MLS (ASCP) SBB: What Does It Mean?

Do you want to become the MLS (ASCP) SBB?

For this, you have to get two certificates of ASCP BOC; one is the ASCP medical lab scientist and the second is the ASCP specialist in blood banking.

Here, we will tell you all about the MLS (ASCP) SBB, eligibility requirements, application fee, application process, exam content areas, etc.

MLS (ASCP) SBB: Eligibility Requirements

To get both MLS ASCP and SBB ASCP, you have to meet the eligibility requirements.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) suggests 6 routes for MLS ASCP (U.S.) and 5 routes for MLS ASCPi (International).

Same as 7 routes for the SBB ASCP with laboratory experience and 5 routes for the SBB ASCPi with lab experience.

Meeting one of the route prerequisites is necessary to apply for the exam.

Although the requirements for all routes for MLS (ASCP) SBB are different, there are also some common requirements that you will find in all.

• Bachelor degree
• Clinical experience in your relevant areas from an approved lab
• Training programs from an authorized institution.
• Letter of authenticity
• Transcript evaluation (foreign)

MLS (ASCP) SBB: Exam Content Area

To pass the MLS ASCP certification exam, you have to get knowledge in 7 subjects.

These exam content areas are; chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, blood banking, urinalysis and body fluids, and lab operation.

To ace the SBB ASCP exam, you must be a master in blood products, blood group systems, transfusion practice, lab operation, immunology and physiology, and serologic and molecular testing.

The board chooses a different percentage of questions from each exam content area; therefore, you cannot skip any subject.

MLS (ASCP) SBB: Application Fee

To apply for the exam, you have to pay an application fee that is different for all the ASCP certifications.

For the MLS (ASCP), you have to pay $250 as a U.S. applicant and $210 as an international applicant.

For SBB ASCP, your application fee is $300, and it will be $260 for SBB (ASCPi).

This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

MLS (ASCP) SBB: Application Process

Whether you are going to apply for the MLS ASCP or the SBB ASCP, you have to follow the below-described process:

• Before applying, you must determine your certification category (MLS ASCP/ASCPi or SBB ASCP/ASCPi) and eligibility route.
• Login to open your existing account but if you do not have one, make sure to create an authentic account (a duplicate account is not valid).
• To access the application form, click on the “Apply Now” button.
• Make sure to fill out the application form by inserting all required information and verifying your contact information.
• The board permits you to save your application form to complete it later.
• Your official transcript must be sent directly by your institution to BOC.
• Never send the form without double-checking.

MLS (ASCP) SBB: Exam Format

To get both certificates, you have to take exams separately for both.

However, the exam format is the same for all ASCP exams.

Both exams are designed by the CAT (computer adaptive testing).

This computer is filled with numerous questions, each question has four options, and you have to choose one as the best answer.

Every question has a different difficulty level and offers you separate scores based on its difficulty.

Your exam questions are totally different from other attendees of the exam.

The CAT computer first monitors the answer to your question before displaying the next one.

Both MLS (ASCP) SBB exams are composed of 100 questions and the given time to ace both is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

400 is the minimum score range out of 999 that you have to earn to qualify for the license.