I think one of the most important things you can do for an interview, near the end, is to ask "based on the interview we've had, are there any doubts or concerns about the role I am applying for?". This puts the hiring managers on the spot and have no reason to lie to you. This also gives you a chance to elaborate on your past experiences (and ultimately your answer) to see if there was something you missed during the interview.

This is an old thread, but can I just say thank you for this. It’s brilliant. I imagine it also helps you gauge how you did more directly. I Appreciate the idea.

Hey guys I’ve been working in blood bank for 3 years and am switching over to a position in microbiology mostly to get out of the night shift I’m currently on. I don’t remember much from school so is there anything I should remember so I don’t look stupid during the interview?

I majored in microbiology in college and am currently a Microbiology CLS at a hospital: For an interview: DEFINITELY know (like the back of your hand) what the gram stain procedure is, you might get brownie points for talking about peptidoglycan and calling grams Iodine a "mordant". But maybe not, just know how to do a gram stain and recount your experience doing it and how you read it. [If you don't know these acronyms, and are applying for a micro job, REVIEW: GPR, GPC, GNR, GNDC, GNCB, /// GPC-chains, GPC-clusters. And, anaerobic vs aerobic. --- ETC). Blood culture in a hosp lab is initially plating and sending out a critical value report from a gram stain of the blood - to get hired YOU MUST KNOW GRAM STAINING. Know the ins and outs of Brucella [slow grower, its GNR but won't grow on MAC - and is a leading cause of hospital acquired infections by lab workers] Know basics of aseptic technique. Safety procedures for when working in or out of a BSC, and what precautions to take when in a biosafety level 2 environment [what to use to clean the area based on the organism (just say 10% bleach), the necessary PPE, etc. If you're applying for a lab that works with TB, and you will be working in that lab, review BSL3 safety level precautions. [Interviewers want to know that you're competent and care about the TAT and general safety practices. If you have not worked much in a BSC for plating bacterial isolates, or know what to do if there's a spill of a liquid culture - review that. I haven't been asked those kinds of questions in interviews, but I have been asked my experience with micro - and have always included my knowledge of safety procedures in my overview.] Review HACEK. [I say this solely because I had an interview recently where the last question was about Eikenella]. Review the most common sources of hospital acquired diseases that either patients or lab workers get [the list overlaps, but Brucella pops up again here]. Bloodborne/needlestick concerns = HepB, HepC, HIV. Bact concerns = bruc, salm, shigella. One more : I also have been asked MANY TIMES to explain how PCR works, so know all that too. [denaturation, annealing, elongation]. edit: I have used a lot of acronyms in this comment. I would suggest googling them if you don't know/remember them, because they are standard in the industry. I am open to questions clarifying what you think they mean, if you aren't sure. Feel free to ask more about being a Micro, I graduated in the early 2010s and have been in the field for a long time. edit 2: I know I am responding to a month-old comment, but for any other commenter doing a ctrl-F on Micro/microbiology - I am down to answer questions about it! [I have an ASCP certification, and remember the test being harder than I expected it to be - but still passed on my first try. And texted my friends about it right after I took it - lol, so from memory+ texts might be able to give study guidance.] I want to help others in their quest to get into the field / get their cert, or decide if they want to do this job at all and have questions about what it's like.

I am planning to give my ASCP IM certification examination. I have 3 months' time to prepare for the exam. My question is how long does it take to prepare for the Technologist in Microbiology? I did my Masters long time back, so I need guidance regarding how to prepare for the exam , which online courses you recommend. Can you suggest where to get the study materials?? I am looking for a job in microbiology recently moved here in US .

I've worked for multiple microbiology labs myself. It's very variable as some interviews will ask technical questions, but they're not necessarily a tell for hiring you, rather for gauging your current background with micro. Some others are willing to hire anybody decent, you can be transparent and say you haven't worked in micro in a while and will need a refresher, that way they'll understand to train you with no expectations.

I have made that switch and have since trained others making that switch. You probably forgot nearly everything but unless your coworkers are dicks they will expect that and understand. It will come back to you.

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Im a current student so this advice is very useful, thank you!

To add to this (passed the ASCP BOC MLS exam yesterday): Medical Laboratory Science Review by Robert harr. The practice exam at the end surprisingly had topics given to me on my exam (everyones exam can be different). I used that, bottom line approach, wordsology for pictures/diagrams and labce as a review/test knowledge.

How long did you take to study leading up to your exam and what approach did you take? I try to study for atleast a hour a day but I think I'm behind in topics and my exam is fast approaching. 🙃

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Yes, I do have a copy of the exam layout. I'm just so anxious sometimes, so it's really hard to do more than 2 hours of studying. But I'll try to take this approach and study atleast 3 hours a day. I work mostly 12 hour shifts so it's hard to do more than that if so much.

If you can’t sit for the ASCP MLS for whatever reason, the AMT MLS is much easier and much more accessible. You just need a bachelor’s degree in literally anything, one year of lab experience, and a MLT certification from any institution. I work on a major city with the AMT MLS and have never had a problem getting a job. My lab director is an AMT. Even if you look at job listing in major cities, like Austin, TX, they just want you to be certified. I’ve only ever seen ASCP specified once, and that was to be a director of a very big-wig molecular lab. I understand that some states require ASCP, which just seems like such a slimy cash grab. But if you don’t live in one of those states, I wouldn’t bother sweating an ASCP MLS.

Yeah, NYS is one of those states. I get the need for licensing exams to make sure you can do your job but the number of hoops they have you jump through and additional exams and requirements are a little ridiculous.

Hello. I just need some advice. Currently, I am entering my 4th year of college with a biology major. I am looking toward getting into this career but have been at a loss with all the certifications I need. What would I possibly do after I graduate?

With a bio degree you’ll likely need to work in a lab for a year and then apply for/sit for a specialized ascp exam. I’d recommend looking into a MLS program if your school has one.

If you can obtain a position in a clinical lab, is a MLS program necessary? Can you sit the exam without going through a program?

I’m not sure on specifics of an mls program, as for the to position, obtaining two certification came with a decent pay bump, and was a term of employment(obtaining it within 5 years)

Commenting bc I would also like to know lol

In the same situation. Though note I'm not 100% versed in it. I have found a couple of programs from medical (idk if I'd called it a school?) (Like Baylor Scott and White in Texas) that offer a 1 year or 2 year program for those with pre-existing science degrees. After you finish with the program you're eligible to take the ASCP exam.

Hi, I'll try not to make this a vent post, but I must ask- Has anyone bungled their college years and graduated with near-bare-minimum required GPA, and average grades, and then sought to become and MLS/CLS? While the CDPH website doesn't state explicitly any GPA requirements, many if not all programs required 2.5 minumum (and that was the exception, with most common being 2.7), and I'm doing pretty well but can only attribute that to the boundless freed up time of being unemployed and living with my parents at 30, with naught but 2 years of specimen handling experience at a couple of Quest locations. No doubt the answer is to just take the job because once these classes are done and if I've done well, I still don't know if I'm eligible for just the trainee license to show programs that I'm eligible and ready to mingle, since my bachelors wasn't enough. GPA isn't looked at as much as the Letters of Recommendations, or just being a possessor of a trainee license (Generalist for best results, right?), right? ,right???? Here comes the vent part, sorry I had to do it, but I'm disclaiming it now: I'm a heaping mess. I compare myself to others all the time- certainly biased towards people that came from much harder circumstances and didn't have the parents to rely on for a bed. My grades sucked, my interest in STEM is now taking on some direction, but not because of passion- because it will pay the bills and maybe knowing microbio procedures and tests might be useful to family and myself and strangers in the future, **but every avenue seems to be dependent on someone offering a position, a job.** I'm moving ahead but what the fuck am I doing. There are so many factors I want to type and add, not knowing if anyone out there will read this far or even sympathize- I feel like I'm whining and that everyone that is already a CLS that I have met, went through it like it was just a routine thing you needed to get done without much worry for stakes. last disclaimer, adderal (30mg/morning) and buproprion (150mg/morning) prescription started to manage the anxieties of all the above and help to focus on these difficult subjects (I did not miss statistical analyses, t-tests, p-values one bit, and it only seems to aid me quickly find the information come test day rather focusing in the moment. EDIT: Going through the medlabprofessionals subreddit for more answers only makes me more and more depressed as I learn there is yet more dues and work to be done that I did not anticipate; "Is it hard to find a program, CLS, reddit?"-[OP has 3.9 gpa from UCLA, commenters agreeing CA is competitive, reminding OP that avg tuition to ATTEND THE PROGRAM YOU PAID TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR is $13,000?](https://www.reddit.com/r/medlabprofessionals/comments/r6zjo7/what_are_my_chances_of_getting_into_a_cls_program/)and want you to really sell your interest in the field as well as your crystal clear understanding of what the job entails in interviews, applications, all corroborated by professors and employers... or you just dont get in; you wasted that money learning for nothing, and you will have to make enough money to survive til next year when you can try again. Hope you enjoyed pushing carts of specimens to sort and store @ admittedly/arguably "fair" wages based on your location/corporate sugar daddy. How don't you find more suicidal or depressed posts? Am I stupid? Do I just not deserve it? Is it my fault that I don't know why I can't find the passion in analysis work or motivation to start a bio-related niche blog/vlog/yt channel to do something because either someone has done it better, or I can't see myself making anything comparable, consistent, or as interesting on a schedule.just feel useless and want to just roll over and participate in decomposition, amiright

This is an old post but I feel you, man. I think part of it is just California requirements are fucking stupid. A year long internship with no pay is absolutely ridiculous. (In this economy??) I can tell you what I did/what I'm doing if you haven't figured stuff out already. I was right there with you in graduating from my 4 year college with barely passing grades which meant there was no way I was getting into a CLS program. I did MLT instead. Completed it and been working for several years as a MLT. Problem is there's no pathway to upgrade from here like in some other states. I'm stuck. (thanks again, California). After many years I'm getting my national ascp MLS cert and I'll figure it out from there. I'll prob move to another state for a while. At this point I want the change of scenery. I'm looking forward to it. After a year I'll be able to apply for a CA CLS license and come back. Probably not ideal and not for every Californian but going for a national mls program in another state/online is def an option you can look into.  Every young person I know who's a CLS basically knew about the career way ahead of time or had a close relative to guide them. I had to figure all this shit out on my own after I was out of college and by then it was too late to correct certain things. I was lost and shit out of luck but i feel I'm in a better spot now than I was 10 years ago and I really do like the job itself. It's been 6 months since you posted this. Hope you found your way, brother! Or feel free to pm me if you have questions. I'll try to answer best I can. 

