NAACLS-Accredited MLS/CLS Programs
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Known in the field as “health detectives,” medical laboratory scientists (MLS) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) are responsible for a range of investigative medical laboratory tasks. Graduates from MLS and CLS bachelor’s degree programs have access to rewarding positions in medical labs performing a broad range of tasks, including disease diagnosis and drug treatment research.
Degree-seeking students in MLS/CLS programs can rest assured knowing the job outlook for professionals with degrees in these areas is trending upward. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2022) predicts that openings for clinical laboratory technicians and technologists will increase by 7 percent between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations (5 percent).
Most MLS/CLS technologist careers involve using microscopes, cell counters, and other high-tech laboratory equipment to analyze biological specimens. Also, according to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), a wide range of specializations are available for laboratory professionals: medical laboratory technicians, cytotechnologists, phlebotomists, and clinical chemists, among others.
As the aging population in the United States continues to require more diagnostic medical care, the need for MLS professionals continues to increase. While many medical laboratory technologists deal primarily with matters related to bacteria, diseases, and viruses, other branches of medicine and science-based industries also need MLS/CLS-trained technologists. Some examples of these unique medical fields and industries include:
- Biotechnology companies developing new drugs and biofuel-sourced medical implants
- Cosmetics research laboratories, fertility research clinics
- Forensic research laboratories
- Immunology clinics
Globally-recognized certification for graduates of MLS/CLS programs is available through the ASCP and having this credential can give applicants a competitive advantage when looking for jobs in cutting-edge medical and biotechnology laboratories.
Read on to learn more about the admission requirements, program accreditation & professional certification, and thirteen featured online MLS/CLS programs accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Admissions Requirements & Accreditation
Admission requirements for MLS/CLS university programs vary by institution. Here’s a list of the most common application materials:
- Two years of previous professional experience as a medical laboratory technician (MLT) or clinical laboratory technician (CLT)
- Associate’s degree from a NAACLS-accredited MLT/CLT college program or equivalent course work and MLT/CLT certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- Application
- 2.5 GPA or higher
- Official transcripts from all previously attended schools
- Letter of intent
- Resume
- Reference letters
- Background check
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is the international agency for program accreditation in clinical laboratory sciences and related healthcare professions. NAACLS is committed to setting high-quality standards for educational programs that confer MLT/CLT and MLS/CLS degrees. Students, employers, and industries can trust the validity and quality of educational excellence bestowed by this peer-reviewed organization.
Online NAACLS-Accredited MLS/CLS Programs
Here are 13 universities that offer NAACLS-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) degrees in medical laboratory science. Due to the hands-on nature of this field, most distance-based MLS/CLS programs are degree completion tracks and require an associate degree and/or MLT certification.
University of Cincinnati – College of Allied Health Sciences
The University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Services offers a bachelor of science degree in medical laboratory science. Designed specifically for MLT and CLT associate degree holders who want to advance their education and careers, this program can be completed part-time in just seven terms.
Emphasizing the academic and technical skills necessary for today’s medical laboratory scientist, this degree will prepare students for the professionalism, ethics, and competencies outlined by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. As part of the program, students will complete a clinical practice portion and a capstone research project.
The 60-credit curriculum integrates innovative subjects in tandem with practical laboratory skills at community clinical health facilities. Sample some of the coursework: clinical immunology; special topics in medical laboratory science; clinical fluid analysis; special microbiology; principles of immunohematology; clinical chemistry; diagnostic molecular biology; and hematology. Graduates in this program are eligible and prepared to sit for the medical laboratory scientist credential exam offered by the ASCP.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 28 months
- Estimated Tuition: Resident ($573 per credit); non-resident ($588 per credit)
University of North Dakota – School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Since 1949 the University of North Dakota has offered degrees in medical laboratory science. One of the largest accredited online programs in the United States, this program has over 70 clinical affiliates in 15 states and offers affiliation agreements with colleges and universities in five other states.
Created with working students in mind, the MLT/CLT to bachelor’s of science in MLS program is offered online and does not require on-campus visits. Admission for this program is competitive; prospective students must first apply to the university and, upon acceptance, may submit an application to the MLS professional program.
- Location: Grand Forks, ND
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 36 to 48 months
- Estimated Tuition: $422.78 per credit
Weber State University – Dumke College of Health Professions
For those considering an MLT (two-year associate’s degree) or an MLS (four-year bachelor’s degree) program, Weber State University has both online degree programs for aspiring medical laboratory professionals. High school graduates have the option of entering the program first as an MLT student and can later choose to complete their two-year associate’s degree or go on to earn their bachelor of science in MLS.
