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

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

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

Required Documentation

Education

Applicant shall have graduated with a baccalaureate degree in medical laboratory science (or equivalent) within the past five years from a program or institution accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation agency.*

  • Acceptable programs must include a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology
  • If graduated more than five years ago, a minimum of one year of approved clinical laboratory experience is required.

*Program or institution must be accredited by either the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or another 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.

Applicants must submit the following:  

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree in medical laboratory science (or equivalent) 

If graduated 5+ years ago:  

  • One year of documented, relevant, full-time laboratory experience within the last five 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
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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 in at least one of the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology.

AND shall have completed an acceptable program containing a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology through 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 AMT.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree
  • One year of documented, relevant, full-time laboratory experience within the last five 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 Applicants:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of an accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program

Military Applicants:

  • Copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program

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 have graduated with 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 either:

  • Forty-eight (48) semester hours of medical laboratory technology or clinical laboratory science courses OR
  • Forty-eight (48) semester hours of coursework across various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences, such as general biology, molecular biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.

AND shall have either:

  • Completed a minimum of one year of approved clinical laboratory experience, which must include a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology, OR
  • Completed an accredited* post-baccalaureate medical laboratory science training program (or equivalent) within the past five years
    • Acceptable programs must include a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology

*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.

Applicants Must Submit the Following:

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of a baccalaureate degree and at least 48 semester hours of either:
    • Medical laboratory technology or clinical laboratory science courses OR
    • Various subjects related to the clinical laboratory sciences, such as general biology, molecular biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.

Completion of an accredited training program (within the last 5 years):

  • Copy of your college transcripts showing completion of an accredited MLS (or equivalent) post-baccalaureate training program

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

  • One year of documented, relevant, full-time laboratory experience within the last five 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

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

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
$245
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)

Practice Exam

Purchase a Practice Exam

*AMT practice exams are excellent resources for test preparation. They are an optional resource and not required to pass the exam.

Fundamentals Courses

Purchase a Fundamentals Course

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
$140

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