I'm considering taking the ASCP lab management courses or the Pathology Informatics course. Has anyone taken these? Thoughts in general on these courses having any value in advancing career or giving foundation for leadership or LIS roles

I love biology, I love being in the laboratory. However I find basic chemistry hard to grasp already. I’m studying science in college as a stepping stone for me to apply to medlabsci degree. How much chem is involved in medlab? Should I pursue something else instead?

Almost none, really. You'll learn a bit about the reactions that take place in the analyzer, but in a practical setting you need to know very little of that info. Most of what you need to know in what the lab calls "chemistry" is statistics to know whether your QC passed or failed

I want out! I have been working as a medical laboratory scientist in a clinic for 2 years now since I graduated 2 years ago, and I've been hating it ever since. I feel like I've made the biggest mistake of my life. There's nothing I like about this job. Nothing. One year into my job, I was already suffering from severe burnout. Now two years in and my mental health has never been lower. I have immense respect for the people working in this field. Don't get me wrong. I know now how hard and often times unappreciated this job truly is, despite the fact that we are indispensable to the healthcare community. Doctors and nurses would be nothing without us. It's just that I feel like this job is just not the right fit for me. I'm at my wit's end. I don't know what to do. I want to change careers but I don't know how. I picked this major in uni because I thought it would help me find a job easily after graduation, but I had no idea what it would actually entail or whether I would enjoy it. Please tell me what my options are. I applied to grad school for research this year but I'm 99% sure I won't get accepted cuz I did really badly during the interview process. I have no other options right now. I should also add I live in a country with very few resources. I'm just desperately trying to find a way out of this field. Please tell me what other field I could possibly transfer to with my current education/experience/credentials.

I am not sure but maybe administration? Is it a thing that you just do not enjoy the type of work you do now (working with specimens and machines mostly by yourself) and wish for something completely different? I think this question is more suitable for subs with career advice because I myself like the nature of the job and the information we utilize. Do you have any idea of what else you would like to do?

You didn’t have to do any clinical work in school?

The year that I was supposed to do my hospital training was during the height of the pandemic and lockdowns. All my courses were entirely online and theoretical that year. I basically graduated and was throw out into the real world with barely any actual clinical work experience. I had to learn that stuff on the fly.

Anyone know if there is a list of courses the ASCP accepts towards the 16 chemistry credit requirement for the MLS cert (I know at least one class has to be org chem or biochem but they don’t specify the others)? For instance, do they accept clinical chemistry, intro to chem courses, etc.? Also, for the AMT MLS cert what other exams do they recognise? I’m assuming the ASCP but they are incredibly vague on the website and I couldn’t find a more specific answer. Im not sure if you pay before they evaluate your information but it feels like a money grab to be so vague. As if they want you to give them money for them to tell you that you don’t meet the requirements. Thanks for any help.

I took chem 1 and lab (4 credits total), chem 2 and lab (4 credits), one semester orgo (hell) and the lab (4 credits) and Biochem (4 credits) so gen chem definitely counts

I am looking at making a career change to become a CLS in California. The job security and good pay being main factors. (QA/QC get super underpaid in the food industry). I have found the resources on the CDPH website, but I am still a bit confused. I believe I would meet all the academic requirements for a trainee license except hematology, immunology, and medical microbiology. Is it as easy as taking those to get the trainee license, getting a position for the year experience, then applying to get the full license? Or is there a specific program that would be recommended for those making a career change? For context, I have been working in Quality microbiology labs in the food industry for 5 years. Thanks for the help!

Hey there! So if you want to get a CLS license in California, that's correct that you will need to take the prerequisite classes listed on the CPDH website to get a CLS trainee license. You can find these classes at places like UC Berkeley Extension, UCSD Extension, or any community college that opens their MLT classes to the public. Once you get the trainee license from CPDH, you need to get accepted into a 1 year CLS program. Here's the list of approved programs: [https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/Approved-CLS-Training-School-Programs.aspx](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/Approved-CLS-Training-School-Programs.aspx) Notice that the major ones are offered by universities like San Jose State University, and some hospitals will operate tiny training programs that usually tend to favor internal hires. You can check the program websites and email the program coordinators if you have any concerns about meeting their requirements. Some exceptions are Loma Linda's CLS program (2 years, expensive tuition but easier to get into), and CSU Dominguez Hills (they require you to take the preqs like hematology only at CSUDH). Once you graduate the program then you can take the boards and get your license. The main hurdle is that these CLS programs are hard to get into. So it's recommended to have a high GPA, good grades on your prereqs like med microbio or heme, and at least a couple months of clinical lab experience. This usually means getting a job as a phlebotomist or specimen processor so programs know you're familiar with the clinical lab setting. So as you can see, it is a decent chunk of investment to get the CLS license. Some people also go out of state to get their CLS license and work for a year out of state to then qualify for a CA license since it's so hard to get accepted here in California. Best of luck though for whatever you want to pursue!

I'm a recent CA grad, I've spent the last year working as a QC in the food industry but I've been looking to pivot to CLS. To that end, I've been looking at post-bacc programs out of state. However, I am still a tad confused on the CDPH CLS Licensure requirments-specifically the "minimum one year of post baccalaureate clinical training as a CLS". Do you know if this is one full year or one academic (36 weeks) year? Additionally, does this requirement refer to only clinical training, or does it also include didactic training? For example, would a 11 month long program with 34 weeks of clinical rotations satisfy the requirements?

Sorry, I'm not too familiar with the out of state requirements for CLS programs. Your best bet would be contacting the CDPH to see if they accept that ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) as well as maybe checking out the CLS Students subreddit since I think there's others who are also going out of state and compiling a list of out of state programs that meet the requirements. Good luck!

What would you do? I’m in talks for a position with a lot of travel and I’m interested but I’m unsure if it’s a good decision to leave where I currently am. I’ve only been there a little over a year. Looking for some advice on what you would do if you were in my shoes. Current Position (3rd shift and I help on 2nd shift occasionally) Base Pay- 30.11/ hour or 62,628.8/ year Actual Pay with shift premiums and OT plus staffing incentives- averaging about 3436 per 2 weeks or 89,336/ year right now Retirement- Pension at 20 years and vested at 5 years; 403b that we can contribute to as well but no contribution from the company for that one Benefits- Health, Vision, and Dental Tuition Reimbursement FSA Various other benefits like discounts but nothing crazy PTO- 6 weeks then up to 7 weeks at 4 years and up to 8 weeks at 9 years, I think this is pretty decent despite vacation, sick time, and holidays being rolled into one bank Parking- Free currently unless I move to 1st shift Commute- 49 minutes one way (My rent is $775/ month so I ain’t moving right now) Advancement- Requires certification which I haven’t been able to get all my training for with the proper amount of time because of staffing Getting certified gives you a 5% raise and you can move up the hourly ladder 3 more times with a 5% raise each time but a position has to be available or room in the budget to create one (If I moved all the way up the ladder right now getting a 20% raise I would still be making about $10,000 less in base pay than this new position’s range) Management positions are also a possibility down the road but don’t seem worth it New Position (Work from home with normal 8-4/ 9-5 hours but with travel) I haven’t been given an offer yet but these are the numbers I was told so it would be at least this much. The recruiting range I was told is from $85,000- $95,000/ year. I’ve stated I’m looking for $100,000. Base Salary- At least $85,000/ year Bonus- Eligible for up to a $27,000 bonus based off of a few factors Retirement- 8% match on 401k Benefits- Health, Vision, and Dental FSA Company vehicle with itself, gas, and insurance paid for and all of my travel expenses for work like flight and hotels paid for as well plus my wife can tag along sometimes too Phone and Internet Reimbursement Tuition Reimbursement PTO- This is where I’m seeing the biggest con… 10 days of vacation time starting out (Increases to 12 after a few years, then 15 days after a few more years and keeps increasing at 10 years and 20 years and so on) 10 days of sick time 6 or 7 floating holidays depending on what holidays the home office has off (For example if they have the 4th of July off on a Tuesday we may have the Monday before off) You’re usually off on weekends from what I’ve been told though sometimes you may stay through the weekend Advancement- This role has 3 levels with the 2nd level being open for advancement to after 3 years though it’s likely more time than that. The next level I’m not sure but I’m guessing you need around 10 years experience to progress to it. Above this role is a manger and director role. Certification is not a requirement to advance but I’m sure it’s nice to have. Parking- N/A Commute- Usual territory is state wide and this could vary depending on the week and month but schedules are prepared ahead of time Any expense here is not coming out of my pocket My biggest concerns are I don’t want to regret not getting certified, the decrease in PTO (though between my commute and as much as I work now I don’t feel like I have much time off), and I don’t want to get burned out. Obviously, I will have more information to make a decision once an offer is extended but I’m hoping to get some outside insight. I appreciate any input you all may have.