Graduates of the four-year bachelor of science MLS program are eligible to sit for the ASCP MLS certification exam after completing their degree program. The curriculum includes courses such as biostatics, research & laboratory practices; advanced clinical immunohematology; advanced clinical hematology & hemostasis; advanced clinical chemistry; clinical correlation; advanced clinical microbiology & molecular diagnostics; and interdisciplinary health care teams. Data collection is required for specific courses that benefit students and the laboratories employing them. Prospective students must first apply for admission to the university before submitting an application for the online MLS program.
- Location: Ogden, UT
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 48 months
- Estimated Tuition: $357 per credit
Old Dominion University (ODU) offers a fully online bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. Some courses meet live at weekly intervals and the online courses follow the regular ODU academic schedule. ODU has partnership agreements with the Virginia Community College System to make transferring credits easy between selected institutions.
To graduate from this program, at least 30 credits must be earned at ODU. Admission to this MLS program is available for certified MLT professionals who want to earn a bachelor’s degree and a professional MLS credential. Graduates of this program will be eligible for certification and examination through the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).
The curriculum includes courses such as medical bacteriology; urinalysis and body fluids; clinical instrumentation and electronics; immunohematology; advanced hematology and hemostasis; medical parasitology, mycology, and virology; clinical biochemistry; survey of clinical molecular techniques; management in a clinical setting; and statistical applications and data analysis in the clinical laboratory.
- Location: Norfolk, VA
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: Residents ($393 per credit); non-residents ($401.59 per credit)
Auburn University at Montgomery – College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Auburn University at Montgomery offers a fully online bachelor of science degree in MLS. This distance learning program is designed for certified MLT/CLT professionals with previous clinical laboratory experience and military personnel who have completed MLT training.
Core courses focus on theoretical information about students’ laboratory experience with modern clinical laboratory instrumentation. Clinical experience is demonstrated in an approved clinical facility where students are currently employed, eliminating the need for students to relocate and enabling them to remain in their jobs while completing their degrees.
As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as laboratory techniques; immunology and serology; clinical hematology; phlebotomy; laboratory management and education; and clinical serology.
- Location: Montgomery, AL
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 36 months
- Estimated Tuition: Resident ($343 per credit); non-resident ($363 per credit)
University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi offers an online bachelor’s of science degree in MLS and was created specifically for working MLT professionals wanting to earn their MLS degrees while remaining in their current laboratory positions. The program is open to MLTs who have been employed in the field for at least two years and are currently employed at a laboratory.
The curriculum includes courses in the natural sciences, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, technical writing, public speaking, and a final capstone project. Scholarships specifically for online students are available. Some of the topics students will delve into include introduction to medical laboratory science; safety for health care settings; phlebotomy; clinical laboratory calculations; clinical bacteriology; fundamentals of hematology; body fluids; and clinical parasitology, among others.
- Location: Hattiesburg, MS
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 48 months
- Estimated Tuition: $389.59 per credit
South Dakota State University offers an online MLS Upward Mobility bachelor of science degree, empowering students to pursue their interests while gaining expertise. The MLT to MLS program provides a strong scientific background in hematology, hemostasis, chemistry, immunology, and specialized testing. Students applying to this program must have completed two years of general education requirements, at least two years of work experience in a clinical laboratory, and an MLT certificate. Graduates of this MLS bachelor’s program are eligible to take the MLS certification exam offered by the ASCP.
Some of the topics students will explore include clinical chemistry; diagnostic microbiology; immunohematology; hematology; diagnostic immunology; principles of immunohematology; advanced supervised clinical experience; and advanced medical diagnostics, among others.
- Location: Brookings, SD
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $354.75 per credit
Austin Peay State University’s online bachelor of science in medical laboratory science (medical laboratory technician to medical laboratory scientist/medical technologist) program prepares students to take the ASCP BOC exam to become certified medical laboratory scientists (MLS). Applicants to the program must have completed a NAACLS-accredited MLT program, including clinical rotations in all major laboratory areas: chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology, and must have at least two years of work experience working as a nationally certified MLT in an accredited laboratory. The minimum GPA required to apply is 2.75.
