The American Society for Clinical Pathologists offers MLS and MT certifications.
Medical laboratory technician (MLT) and medical laboratory scientist (MLS) are two certifications offered to laboratory professionals through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). The MLS certification is formerly known as the medical technologist (MT) certification. The ASCP board of certification establishes the qualifications for certifications.
Considerations
To qualify for the MLT certification, candidates must possess an associate's degree from a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) program, six college credit hours of chemistry and six college credit hours of biology. Fifty weeks as an U.S. military laboratory trainee may also be counted. Candidates for the MLS certification must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally and NAACLS-accredited MLS program with 16 credit hours of biology, 16 credit hours of chemistry and one semester of math. The ASCP board of certification considers full-time employment in a laboratory setting and an acceptable score on the Collegiate Learning Exam (CLE) in the selection process for both programs. Once the candidate's eligibility is determined, a candidate can schedule an exam with Pearson Professional Center.
Fees
As of December 2010, the MLS certification costs $210; the MLT certification is $185.
Benefits
According to PayScale, the average annual salary for an MLS in December 2010 is approximately $36,000 to $66,000. MLTs earn approximately $29,000 to $49,000.
Tags: credit hours, American Society, American Society Clinical, ASCP board, ASCP board certification