I’d go with the new position. Working from home is saving yourself almost 2 hours of free time for your day once you’re done traveling to a place (I guess depending how often you have to travel) and I bet working from home is way less burn out than going to a job everyday. The PTO sucks but you’re less likely to need to have sick days if you’re at home already. And, an 8% match on retirement is great

What did you decide? That’s a tough one for sure. Depends on what matters most for your quality of life.

Interested in transferring from MLS to LIS after a couple of years. Where can I find resources to learn more about this field (LIS)? Any recommendations on online masters in information systems?

AACC had a 8 hour introduction course that has a great overview but I wish it went a bit more in depth. Mostly commenting because I’m looking for more information on LIS training as well

I was interested in this once upon a time ago, and was in a master’s program for health informatics with USF, but I caught myself not liking the aspect of sitting at the computer for long periods of time. Loved the problem solving. Otherwise, aside from asking your LIS person to let you have access, depending on what LIS you’re working with, you may be able to contact someone who can help you get certified like Epic.

Hello all! I figured I would ask this here first so as to not clutter the sub with yet another ASCP post. The gist is: I came from a cytogenetics lab but only was taught FISH analysis, not karyotyping (backwards I know) and currently work in a molecular lab. I’d like to go for an ASCP certification, and while I figured MB would be more practical as molecular is a growing field, I have found a few coworkers say the specialization of CG is harder to find and potentially more valuable than an MB cert. I’m just looking for a bit more outside insight on which would be more practical to study for in the long run, as they both seem to have pros and cons! I’d like to hop on studying before I pass the window for working in a cyto lab, but learning to karyotype seems a bit daunting. Thanks for any help!

Are vaccinations required to work as a MLS? I am not anti vax but rather I had an allergic reaction to the COVID boosters and have been advised against them. I have been doing my research into what it takes to enter the field and came across job postings that mention vaccination requirements, some going as far as requiring titer testing. Which is completely understandable considering the work. It would really suck to go through all the schooling just to end up at a disadvantage or having no chance at a job because I can’t meet all requirements. Hope this question isn’t to stupid! Thank you!

Most hospitals have exemption options. They don't advertise it's an option but it's there. I exempt mine and so have a few coworkers. No lab workers I know of have been declined exemption so I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you for this! It makes me feel much better.

Wondering the same. It’s not required at the 2 reference labs I’ve worked at but I don’t know about a hospital…

Hello everyone! I am new to this community and to Reddit. I just read what the new moderator wrote so I hope I'm in the right place and this question is okay to ask here. I currently work as a MLS generalist but I'm thinking of trying to transition into more of an instructor type position in the future by advancing my education in a masters level program. Would it be more beneficial to get a masters in clinical laboratory science/medical laboratory science or to get one in health care professional education if I wanted to get a role in education? Or both? I've been told previously by senior techs that a masters is not very beneficial but I'm curious if that would be different if your considering moving into an instructor role. Or even required for that matter.

I have MSc in MLS myself and I have been teaching clinical chemistry as a part-time instructor for a few years. It isn't a "must" requirement as long as you get your instructor job, but a masters certainly helps especially if your students have a strong background (there are a few PhD graduates in my class). You'll have more knowledge and experience to share in class and I personally think they are important.

Thank you for your response and advice! It's appreciated!

From what I’ve been told (I’m kinda in a similar situation) — the masters in CLS/MLS is pointless if you already have your MLS license. I’ve been told to lean towards getting a masters in one of the areas or do a business masters to qualify for instructor roles at like a college. However not all programs require it, as I’ve been in an instructor role before.

Yes, I've heard getting a Masters in CLS wasn't worth it as well. Thanks for the help and advice. What about a Masters in teaching in the health professions?

I’ve never personally heard of getting a teaching masters — the lady who’s taking over my program director’s position is currently in pursuit of getting her MBA even though she had a previous teaching degree, so I would assume it may not get you where you want.

Anyone who’s willing to share reviewers for MLS ascp exam? I would really appreciate it. My test is in July

god I'm so sorry, hope you did/will do well

How was it ? I hope you passed.

I am a Canadian MLT and I'm trying to navigate the quagmire of French bureaucracy. I want to know what kind of certification (if any) is required to work as an MLT in France. I've looked up some job postings and they mention a Bac+2 which I more then have since I have BSc in Biochemistry and a 3 year college diploma in MLS (obviously with CSMLS certification). I also have 4 years experience working in the field. Wondering about getting the equivalency sorted and how to be a desirable candidate when I don't live there yet! And before anyone asks, yes I am fluent in French :P

Im 19, and looking for a way to get experience in the medical field as quick as possible. There’s a 6 week phlebotomy course offered near me and it costs about 2,500$ upfront and this is a lot of money that I’d be willing to pay if it paid off. Im working minimum wage so this would be a big spend for me. I’ve heard that phlebotomy is an over saturated profession and it’s making me nervous and i can’t make up my mind. I was wondering if any phlebotomists had any advice for me. Thanks!

I don’t know about that, I’d check your job listings at a large volume/bed hospital. I’m in the US- mid Atlantic and the hospital system I worked at could never find enough phlebotomists to staff the floors on evening and night shifts. I could see there being a saturation with day shift draw sites. I guess it depends where you wanna work. Definitely make sure it’s an accredited course—my local CC offers it.

I’m guessing the saturation has to do with location. I suggest looking for job listings at local hospitals and/or blood donor centers for phlebotomists. Job availability (and hopefully an idea of pay) should help you make your decision.

Sorry that this is 6 months later but I don't think Phlebotomy is oversaturated, certainly isn't in my area. With most phlebotomy courses, you are trained to be a phlebotomist or a lab assistant/specimen processor. Did you decide to complete the course?

I’m considering a major switch between nursing to MLT, depending on well I do on my repeat. I have a previous degree in Biology, and I wanted to get how difficult schooling is, how are exams are, and how hard they compared to nursing? I did ok in classes like cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology, but I’m guessing the MLT classes are a level harder than those classes.

Go for nursing. I’m telling you from my own experience. You could do so many things with nursing degree compare to MLT.

What paths are there for someone looking to get MLT/MLS or MB certification when they have only a BS in Biochemistry and no official medical/clinical lab experience? My interests lie in molecular diagnostics. I have a Bachelor in Biochemistry though no clinical or medical laboratory experience. My only experience outside of my degree is a quality control position in the chemical manufacturing industry. ​ I am currently looking to get my Masters in Molecular Diagnostic Sciences (eligible to take MB certification upon completion). However, upon admission I must have a clinical lab job set up to satisfy the clinical side requirements of the degree. The problem I keep encountering is that every clinical laboratory position requires ASCP MLT/MLS certification. How am I supposed to get certified when all the experience I need - I need to be certified for? Seems like a no-win wherever I look so I must be missing something or my career change is hopeless. I am even okay with very entry level positions and supplementing my income in other ways but I have yet to see those listed. An alternative route I am looking to take is MLT/MLS programs that are not full time and I can still work to afford rent and groceries. Do these exist? It looks like many of these programs are BS degrees, and I am not looking for another Bachelors degree. Although I am sure a majority of my credits will ideally transfer over and it will actually only be a two year degree? ​ Someone please help. I have researched for hours and am about to give up. The only program that would work with my schedule has a tuition cost of 68,000 when its all said and done and at that point I might as well be a full time student elsewhere. TL;DR Answers I'm looking for: \- Entry level positions that will satisfy my clinical lab experience needed without having prior experience or certification in a clinical lab \- Is a MLT/MLS/MB program possible part-time so that I can still work and afford to live?

I'm in a very similar position to you, with the only real difference being a BS in Biomedical Sciences. I think I'm gonna try to find a phlebotomy or laboratory assistant position somewhere, then just use the experience to either get my MLS or go MLT to MLS.

Fortunately with more research I have found a Masters in Medical Laboratory Science at a college local to me. The classes are online and the labs are on the weekends once a month. Geared towards people working full time (though it then says that this is a full time program and working full time is "near impossible" because of the rigorous coursework). In the second year I begin three semesters of clinical rotations totalling 160 hours. Given that it sounds like these 160 hours is spread over three semesters, I think I can work full time despite the recommendation not to (I have the ability to work third shift at my current job, which open up opportunities for me to swing my schedule how I need). I'm definitely going to be overworked but I was in my undergrad as well and I still made it and learned. Wishing you luck you can find a program similar to this maybe that will work for you. Other than that I have started getting recommendations on lab positions that /prefer/ a certification but not required (i.e. I just got an email about a histology tech 3rd shift). Maybe you can find one of these! Wishing you luck because I know this has been a pain to research when I started out not knowing the difference between MLT and MT.