Students in this program will complete two courses every eight weeks and two courses in the summer session for a total of ten required courses. The curriculum will include courses in clinical chemistry; molecular diagnostics; immunology; hematology; laboratory management; immunohematology; parasitology or mycology or virology; bacteriology; urinalysis or body fluids; and a BOC review course.
- Location: Clarksville, TN
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 11 months
- Estimated Tuition: In-state ($10,927); out of state ($16,357)
Through the University of West Florida’s online bachelor of science in clinical lab sciences program, trained MLTs will be prepared to advance their careers, sit for the ASCP national exam, and become medical lab scientists. This fully online MLT to MLS program is specifically designed for current MLTs with an associate degree who are seeking to become medical laboratory scientists. Students in this program will become competent in a wide range of clinical laboratory tests, such as blood bank, molecular diagnostics, hematology, diagnostic microbiology, clinical immunology, and clinical chemistry. Students will also learn vital subjects such as pathophysiology, physiology, biology, chemistry, and management. The faculty of the program includes highly experienced professionals in the field.
The curriculum consists of courses such as molecular diagnostics; clinical immunology; urinalysis or body fluids; hematology; hemostasis and thrombosis; diagnostic microbiology; medical microbiology; immunohematology; clinical chemistry; and clinical management portfolio.
- Location: Pensacola, FL
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $212 per credit
University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Allied Health Professions
An online bachelor of science in medical laboratory science (BSMLS) program offered by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a degree advancement option (DAO) providing working MLTs or CLTs the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s program while continuing to work. Applicants to the program must have graduated from a NAACLS-accredited MLT/CLT program, or must have completed a U.S. military-sponsored medical laboratory procedures educational program, or must have graduated from a non-NAACLS accredited MLS/CLS program with MLT certification. Additionally, they must have a minimum GPA of 2.5and a minimum of 85 hours of specific college prerequisite courses before enrollment.
The program comprises 120 credits (85 credits earned from general education courses and the MLT/CLT program; 35 credits must be from this degree advancement option). The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to clinical hematology; introduction to medical microbiology; introduction to clinical chemistry and urinalysis; introduction to clinical immunohematology; clinical immunology, serology, and molecular diagnostics; and clinical laboratory management.
- Location: Omaha, NE
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $341 per credit
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Health Professions offers an online bachelor of science program in medical laboratory science (BSMLS) for those who have already earned an associate of applied science (AAS) or associate of science (AS) degree in medical laboratory technology (MLT). This career-ladder program allows MLTs to complete their BS degree online while maintaining their employment.
The MLT to BSMLS program’s 36-credit curriculum includes courses such as medical laboratory practices; clinical chemistry; hematology; blood bank; clinical microbiology; and advanced laboratory practices.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to effectively function as medical laboratory scientists in various laboratory settings and eventually assume positions of responsibility in teaching, consulting, and laboratory management.
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: In-state ($8,875); out of state ($10,525)
Louisiana State University of Alexandria
An online bachelor of science program in medical laboratory science offered by the Louisiana State University of Alexandria provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers as assisting physicians in treating, monitoring, and diagnosing diseases. Applicants to this program must have graduated from an MLT/CLT associate degree program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) and currently hold certification as an MLT(ASCP), CLT(NCA), or their equivalent. Additionally, students must have an overall GPA of 2.5 and two years of work experience as an MLT/CLT generalist.
The curriculum includes courses such as advanced hematology; advanced immunohematology; advanced clinical chemistry; advanced pathogenic microbiology; molecular diagnostics; biochemistry; survey of virology; general chemistry; organic chemistry concepts; and microbiology.
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $325 per credit
George Washington University offers an online bachelor of science in health sciences (BSHS) in medical laboratory sciences (MLS), preparing students to begin a valued and satisfying career in MLS. Students in this program gain the hands-on skills and knowledge needed to become board certified in laboratory science and making a direct, positive impact on medical care. This 100 percent online program is designed for students who have MLT certification through AMT, AAB, or ASCP, and have completed an accredited MLT program.
Students in this program will have a total of 60 credits to complete, out of which 38 credits will be of core courses, fourteen health sciences credits, and eight credits of clinical experience in their local area. Some of the courses in the curriculum include professional ethics for MLS; immunology and serology; laboratory management; clinical biochemistry; molecular diagnostics; hematology; immunohematology; clinical bacteriology; and parasitology, mycology, and virology.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $720 per credit
