant’s job started and ended is mentioned.
The supervisor must fill it out.
Section 2: Here the supervisor needs to explain the applicant’s competency as a medical lab scientist under his supervision in the following subject.
- Microbiology
- Chemistry
- Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Blood Banking
Section 3: This part is related to lab management or the immediate supervisor who verified the candidate’s abilities.
Here he/she needs to insert the following information:
- Lab Management or Immediate Supervisor Name and Certificate
- Title
- Signature date
- Email Address
- Telephone Number
- Institution Name
- City, State Zip Code
MLS ASCP Route 2: Program Completion Documentation Form
This program documentation form also has two parts: part one for a candidate and part II for the program director.
Part I
Must be completed by the candidates. Here, you need to add the following information:
- Applicant’s name
- Address
- ASCP Customer ID #
- Email Address
- City, State, Zip Codes, Country
- Last Four Digits of the Applicant’s Social Security
Part II
The section is allocated for the program director who verified your NAACLS-approved MLS program.
It has three more sections:
Section 1: Here, the program director needs to add the following information:
- Institution name
- Institution address
- Choose the candidate program type.
- Starting and ending dates of the program
Section 2: In section 2, the program director confirmed the applicant’s clinical training program in all the required areas.
These areas are blood banking, chemistry, urinalysis/other body fluids, immunology, hematology, and microbiology.
Section 3: It is related to the program director. Here, he needs to put the following information:
- Program Director Name and Certificate
- Email Address
- Signature Date
- Telephone Number
- City, State Zip Code
Special Note: Make sure to attach a letter of authenticity from your immediate supervisor and program director with your experience and training documentation form, respectively.
MLS ASCP Route 2: For International Candidates
- Baccalaureate degree in medical lab science
- Clinical experience of three years
MLS ASCPi Route 2: Experience Documentation Form
Part I
Applicant’s name, email address, ASCP customer ID, and address.
Part II
Must be filled out and signed by lab management or the employer.
It also has 3 sections.
Section 1: Demonstrate the applicant’s job training periods (start and end).
Section 2: Here, lab management proved the applicant’s experience in four areas: microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and blood bank.
Section 3: Here, the lab management needs to add:
- His/her name and certificate title
- Signature with date
- Email address
- Institution telephone number and address
Never forget to insert a letter of authenticity from your lab management/employer with an experience documentation form.
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.