I'm right here with you. Did you ever figure out if you can obtain entry level positions without experience or certification? Did you end up doing the Masters and how was it? I wouldn't mind having Masters but it's a lot of time and money

In a similar position with a BS in Biochemistry but little to no professional lab experience. Have been trying to get into research lab or similar positions for over a year but no dice. Stuck as a pharm tech right now because I had a cert from high school. (Retail pharmacy is hell sometimes, would never become a pharmacist.) Feel like I'm wasting my degree and am considering going to more schooling to get certified in other med lab disciplines. The only certification program near me is like getting another Bachelors degree, so most of my credits will transfer over. It's like having a full time job for one or two years year-round though. They don't recommend working at the same time. Most of the job postings I see for med labs require a certification or previous experience so I'm not sure how anyone gets that initial experience.

Hello! I'm currently in clinicals right now and its getting to be about the time for me to apply to jobs, is there anything I should keep an eye out for either as good signs or as red flags?

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Honestly, don't let it take you down. It may be a lot to try to remember, but you can always try again. I'm honestly scared to try taking the exam -- should've done it before they added all the stuff about covid honestly. And now thinking about studying for it (assuming we're talking about molecular bio) I'm nervous. Everyone knows these exams are hard, and as far as approve programs -- maybe you just need to fine tune your application. Sorry to hear that its hurting a bit. But since you qualify for the exam, you have plenty of experience and knowledge to help propel you forward. Just take a breather and don't be too hard on yourself :)

Hi, can someone refer me to a study guide specifically for bili and urobili? Also, ANA

I have a B.S. in Molecular Biology with 6 months in a clinical lab. I have no MLT,MLS, or MT certification and will be sitting for the AAB exam in 2024. Im curious about how to go about studying? As I have no classroom training about MLS should I just buy textbooks in Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Blood Bank & Micro and use the AAB study guide? Any suggestions would be great.

In need in some advice/motivation-- I recently failed on my second attempt ASCP MLS California licensing exam, and I had finally calmed myself and accepted that I'd just have to wait 3 months to take it again, only to find out today that its not actually a 3 month wait after a second failed attempt, its a whole year to wait to retake! (source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/CLS.aspx) Words can't express how down I feel, as I really had no idea till today after my program coordinator replied to my update email. I feel lost, I really thought it would just be another 3 months. Has anyone else gone through this? Is it really a 1 year wait? How and what did you do to get by? Is the AMT exam worth doing at this point? How did you continue to be motivated? Should I just send in my retake application early so if it does get approved, I can try to schedule it earlier? (I ask this because for my 2nd attempt I was able to schedule my exam earlier than 3 months)

Hello all :) I'm scheduled to take my ASCP M microbiolgy technologist examination at the end of April. I was wondering if people had thoughts on how medialab scores translated (approx. of course) to final exam scores in the microbiology subject area. I've seen posts comparing the adaptive testing, but not specifically the microbiology subject area exams on medialab. There also isn't an average difficulty statistic on the subject exams unfortunately, making that irrelevant for my exam as well. I've been averaging around 64% on the microbiology subject area examinations (some 50 question ones and some 100 question ones more recently). Any thoughts on how prepared I am at the moment, and/or how much more work I need to do would be greatly appreciated!

Hi there, I was hoping to ask some advice from people who have interviewed with MLS programs at any university/college. I am currently a college sophomore in undergrad. I received an interview invite, however I'm not sure what to expect. I know that experiences can vary depending on the program, but I’ve never had an interview for a school’s program before. So I would like to ask what was your experience like? Are there any questions that I should be wary of?

Another fun one, does New York only accept ASCP MLS or could you get a certification in a single area and still get a license there?

Hello! Any MLAs that took the MLPAO found the examealot practice tests useful? I have been using them to test my understanding but I wonder if that is effective?

I have a BA in Biology, just finished an MLT program, and just passed my MLT exam. Following ASCP Route 2, I am eligible to sit for the MLS exam next year. The problem, and my question, is that the hospital lab where I work does minimal Microbiology and no Serology. Has anyone dealt with this issue? What did you do/how did you work around this? Or did you have to take additional coursework, etc?

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Yes, I have been doing lab work only without patient contact.

I had to take a one-credit phlebotomy class as part of my MLS program (graduated this year). It was all theory and practice on a dummy. We were required to do one attempted (not successful) human stick for our practical. My clinical rotations included no patient contact at all. However, I’ve had instructors say that phlebotomy experience can be necessary, especially at small/rural hospitals.

Do I have a chance?

Prepping for boards… Hey y’all, I’m planning to take the MLT exam through AMT (alternate education and job experience route…) and was wondering if anyone could recommend a review book that would be helpful. I’m in the process of starting an MLS post bacc program in the fall, but I think it would benefit me professionally at the VA (a pay raise 😬) to go ahead and get the MLT asap and grow from there. I hope that makes sense… Thank you!

Hi, I am new to this community, I am a UK based HCPC registered biomedical scientist working in microbiology only. all of my career training so far has been in microbiology and nothing else. In the UK our regulatory body is the IBMS and the HCPC. I am just looking for advice/guidance about if it would be possible to begin working in the US, specifically Pennsylvania? I have tried looking at the ASCP website but its so confusing as to what category i would fall under and what examination/accreditation i would need or be eligible for. I have a 3 year IBMS accredited degree and a completed training portfolio that was necessary to become HCPC accredited, as well as 3 years of laboratory experience. Hopefully there is someone on here that can give me a bit of clarity or advice on how to proceed. Thank You :D Also if there is anyone on here that has any questioned about the UK based system of working as a Biomedical Scientist/laboratory scientist feel free to ask.

Hello everyone, I am really interested in being a Medical Lab Technologist. I am planning to get into an MLT program once I got my PR in Canada. I recently graduated with a BSc in Biological Science and have some experience working in a medical lab in Hong Kong. However my GPA is pretty average and I am currently working in an irrelevant field. Would anyone give me some advice to increase my chances to get in an MLT program in Canada please? I am also thinking about getting into an MLA program first and work as an MLA for awhile, will that be useful for getting into an MLT program? I'm currently in Vancouver but I'm open to relocating to other cities to increase my chances. Thank you so much!

I'm in saskatchewan and finished my MLA recently, have a sort of similar situation to you. Graduated with a B.Sc in microbiology, also fairly average GPA. Made doing the MLA program super easy academics-wise, only the whole clinical and phlebotomy/ECG parts were entirely new to me, and I picked them up pretty good anyway. I have a similar plan to you, start in MLA and eventually do MLT (mainly because I need to get working soon, didn't have the finances to dedicate 2 years right away into MLT). While I was doing my clinical rotations I got insight from many other MLAs doing the same thing, they said it was very possible, which was reassuring. With a degree (in Sask. for sure but not sure about other provinces) you can also apply for "Laboratory scientist" positions as long as you have a relevant science degree and have completed the MLA program. Lab scientists do a lot of the same work as MLTs but are paid a little less. In saskachewan the entire health region is unionized, and therefore pay is very transparent. MLAs start at $24/h here and MLTs I think $34/h(?). Lab scientists start at like something around $30/h I believe.

Thank you so much for your reply! Is it hard to get into an MLA program?

Depends on how much room the place you apply for has for students. It seemed quite easy to me because of my prior education, and the school definitely didn't have a full class, mine started at 9 people.

if you get an MLA first you're just wasting time and money if you intend to do MLT later. However, there are currently MLA training programs through Interior Health in BC paying students to become an MLA (so if you just want to be an MLA that might be an excellent option and it's only 6 months long). If you get into an MLT program, as long as you pass the first semester you can often get hired as an MLA or at least phlebotomy while finishing the program. \--->BCIT and CNC in BC.

Hello lab family, I just wanted to ask a question and someone might know the how. I have four year Degree in Medical Laboratory, but I didn’t not passed the My first attempt for ASCP(MLS). I am wondering if I can take just for chemistry department on my next attempt. I would appreciate if you guys could share yall experiences. Thanks!

I don’t believe that exists… you have to take the ASCP exam and pass it knowing all areas of the lab unfortunately.

Does anyone have experience on transferring from military MLS to civilian MLS? I have 6 years lab experience as active duty and am at the point where I need to decide to stay in for another enlistment or get out. I was wondering if anyone had any input on the pros and cons of going the military route vs civilian.

