AMT’s Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) exams are approved by the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (LFS) to fulfill the California examination requirements for licensure in the respective categories of Clinical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician.
Keep your AMT certification active by staying in compliance with the Certification Continuation Program (CCP). Continuing education and other activities count toward fulfilling your requirements.
Q1: How recently must I have passed the AMT MLS or MLT exam?
A: The approved exam date depends on the certification exam you passed:
- MLS: AMT MLS examinations administered on, or after January 1, 2014, are approved for California licensure.
- MLT: AMT MLT examinations administered on, or after January 30, 2023, are approved for California licensure.
Q2: Why does California not recognize AMT exams prior to the approved dates?
A: All certification agencies introduce new versions of their exams from time to time to ensure that the exam questions remain relevant and current. LFS’s review and subsequent approvals were based on the version of the AMT exam that was in effect as of the approved date for each exam.
For MLS, LFS reviewed and approved MLS (AMT) exam forms that were in use as of January 1, 2014. The approval does not address prior exam versions.
For MLT, LFS reviewed and approved MLT (AMT) exam forms that were in use as of January 30, 2023. The approval does not address prior exam versions.
Q3: If I passed my AMT MLS or MLT exam prior to the approved date, what do I need to do in order to get licensed in California?
A: First, you will need to make sure that you qualify for a California license. LFS requires specific academic coursework and clinical training or work experience to qualify for licensure.
If your review of the LFS requirements indicates that you are eligible for a California license, submit an application to AMT to be retested for purposes of California licensure using the appropriate form. Please use your current AMT ID so we can properly link the exam to your file.
Q4: What will I have to do with the scores once I retake the exam?
A: You will need to submit the Verification of Certification Form and fee to AMT. Once processed, AMT will generate a letter to the state attesting to certification, a passing score, and testing date.
Q5: What if I don’t pass the exam?
A: Applicants who have failed the exam and wish to retest must contact AMT. A retake is permitted no sooner than 45 days from the date of the previous attempt. A non-refundable processing fee is required for each attempt of the certification examination. Applicants are limited to a lifetime of four examination attempts for any one AMT certification.
Note that LFS imposes additional limitations on retesting following an exam failure. Under LFS rules, failure to pass a written certification examination two times requires a waiting period of one year before taking the exam again. A third failure requires a two-year waiting period.
Q6: If I retake the MLS or MLT exam, will that change my original AMT certification date or CCP status?
A: The retest exam score will be added to your record, but it will not change your original AMT certification date or CCP status.
Q7: Does this California approval have any effect on my AMT certification if I do not plan to work in California?
A: The California approval does not change anything about your certification status with AMT.