Preparation for becoming a medical laboratory scientist begins well before the individual sits for the exam through the ASCP it can start as early as high school, where potential lab scientists will want to take as many lab-based science classes as possible to help prepare for the rigors of the MLS college curriculum and the difficulty of the certification exam.
While certification isn’t a requirement nationwide, a number of states do require licensure or certification to practice, including California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia, and the territory of Puerto Rico. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in this field must meet certain requirements before being eligible to obtain the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the primary certifying body for the profession. The BLS classifies this growth rate as faster than the average for all occupations, which stands at eight percent for the same time frame.
The medical laboratory scientist (MLS), sometimes referred to as a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) or medical technologist (MT), performs a battery of highly specific analytical tests to assist doctors in reaching an accurate diagnosis regarding the patients who visit their office.ĭue to the vital nature of this work, employment in this field is slated to rise significantly over the next decade in fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) predicts an 11 percent increase in jobs from 2020 to 2030, which equates to 36,500 new job openings. Certification Guides Career Guides Interviews & Features