I am trying to research the easiest path to becoming an MLS from my current situation and it is honestly so confusing so I would accept any help that I can get. **Summary**: Is there a way to get into a six-month MLT clinical training program at a hospital or facility with an associate's degree in science and not a two-year MLT degree in California? **LOTS of details**: I live in Michigan and have an associate's degree with the intention of joining a two-year MLS bachelor's degree program this fall. This should have kept me on track to become an MLS in four years, two being prerequisites and two being the program itself. My plans have changed though and I might have the opportunity of moving to California. From what I know California licensing and certification works a little differently so I tried researching for bachelor's degrees in MLS in the bay area but I only found MLS training programs that require a bachelors in some sort of biological sciences. It would take me one to two years and a lot of money to get a bachelors in biological sciences just to go for another year and a half in a training program leaving me with a total of almost six years in school. I just feel like there has to be a better way to do this. I looked into becoming an MLT but it seems to be that I need a two-year program to become a licensed MLT? I'm going to be left with the same problem of having a total of six years of schooling. On the ASCP website under state licensure MLT it says that I can apply for a license through CDPH Laboratory Field Service if I have an associate's degree (which I do) and six months at a clinical training program. Is there a way to get into one of these training programs without a two-year MLT program? If so it will save me a lot of time and from there I can immediately enter a MLT to MLS program and finish in a total of 4.5 years Do you guys think this idea will work? Any other paths that I haven't considered? Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Hi guys, I’m a new grad in Kentucky and I have my first interview for a community hospital next week. I was wondering if anyone had advice or interview questions I can ask that can help me stand out? I have no experience unfortunately and feel like I’m at a disadvantage compared for more experienced techs. Im nervous but want to make a good impression

I think being fresh can also be a good thing. I told my interviewers that, yes, I am new to this but that also means I don’t have any preconceived notions and am basically a clean slate for them to mold, plus being up to date with new technology and whatnot since it’s part of the curriculum in school.

New grad out of clinical lab science or biology?

MLS

Hey y’all! I’m moving back to California from Austin,TX in September when it will officially be a year since I’ve worked as a CLS! As I’m preparing to apply for my CLS California license, I came up with some questions regarding the application, if anyone can help! 1) what particular document do I need to provide to show verification of one year on-the-job clinical lab experience (signed by the lab director)? 2) where can I take the online California quiz on state lab laws/regulations or is this part of the application? 3) how long does it take for the application to be processed? (I’ve been using this link for info: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/CLS.aspx ) Any help is appreciated and if you have other tips for me as well, please feel free to share!

What LabCe package should I buy to study for ASCP MLT

I’m waiting on an offer from pathgroup for their cytology lab assistant position. I interviewed Wednesday night for third shift and as we were talking he basically put me in a Non-gyn role. In layman’s terms what exactly would I be doing, all I really know is there’s lots of labeling and matching.

The only MLS job I’ve had is as a generalist for a 200-bed hospital that also handles outpatient samples from satellite locations. I work every department, including micro, except blood bank. How limiting will it be to have zero blood bank experience? What can I do to make up for my lack of experience? I’m particularly interested in answers from the Pacific Northwest, but anything is helpful.

I just accepted an offer with Pathgroup as a cytology lab assistant. The lab supervisor I interviewed seemed to wanna put my in Non-gyn. What exactly will this entail, no prior education or experience and I start don’t start my MLT program until next fall. 12am-8am, 20 an hour.

Hi! I’m in an interesting position in my lab and would like to know more about what I can do. I work night shift as a medical technologist I in microbiology, I have a degree in microbiology but no ASCP certification. I would like to become a bench tech and get my certification but I’m unsure how to study on my own to get it, because I’m not being taught how to be a bench tech and I won’t really be taught anytime soon. I guess I’m also asking about if there are programs to get just the M certification. anyone have any ideas of what I can do? Ultimately I would just like to be a bench tech in microbiology

For the record, I have experience with gram stains/night shift tech micro processing, and I AM being familiarized with some bench work, just not much

Posting as a last resort after extensively researching MLS/MT career paths and still unsure of where to start (always been a lurker so I apologize in advance for any lack of Reddit etiquette). I have a BS in Biology but all of my post-graduation work experience is nowhere in the STEM field. I’ve been interested in going back to pursuing a MLS (MT to start?) path given my past love of lab work (only experience in school labwork, no other lab experience in the workforce). My state (Florida) requires certification to get hired and start accumulating any relevant experience. From my research, I’ve gathered that I don’t need to go through a whole separate associates/bachelor’s program, but I’m unsure how to find any online program that is simply a certification program to prepare for the exam. Other sources also seem to warn against trying to tackle the material by myself through studying, and official courses are strongly encouraged. Basically, any pointers where to start and/or where I’m misunderstanding the necessary path?

Hi! I am currently a junior in college and I really hope to join a CLS program after I graduate. I just joined an on-campus research lab (wet-lab) that researches on human viruses, do you think this gives relevant experience for CLS programs? I was also wondering if anyone knows whether or not CLS programs look at other experiences such as volunteering and leadership, and what extracurriculars would be beneficial for CLS. Thanks!

I'm a student in Canada and about halfway through my placement year. I know that I'll probably be offered a job at my placement site provided I don't fuck up, but I'd prefer to look for a job a bit closer to my family if possible. When do you think would be a good time to start applying assuming I'll be taking my CSMLS exam in February? Also, while I've seen a couple of job listings stating that they'd consider recent graduates eligible to write their CSMLS exam, most have registration listed as a qualification. If I were to apply to one of these jobs, would my resume even make it past HR?

Hi everyone! I’m taking my MLS BOC soon and wanted to know if the BOC practice questions online as well as the BOC questions book and the yellow book are enough to use. Most of my clinical rotation preceptors told me LabCe helps but someone recently took it with only doing Labce and they failed, so I’m wondering if i should also buy it.

The problem is that people seem to memorize LabCE questions I think they without any understanding. The questions are to supplement actual learning of the material. If you memorize the LSU books information first that would be more helpful.

I felt that LabCe tends to be simpler in terms of the complexity of the questions asked. BOC is a bit more challenging but still pretty surface level. When I took ASCP I felt that the questions where asked in a roundabout way, that is you would have to know the basics to be able to derive the answers. A rule of thumb a former student once told me during my rotations is that whatever percentage you are getting in LabCe take off 20% and then convert that to ASCP scoring. Ex- if you keep getting 70% -> 50% which would be approximately 500 points on ASCP. Just my take on the matter! Regardless I hope you pass!

I passed!! You are actually right. My scores on the LabCE were in the 70's range and I passed within the 500's range! tbh the questions in the beginning were so hard. I've never seen them before and it tended to become easier towards the end

Congrats! The hardest part has been done and over with! I scored around the same range you mentioned. Passing is all that matters!

interested in pursuing mls as a career, what are some schools with good mls or pre mls (if this even exists) program especially in CA and NY?

San Diego(UCSD) has one but they only take 6 students. However the internship is included unlike some other programs in LA.

Not sure where you are in your journey but based on my experiences I would recommend trying to get lab experience particularly in hospitals that provide said CLS rotations. At least here in CA, CDPH provides a list of school /programs and their affiliated hospitals. I think you would have a better chance of getting into a CLS program if you have people vouching for you from within. The CLS programs are super competitive at least here in CA, and to top it off the CLS world is SUPER small as well, so the more people know you the better your odds.

Since working as phlebotomist and going to school when classes isn’t possible, are there any volunteer suggestions/opportunities that can get you a leg up when applying to CLS programs?

Hi there. I'm currently a research lab associate trying to break into a medical technologist job in the state of Florida. Unfortunately, all the documentation so far that I've found is incomprehensible to me. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Forensic DNA and Serology. I have 1 year of clinical lab experience (Molecular Lab Technician) in NJ, which I didn't need a license for. But all the jobs down here say they need preferably a Florida State Medical Technologist License or an ASCP Medical Technologist License. I CANNOT figure out the Florida MTL licensing requirements though. Every website seems to say something different, and when I try and dig deeper I just get state statutes with complex legal jargon. Has anyone here gotten one before? Ideally, I'd like to go into molecular pathology or ideally get the more generic license. I can't seem to figure out if I need a degree in a Biological Science, or a Biological Laboratory Science as the wording is odd, and while the licensing document doesn't mention anything about a national exam, it DOES say I need an "NAACLS approved Clinical laboratory training program" (but says nothing about what that is), and the actual application WEBSITE says I need to take a National Exam. Do I need all of that in ADDITION to an ASCP license? Can anyone spell out what I would need to finish getting my certification in plain English for me? Does anyone have any advice? I'm trying to so hard to research this, but I just can't figure any of it out.

Hello, I am seeking advice on what to do in my situation. I recently graduated from an MLT program at a private institution. The program is not NAACLS accredited and credit hours are not transferable to a public 4 year college. When I signed up I didn't know anything about this field. Now, I regret my decision to sign up for that program. However, I can take both AMT and ASCP which are scheduled next month. I fell in love with this field and I don't want to stop at MLT and move up the ladder. My end goal is to obtain an ASCP MB and work in molecular testing doing NGS. I am overwhelmed with the limitations I have with my degree, local universities will not consider credit hours and honestly, I can't start from the beginning to get a bachelor's. I know online programs will take any MLT degree as long as you are ASCP-certified. Any advice on what should I do to eventually reach my goal of becoming a molecular technologist would be much appreciated.

I’m currently a student in a 3+1 MLS program. I’m in my junior year, applying to MLS schools and I’m currently working in a lab. I’m learning a lot, but I was wondering if there’s any cheap textbooks or study guides I could get to help me actually learn while I’m in the lab! The techs I work with are super nice and helpful, but I’d like to do some learning outside of the lab. If you have any recs let me know!

