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Check Eligibility

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

All applicants must pass the AMT examination for MLS, to become certified.

For all AMT eligibility routes, clinical rotations encompassing all disciplines are required, either as part of the formal training program or through qualifying work experience. Experience in all disciplines obtained through work experience must be verified, even if portions of that experience fall outside the specified timeframes. (Disciplines include Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology.)

Review the State Licensure Authorities Recognizing AMT Exams for MLS and MLT and see if this applies to you.

Want help choosing the application route that’s right for you?

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Once you are eligible, you can apply!

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Application Fee*

MLS
$245
MLS International
$225
  • Submit a separate application for each certification.
  • *Fees are non-refundable and include application, exam and first annual fee.

Prepare

Utilize AMT study resources to increase testing confidence.

Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

Take the Exam

Once you receive notice from AMT with approval, you may proceed.

Schedule Exam
  • If you are taking the exam at school, your instructor will provide the exam date and time.
  • If you are taking the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center location, you will schedule your own exam.

MLS Eligibility Routes

Education Route ▼

Applicant shall have graduated with a baccalaureate degree from a NAACLS or accredited MLS program within the last 5 years.

  • If graduated more than 5 years ago, a minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of approved clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years is required.

Review the State Licensure Authorities Recognizing AMT Exams for MLS and MLT to see if this applies to you.

*Program or institution must be accredited by either the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or another programmatic, regional, or national accrediting agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or otherwise approved by AMT.

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree in Medical Laboratory Science
If Graduated 5+ Years Ago:
  • MLS Employment Verification Form documenting one year of relevant, 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)
    • Covid testing or research experience is not accepted

MLT or Military Route▼

Applicant shall have graduated with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution* or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution

AND completed either an accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program*

OR a 50-week US military medical laboratory training program within the last 5 years.

  • If graduated more than 5 years ago, a minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of approved clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years 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 AMT.

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree AND
    • Completion of an accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program (MLT Applicants ONLY) OR
    • Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program (Military Applicants ONLY)
If Graduated 5+ Years Ago:
  • MLS Employment Verification Form documenting one year of relevant, 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)
    • Covid testing or research experience is not accepted

Request Military Transcripts

Alternate Education Route ▼

Applicant shall have graduated with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution* or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, with at least forty-eight (48) semester hours of either medical laboratory technology / clinical laboratory science courses OR various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences.

AND shall have completed a minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of approved clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years.

*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 AMT.

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree and at least 48 semester hours of either
    • Medical Laboratory Technology / Clinical Laboratory Science courses OR
    • Various subjects related to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences, such as General Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, etc.
  • MLS Employment Verification Form documenting one year of relevant, 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)
    • Covid testing or research experience is not accepted
Degrees from Foreign Institutions:
  • Course-by-course evaluation report of a foreign transcript by one of the evaluation services listed on our website.
    List of evaluation services

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