American Medical Technologists (AMT) > Medical Laboratory Scientist
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Are you eligible for MLS certification?

Applicants must meet one of the following routes to be eligible to apply for an MLS certification exam.

The AMT Medical Technologist (MT) designation is transitioning to Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by early 2023. See FAQ for more details or ask us

Required Documentation

Education

Applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree in medical technology** from a program or institution accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation agency.*

  • Acceptable programs must include clinical rotation through the Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology sections of the laboratory

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or otherwise approved by the AMT Board of Directors.

**BS degree in clinical laboratory science or medical laboratory science are accepted alternatives

If recently graduated (last 5 years):  

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree in medical technology**

If graduated 5+ years ago:  

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree in medical technology**
  • One year of documented, full-time laboratory experience within the last 5 years in a laboratory that performs the chemical, physical, or biological examination of human body fluids and tissues
    • Work requirement is full-time at 40 hours/week (part-time combination allowed)
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MLT or Military

Applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation agency,* or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution as certified by a foreign transcript evaluation agency approved by AMT.

AND shall have completed a minimum of one year of approved clinical laboratory experience

  • Work requirement is full-time at 40 hours/week (part-time combination allowed)

AND shall have completed either:

  • an accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program* OR
  • a 50-week US military medical laboratory training program

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or otherwise approved by the AMT Board of Directors.

MLT Applicants:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing:
    • Completion of a baccalaureate degree
    • Completion of an accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program
  • One year of documented, full-time laboratory experience within the last 5 years in a laboratory that performs the chemical, physical, or biological examination of human body fluids and tissues

Military Applicants:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree
  • Copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program
  • One year of documented, full-time laboratory experience within the last 5 years in a laboratory that performs the chemical, physical, or biological examination of human body fluids and tissues

Degrees from Foreign Institutions:

  • Evaluation report of foreign transcript. The evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation by one of the evaluation services listed on our website. List of evaluation services
Apply Now

Alternate Education

Applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation agency,* or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution as certified by a foreign transcript evaluation agency approved by AMT.

AND shall have completed at least 35 semester hours of coursework across various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences, such as biological science, microbiology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, etc.

AND shall have either:

  • Completed an accredited* post-baccalaureate medical technology training program** within the past five years, OR
  • Completed a minimum of one year of clinical rotation through the Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry and Hematology sections of the laboratory
    • Work requirement is full-time at 40 hours/week (part-time combination allowed)

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or otherwise approved by the AMT Board of Directors.

If recent completion of an accredited training program (within the last 5 years):

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing:
    • Completion of a baccalaureate degree
    • Completion of at least 35 semester hours across various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences
    • Completion of an accredited MT, CLS or MLS post-baccalaureate training program

If laboratory experience or completion of an accredited training program 5+ years ago:

  • Copy of your college transcript showing:
    • Completion of a baccalaureate degree
    • Completion of at least 35 semester hours across various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences
  • One year of documented, full-time laboratory experience within the last 5 years in a laboratory that performs the chemical, physical, or biological examination of human body fluids and tissues

Degrees from Foreign Institutions

Evaluation report of foreign transcript. The evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation by one of the evaluation services listed on our website. List of evaluation services

Apply Now

Other Recognized Program

Applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation agency,* or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution as certified by a foreign transcript evaluation agency approved by AMT.

AND shall have taken and passed a generalist MT examination given by another certification organization or state licensure agency,*** provided that the examination has been approved by the AMT Board of Directors.

AND shall have completed a minimum of one year of approved clinical laboratory experience

  • Work requirement is full-time at 40 hours/week (part-time combination allowed)

No exam is required.

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or otherwise approved by the AMT Board of Directors.

**BS degree in clinical laboratory science or medical laboratory science are accepted alternatives

***Applicant's certification or state license must be active.

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing:
    • Completion of a baccalaureate degree in medical technology** OR
    • Completion of at least 35 semester hours across various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences
  • Official documentation indicating a passing result on the assessment:
    • Copy of examination score and current certification card from another certification organization OR
    • Copy of examination score and current state licensure card from issuing agency
  • One year of documented, full-time laboratory experience within the last 5 years in a laboratory that performs the chemical, physical, or biological examination of human body fluids and tissues

Degrees from Foreign Institutions

Evaluation report of foreign transcript. The evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation by one of the evaluation services listed on our website. List of evaluation services

Apply Now

Want help choosing the application route that’s right for you? Try the MLS Eligibility Assistant

Once Eligible You Can Apply

Complete application and submit fee online.

Once you are eligible you can apply. Submit a separate application for each certification.

Pay fee*

MLS
$235
MLS International**
$225

*Fees are non-refundable and include application, exam and first annual fee.
**Only available to those residing outside North America.

Apply Today

Application is valid for 1 year, allow 1-2 weeks for processing.

Utilize AMT study resources to increase testing confidence.

Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

 
 

Once you receive notification from AMT with approval you may proceed.

Schedule the exam

If you are taking the exam at your school, your instructor will provide information about the exam date and time. If you are taking the exam at a one of the hundreds of Pearson VUE testing center locations across the country, you will schedule your own exam.

Locate a Testing Center Near Me

To cancel or reschedule

Call Pearson VUE at 1-888-846-6941 24 hours prior to your exam. If you are late or don’t show, you must pay a retesting fee to reschedule.

  • Schedule as far in advance as possible
  • AMT cannot schedule for you
  • Scheduling online is preferred
  • The Pearson VUE profile you create for the exam is separate from your AMT account, so AMT Log-in information won’t work
Schedule Exam Online

or Call 1-888-846-6941

Take the Exam

Arrive 30 minutes prior to exam time with the required testing items:

  1. Authorization letter
  2. Two forms of valid identification
    • Both must have your first and last name identical to your name on your authorization letter
    • Both must bear your signature
    • One form must be a photo ID, either a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport

If you have questions about the acceptability of your identification, contact Pearson Vue:

Call 1-888-846-6941

Know what to expect:

Pearson VUE Security Measures

After the Exam

  • Results are available after the exam and are sent to AMT within 48 hours
  • All documentation MUST be complete to receive certification
  • Official certificate will arrive in the mail within 7-14 days
  • You may download your certified member card from My AMT Portal.

If your application expires prior to gaining certification, you must submit a new application and fee to continue.

Retesting

If you receive a failing score, you will need to retake the entire exam.

  • Retake is permitted no sooner than 45 days from previous attempt
  • A non-refundable fee is required for each additional attempt
  • You are limited to 4 exam attempts for any one certification
  • Consult the AMT study resources to prepare for a retake

Retesting fee

MLS
$125

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