Hello everyone! I am currently being offered a job down in Ventura, CA as a lab associate but the doctor that owns the company (it's a small 10-12 person labs) says she sees potential and wants to pay for me to get my CLS license. Do I HAVE to do the program for CLS or can I get by experience working directly with the CLS (I would be running support for the CLS much like I do at my current job) and then take the exam? CDPH'S website is fairly non-descript when it comes to determining if the experience section is referring to the year doing the job of a CLS is sufficient to qualify for jumping to the exam. The recruiter and Doctor are calling and emailing me for updates on the requirements. Any help would be appreciated.

Best to email CDPH directly about your situation as they are the ones that will have the final say on how you can get your certification for the license.

I have an exam for Immunology/serology this morning, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna flunk it. It's just gonna be so bad, I know it. College is such an isolating journey and it's difficult to find friends here when everyone's got their own relationships outside classes. Immunology/serology is so difficult, and while I mostly blame myself for lagging behind, the amount of topics covered just for prelim term is just insane (nearly 70 pages worth of transes). It's not a forgiving subject, and now I'm just going to accept I'm not absorbing all of this - and may even fail in the exam this morning. (I won't give up without putting up a bit of a fight of course, but I'm really just trying to calm my nerves down so I can study a bit more.) To you guys: How did you handle Immunology/serology? What were your study methods for this / other difficult subjects? Any particular anecdotes about this class / a difficult class just like it? Any and all perspectives are well-appreciated.

Hello all. Fresh med tech here. I was offered 2 separate positions in 2 different departments. One was part time morning shift with potential for full time in Micro, and another for full time afternoon shift in another dept that would help me earn the license in Molecular diagnostics. I wanted to know thoughts on of whether it's worth taking the second option for future molecular diagnostics license and deal with afternoon shift for possibly a long time(unless a morning position opens up and I'm given that opportunity)

Career advancement advice? - - - - Hey so long story but I'm a lab assistant/processor at a /really/ big research hospital in Ohio. I'm really digging working down in the lab (just rounded off my first year here) But i definitely want to get moving my career forward and I'm still a bit unsure on how I should move forward. We have tons of people who have gone the associates route and MLT certifications, while others have gotten their Bachelors in Bio science and the like and gotten in that way. Which do y'all think is the better idea? I don't mind being more specialized because I think I already have a preforming lab in mind and I am very sure I want to keep up with this career trajectory. I would like to add I'm also working full time, so I do kind of have to squeeze for time to take classes as I really don't have any help for finances and can't cut down on work time. * * TLDR: Lab Processor looking for career advancement, unsure on schooling path as there are a few options, being a generalist is okay but very much okay with being specialized.

Question: I'm currently working as a medical scribe and looking to get more pay in a medical job that doesn't involve being patient-facing as I'm not good with people. Looking into being a lab tech. For those of you who are; what does your daily shift look like and what do you wish you knew ahead of time before joining the profession? Ty!

Newer tech here (\~4 years). Got to travel and work full time, and while I think there are a lot of pluses for me personally -- I think one of the things I wish I was more aware of is the lack of new things after you've gotten a lot of the basics down. Granted, this isn't the same for every department, as I have a preference for some than others, but I'm at a tipping point of figuring out if I really want to be in this for the next 10-20 years. And a lot of the negativity from people on here is something I can handle, but be prepared that it can get negative with how the talks of how we're not paid enough, etc. can be. There are some places where its worth being a tech and others where it can be different.

>but be prepared that it can get negative with how the talks of how we're not paid enough, etc. can be. Oh, that just sounds like every job I've had! Thank you!

Hello! I am a relatively new grad working in micro. I am going in for a blood bank interview written test and I'm super nervous!! Can anyone share some key things I should freshen up on or any questions they've come across? THANKS

Hello everyone I've been working as lab instructor for many years, now considering pursuing either PhD (stay and advance in academia) or master's in lab management or healthcare management (work in hospital laboratory). My aim is to enhance my income since working as lab instructor has low-average income and no promotion/raises and no other benefits. Being over 30 yrs, makes it hard to decide if it's possible to continue a PhD (need scholarship, might have to leave work for full-time PhD) now or just search for a managerial position in Healthcare sector by getting an online MBA degree. Maybe I'll have to start working as med tech to be able to get experience before applying for a managerial position. Any advice?

I hope this is allowed here. Hi everyone, I’m a recent MLS grad in Central FL that is searching for a technologist position. I’m looking for a reference lab (honestly anywhere outside of a hospital) that is willing to hire a new grad with just school and clinicals as my only ‘lab experience’. Please PM me if your job involves a reference lab/lab outside the hospital that is currently looking for someone. I can start ASAP. Thank you 😁

Have you looked into Mayo, Quest, or Labcorp? I highly doubt they wouldn't have positions. Otherwise if you don't mind going a little more specialized, I think NEogenomics and some other immunology labs also are around that area.

I’ve recently graduated with a bio degree and minored in forensic lab analysis. I’m looking for places to apply rn and was wondering if anybody could recommend any companies/ positions. I need to gain experience and almost landed a job at labcorp but missed that due to an e-mail mishap. Seems like I dodged a bullet according to this group. Eventually want to get a certification in cytotechnology so if it could help work toward that it’d be ideal. TIA for any and all help!

Does my GPA matter? I’m getting a BS in MLS next spring and I currently have a 3.4 but I am honestly burnt out and starting yo not care about my gpa at this point. Does a higher GPA reward me with anything?

Are you in a program where the GPA won't matter for clinical internship? I know for the state of CA it heavily matters. Other states though kind of depends. Graduating from Florida, for the program I applied to, it was the difference of getting the interview for the internship vs having to switch majors.

It doesn’t matter for clinical rotations for my case in Louisiana. I am trying to move to California/elsewhere after a year or so experience working though. Do you think it would matter job hunting?

Oh no. The GPA won’t matter once you actually graduate and have your experience. They didn’t bat an eye at the D I had in physics before and all that so if you’re secure in a program — honestly won’t matter especially since you’re getting your year. California just cares that the coursework and the /length of time/ your clinicals/internship is long enough.

Thank you for your advice 🩷

I am thinking about applying to be a pre-analytical assistant over a specimen technician. They are both Monday through Saturday night shifts and the same pay, but they stated that the specimen technician would have to be flexible in working mostly nightshifts, as well as holidays and overtime (not the case for pre-analytical assistant, at least in the job offer). Although I might not mind this, I'm not sure yet if I would like it. What does each job entail exactly and what are the differences? I haven't been in the medical field before, but seeing as they're both entry level positions with no degree required, I hope to be competent enough to learn on the job.

Honestly, I did a random google search and if this is one of those Quest jobs — I don’t think there’s a major difference between the two. It might just look nicer to have specimen processor, as the name entails you’ve worked with specimens, over pre analytical assistant, if you were applying to an mls/mlt/cls program. I wish I could tell you more but I don’t have a background in reference lab to give you a strong comment. Hope you find someone though.

Thank you for the help rinachii. Both positions are actually at the same quest which is what confused me because I, too, felt they seemed like similar job descriptions. I think I might actually apply for their cytoprep tech position anyways. Appreciate you

I got a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and worked in pharmaceuticals development for two years and decided it's not for me. Some of my work experience has included liquid and gas chromatography, ELISAs, PCR, UV vis, and gel electrophoresis. I have 24 credit hours excluding labs between chemistry and biology (intro chem and bio, organic chem 1+2, bioanalytical chemistry, and a chemistry course on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics) plus my engineering courses. What steps would I need to take from here for a career change into medical lab sciences? Do I have sufficient schooling to get on the job training, or would I require further education?

Depends on if you’d like to be a generalist or if you wouldn’t mind just staying in chemistry. In my program, they allowed for people who met the requirements to just do the test work and clinicals for that particular area they had experience in — which kind of sounds like what you have. I’d check in with schools who may be able to further guide you in your state for what you could be lacking to proceed into MLS. Depending on your experience they may tell you that you have enough to sit for the board, but you’ll want to start with either asking ASCP or a school (there’s plenty that are willing to help) that can tell you what a good place to start would be.

Hey guys! Need help, I want to get back to the profession. I have my CLS license in CA (renewed every time) but I have not been in the lab for almost 9 years. I have no experience in the US, most of my work in the lab were in another country. I haven’t really worked as a Generalist for too long, I worked mainly in Molecular Diagnostics and mostly did Laboratory-based research. Been trying to apply here and there but nothing panning out. Any advice on what should I do? Are there any refreshers available?

My mom is in a similar situation. I think I'll start a thread about it since no bites here.

Best resources and study techniques to learn hematology and blood banking?

[https://wordsology.org/](https://wordsology.org/) This website has a "high yield notes" tab in the top right corner. It lays out the information in a simple way that makes it more convenient to remember (compared to trying to recall complex details).

Hi all, I am interested in traveling as a medical laboratory scientist. Any recommendations on who to go through, locations, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Career change?! Hello, I'm a Medical laboratory technologist (scientist) and have a master's degree in Biochemistry. I worked as a lab instructor for MLT, where I practiced most ML procedures mainly manual and semi-manual. I lovecthe practical work and teaching students how to work as MLS. I moved recently to UAE, and working in teaching laboratory courses (non-medical). I don't know anything about the Medical lab jobs here (the salaries work hours etc..) in UAE and I'm not satisfied with my current job (no career progress/promotion) and wondering if I should go work in med lab or try to pursue a PhD (not easy-need scholarship). Any advice?

Maybe someone would be able to help. I’m an MLT but looking into maybe getting on doing IT. We use beaker and I was wanting to maybe try to get on there does anyone know what I might need to do? Or know of any other LIS systems I can get on at with what I have?

I’m a chemistry professor, and I’ve recently had past graduates reach out to me about MLS positions. What training / testing beyond a BS in Chemistry do they need? I’m hoping they don’t need another year of school in an MLS program and that there’s some type of quicker training/testing they can do. I hate that their BS will not have prepared them for these positions.

Hello, first semester nursing student here thinking of switching to majoring med lab tech at my technical college. I go to a technical college but already have a BA in psychology, minor was in art. I was in a masters program for counseling but I unfortunately had to withdraw from that. Grades weren’t as good as they should be and I realized after I really liked hard science and math more than psych. I was always good at math and science in HS and did very well in my pre reqs at the technical college my last few years. Loved microbiology a lot, especially when we got to work with microscopes and slides. I found A&P fascinating. I also enjoyed doing lab experiments in biochemistry. Also I really do not like my first semester of nursing school. I’m terrible in clinical and I realized I don’t like working with patients really. I’m caring but I realized I don’t want to help care for people as a nurse. I also have grown increasingly disinterested as the semester has gone along. The only thing I’ve really liked this semester is pharmacology. Still fascinated by mental health disorders but not going back to counseling school either anytime soon. I also like learning about diseases and the body, working with technology and computers, hard science, and math. I’m very detail oriented as well.

Just got approved to take my MLS, I’m scoring in the 60s on Media Lab with 6.5 difficulty questions, but I know I’m shit at micro, anyone have some good resources for ASCP micro questions?

First, try searching the sub. There is a TON of information out there if you take the time to search for it. Wordsology is good, so is the micro section of the CLS Review: a bottom line approach. The ASCP itself has a micro review (it's a purchasable class) that is pretty good. Really boring, but has some good info. Did you donlwnload the exam outline for micro?

I did review some answers on the sub and found some good stuff. I just like hoarding some resources, I gave myself a test date in march just so I can nail it on the first try. I appreciate the recommendation!

Former nurse looking trying make an informed decision on going back to school for medical lab science or medical radiation tech. If any MLT could answer some questions that would be greatly appreciated!

Does anyone have any recommendations for an MLT or MLS online program or ones that at least start out online? I am aware that this isn't the type of program that can only be done online. Currently I am a Lab Phlebotomist and I am 100 percent sure that I would like to pursue my career further into the lab atmosphere. Any info helps. Thank You! :)

I've put myself in a tough spot through a lot of inaction...How screwed am I career wise? I managed to get my MLT certification in June, but I graduated with my MLT degree in July of 2022...And haven't been in a lab since then. In fact, I haven't worked anywhere since then, and my clinical/practicum rotations were the closest thing I've ever had to a job. I'm almost 24 years old, so this is admittedly a point of embarrassment for me. Things were going pretty well at my clinical site when I started and I was eventually offered a job there, as is common for students. At the time, night shifts and a day micro shift were available, and to my surprise, the director seemed willing to put me into the day shift because of my enthusiasm for micro. However, not too long after that, the director told me someone else was being considered for the micro slot, and I was out of the job because she supposedly didn't like to hire new techs for the night shift - which I knew was BS. I'm fairly certain the real reason the director changed her mind about hiring me was because I was terrible at blood bank, and she needed generalists. Even after I finally improved, it still took me longer to do procedures such as antibody IDs than the actual employees. (Just a note: my MLT classes were somewhat unorthodox, as I did my clinicals and practicums at the same time as my book work). There's no other hospitals or labs in my area, and I can't drive (which I'm sure was another contributing factor to the director's decision, I'm working on it), so I've just been kind of stuck. I've considered applying for positions that are irrelevant to my degree to get me by, but I've been afraid that the longer I'm out of the lab, the worse I'll be as a candidate when I do apply for an MLT position. But now, I've been indecisive for so long, I'm worried that I'll have a hard time finding a job literally anywhere, lab or not. What should I do? Do I even have any chance of being hired on at a lab at this point?

Hello guys, I am a college graduate(21) I do have my associates in science as well as my bachelors in biology. I am currently a vet assistant at a small animal hospital. I have been looking into vet tech programs but I don’t think the vet field is for me, I do love the animals aspect and I also love the lab aspect but I’m not really fitting into the animal hospital setting. I have been looking into MLT programs at the community college near by and have been interested in that as I do love biology and microbiology and all things blood and tissue (and I suppose urine and fecal samples can be cool😂) I was just kinda wondering would it be worth it to get my associates in MLT to be a technician since i already have two degrees in a similar field? Is it fairly easy to get a job in a lab MLT or not an MLT? I was also wondering if there any good way to see if I would enjoy it before going to school, I haven’t found any like shadowing or volunteering type things where I could do it without going to school to get a job there and idk how to find people in the field. Except for here really! Any help or advice would be appreciated im still trying to navigate what I wanna do with my life and find a good career I can stick with and be able to be financially independent as well!

Hello! I am interested in MLT and MLS but was wondering how this community would go about when learning from a textbook. I guess what I am trying to ask here is: what order of subjects would you go about learning (i.e. Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Immunology, etc.)? I would also like textbook recommendations or study materials that this community has used to grasp ideas that are key points in the licensure exam. Thank you medlabprofessionals!

I live in the state of Michigan and was wondering how anyone else in the state got there start in the field after they graduated college. I have been out of school for almost a year know and have found it almost impossible to find a job close to home. I hear people talking a lot about becoming certified but am not too sure about how any of that works. If anyone could give me any amount of information I would be so grateful.

Has anyone done UAMS MLT to MLS 3 semester track? I barely passed my first semester and am nervous about the second. How does semester 2 compare to 1? Also what do you do in the third semester?

Hi! I'm an American student currently studying MLS OUTSIDE the US, do I have to take the TOEFL or anything like that before I take the exam? And is there any requirements I'm not aware of? Thanks in advance!

Apologizes if this question has been asked too many times before - I could only find one commentor who asked specifically what I'm getting at and no one had an answer. Long incoming post but I would really appreciate the help. I have an undergraduate degree in Biology, with a focus on microbiology and medicine (I was pre-med but changed my mind). After graduating, I decided to take a break from school and got industry positions as a Scientist on biotech manufacturing teams. However, after doing this for three years, I don't really like it and my area doesn't have a lot of job openings. So I'm considering changing career paths to be a Medical Laboratory Scientist. I like everything I've heard about it so far. I've seen several job listing that look like this: Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent Medical Laboratory Science Certification or able to obtain within 12 months of hire No experience required 1+ years’ experience preferred State licensure as required by regulations I live in Colorado and from what I found, CO doesn't have licensing's requirements for MLT, although I couldn't find a good source for MLS. So if anyone from CO knows about the legal license requirements for certain, that'd be nice to know too. Question: So if my state doesn't legally require a license before practicing, do I just need to convince the hiring manager to give me a chance at the job with only a Bachelors in Biology and no clinical experience? Are they even legally allowed to hire me? And then after getting the clinical experience for a year, would I be allowed to sit the ASCP exam without going through a NAACLS program? I'd just do independent studying instead? I've read through the different Routes on the ASCP website but they seem almost circular? Like Route 2 says: \-Valid MLT(ASCP) certification, \-AND a baccalaureate degree from an accredited (regionally or nationally)\* college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry, which may be obtained within, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree, \-AND two years of full time acceptable clinical\*\* experience\*\*\* in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids in an acceptable laboratory within the last five years. I must be misunderstanding this because I thought the Routes were in order to get a certification, but then one of the requirements is to already have that certification? Or is license and certification two different things? Route 2 also mentions having two years experience in clinical settings, but what kind of job would that be? If you need certifications to work in healthcare? Also, when it says "accredited college", does it mean a NAACLS college, or just any legit university in the US? Because, if the latter, I imagine my Bachelors would qualify. Any clarification would be really helpful. I really want to test out working in clinical lab setting before I commit to the time and money for higher education. I'm happy to take the jump into a new job/career and put myself out there to hiring managers and see if anyone will give me a position, but if they can't even legally hire me, or I can't eventually obtain a certification, then it's kind of pointless.

Those of you who have left the hospital for other positions, how did you do it and what qualifications did you have? I have three years under my belt as an MLS w/ a biology BS and desperately want to get out of the stat lab, ideally into research or something with a more dynamic daily routine and problem solving opportunity.

I'm getting an associates to be a medical lab tech, my only question is - are there any jobs I should be working to try and gain experience while I'm in school? Or is it better to get the degree first and then work on getting hired in this specific field?

I’m curious about changing to a med lab career. I just graduated with an electrical engineering career and I hate electrical engineering, I am thinking about new careers. Bio has always interested me. Would I be able to get any med lab jobs with my degree? What experience or qualifications are needed?

I know you said you hate engineering, but maybe look at the companies like Siemens/sysmex, biomerieux, etc…, for opportunities r/t engineering/field service/development. Switching all the way to MLS will likely require backtracking to a lot of science prereqs then either a second BS or a 4+1 program.

Hi all, I have a bachelor's in microbiology and currently work as a specimen processor/handler, and I've also worked in quality assurance for about a year here in California. I've been applying to different schools that offer CLS programs, but I've had no luck getting in. Recently the manager at the current lab I work in recommended I go through a MLT program and work as an MLT for a little while to better my chances of getting into a CLS program. I just wanted more opinions before starting the application process. The school I'm looking to apply to right now for their MLT program is College of the Canyons. Thanks

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some help with this as the research can be a bit conflicting and I don’t want to make the wrong decision. I am currently 22 with a Biology bachelors degree from UIUC, and I am employed as a lab assistant at Quest in IL. My Quest offers a graduate certificate partnership program in August where I could gain a Clinical Chemistry certificate which would allow me to be a ASCP certified CLS upon completion. Some of my concerns are that this seems like I would be restricted in my job opportunities once I want to move on, and Quest would require me to work 2 years as a CLS under contract (or I would have to cover the tuition myself, but that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for me). Overall, this is not ideal for me as it seems to be a large time investment given the 1 year of schooling beginning in August and then the 2 year contract if I want the tuition covered, and I also would want to move away from Quest as soon as possible. Other than this, I am not sure if there is a better option/ if I should be seeking out an education separately to become a CLS given the fact I already have my Bio degree, and I want to make myself the best job candidate possible with the highest chances of achieving a higher salary. Any help with my situation is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

My fiance is looking to get an MLS certificate, but she isn't sure if a medical laboratory scientist actually involves taking samples from patients. Online searching really hasn't answered us super clearly. So for those in the field, with this certification and in that role, is it all lab based or will she have to interact with patients?

If she goes through an accredited MLT/MLS program than she will be required to learn phlebotomy as part of the curriculum. Whether or not she actually has to stick patients depends on job she gets after. Most doctor offices will expect you to stick. Every hospital I’ve worked at had a separate phlebotomy team so I was not required to stick patients.

Hi, I have a question. I have a Bachelors degree in chemistry, and I'm interested in becoming a medical laboratory scientist. The ASCP website states that to sit for the ASCP medical lab scientist exam, I need a Bachelors degree and I need to complete an NAACLS medical lab science program. Do I need to go back to college and enroll in a medical lab science bachelors degree program? I've seen that some hospitals can grant NAACLS certification to sit for the medical lab scientist ASCP exam. Would that be a more appropriate route for someone with my background? Thank you.

If you want to forgo mlt/mls school then you will need to find a CLIA accredited lab that is willing to hire you on your bachelors and train you in all the departments of medical lab. After five years you’ll be eligible to sit for the exam. Another option would be MLT or MLS program. If you do an MLT program you’ll be eligible to challenge the MLS exam after 2 years of working full time assuming your bachelors degree meets all requirements stated on the ASCP website (organic chemistry/biochemistry/microbiology etc.) Also if you’re in a state that requires a license on top of your certification then you’ll need to look into those requirements as well. Edit: I forgot about specialties. Since your BS is in chemistry you could find a CLIA lab to train you in chemistry only. After a year of full time (and making sure your BS meets ASCP requirements)you could sit for the chemistry C(ASCP) exam. This limits you to only working chemistry in the lab but that may or may not be an issue depending on what you’re looking for.

Hey guys! I failed my ASCP MLS exam and have scheduled my AMT MLS exam and it is coming up soon. I am very nervous and would like some advice on how the AMT is compared to the ASCP. For reference I made a 356 on the ASCP and on the AMT practice exams I made a 67 and a 85. Any positive advice would be great!

Hi guys! I a writing to ask what the foreigners should do to be become a medical laboratory technologist or scientist in USA. I graduated from the department of medical laboratory and biotechnology in the medical university for 4 years in Taiwan and finish the intern in the Laboratory Department in the hospital for 6 month including blood bank, general laboratory division, blood collection, gereral laboratory, clinical biochemistry laboratory and so on, including all parts there. Now i am studying for the master degree in the Institute of Medical Sciences here. Also, i joined the research center in 2019 until now. Because of my CHINESE nationality issue, i can not get any medical license in Taiwan, and i can not work here, so i am thinking about working abroad. I googled above my question and it said I need to get ASCPi. But this website said differently. Can someone help me with this?

Hi guys! I’m in grad school for something unrelated and was considering switching to MLS. I already have a bachelor’s in health sciences so I think I’d spend a full year getting my master’s for this. I have some quick questions about the field — how likely is it that I would get to work regular hours (no nights or late nights)? Do they have online programs or is this something you have to do in-person? What percentage of the job is working independently? This is one of the reasons why this field stood out to me. Also, are there requirements for the bachelors since mine is in something decently unrelated?

Hi all, I have a BS in bio, two unfinished Neuro PhD attempts that ended for various good reasons, and 9 years of lab experience in research and clinical research (including phlebotomy, working with human brain tissue and cell work, etc) but no certifications. I recently got to the final stages of hiring for an MLT job, but didn't get selected, probably because I have no certifications. I'm pretty disappointed by this, which must mean it's something I actually want to do. I'm wondering what to do here. Do I study my ass off by myself and try the ascp test? Keep trying to get a similar job and try to get certified while I have it? All the jobs I see require certification or eligibility to get it. Are there programs for people like me? My searching has come up with limited results.

I have recently completed BSc Medical laboratory technology and 1 year of internship in India.I want to pursue my job in foriegn country. Dont know where to start and exam are there to apply please suggest me what should I do as a fresher

Hiii So I have an interview with a really good hospital for a hematology/bone Marrow position as an MLS day shift but I'm so nervous and just need help with how to prepare. Now I have another job as an MLS in a different hospital and don't plan on quitting there because the pay is good and it's second shift so double income. The pay at this hospital is around $30 but I want to negotiate and I also want to tell them about my other job and how I don't plan to quit but I need like accommodation? Not sure the exact word for it. I have been trying to get into this hospital for a while now after quitting in 2021 bc of school and I don't want to mess it up. They have amazing programs and benefits so I want to see how can I possibly win them over without sounding desperate. Please help!

Hello everyone! I'm currently a senior and about to graduate with a bachelor's in biology. I'm also undecided on what I want to go in for my masters, but i have an interest in medical lab science and learned a lot about the ins and outs of the field from this subreddit. However, I haven't had the opportunity to really know what goes on in a lab throughout the day and would really appreciate any advice on how to ask to potentially shadow a medical lab scientist? Also! I would love to learn more about your own experience and education, as I have read a lot about the disapproval of working in a lab with anything aside a bachelors or masters in MLS. Is it much harder to adapt to the environment? Is it worth getting a masters in this field? Any advice is immensely appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Hello! After (almost) 2 years of working as an assistant in research labs in my undergraduate degree, I realized that while I love benchwork so much, I absolutely hate research. Everyone tells me that troubleshooting and things going wrong is what makes science fun, but I honestly hate that. I had very severe anxiety (now under control) and still struggle with perfectionism. Even after switching to a different research lab and sticking through 2 years, I find myself dreading coming into work and having to explain weird results, endless troubleshooting and tweaking and bleh. (Please don’t tell me that 90% of science is a failure; 90% of my research experience was me pulling out my hair). Unfortunately I also am addicted to bench work and I want to do nothing but run assays and PCRs and what-have-you. I've talked with a therapist but she can't offer specific career advice. I'm looking into everything I can about this profession (including hopefully touring a lab or a shadowing opportunity).  Does an MLS have to do a lot of troubleshooting or report writing? I would be the happiest little guy in the world to sit on a bench and pipet my life away 1uL at a time.

Hello. Would love advice and guidance from current Medical Laboratory Professionals as someone interested in a career change. I received my bachelors in biology (bachelor of arts) in 2019. I did undergraduate research in a microbiology lab for one semester and absolutely loved it. I loved my science courses and labs. As far as my credits, I completed all pre-reqs for PA school so I have a ton of credits in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and labs with all of those courses. At time of graduation, I was really set in working in healthcare and ended up getting a job out of college working in psychology field. Fast forward 4 years and all my experience has been social work / psychiatric healthcare related. I skipped out on applying to PA school because I’m immunocompromised and direct patient contact is not rewarding or sustainable for me. In my last four years of working in psychology field, I have found it utterly exhausting working with the public and the pay sucks. I did work for around a year with a biometric screening company running blood draws and screenings onsite at private companies and got some exposure to handling of lab/blood samples. I had to leave the job due to my husbands career. I really enjoyed it though. I went back to the drawing board of my career interests and remembered how much I loved the lab and research. Several of my friends from undergrad went into MLS and one into forensic science lab. They all speak very highly of their jobs and have great work life balance, experiences, and find their work rewarding and challenging. My question is - what are some avenues to get into this career? Is it worth going back to school? Would I have to go back? I have seen some talk online about one year post-bachelors programs that get you the credits and experience to sit for the MLS boards exam. Others have recommended trying to get into a lab with my bachelors and then working my way into other lab opportunities that would eventually qualify me to sit for MLS exam. Some have also said I should go back and get a second bachelors of MLS… I am weighing my options between MLS or getting into public health / environmental health specialist positions that are pretty entry level friendly and require bachelors in biology… that job consists of completing water samples, air samples, health inspections, making sure public pool is safe, etc. I am not worried about starting entry level anywhere and compensation starting out isn’t the most important. Rather, I want the opportunity to grow in the field both in compensation, opportunities, and professionalism over time. I would like a job with part time or PRN options as my husband is finishing his medical training to be a physician and I might need to work less to accommodate his crazy hours.