After completion of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) accredited MLS program at the University of Minnesota, students are eligible to take the national certification examination provided by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Successful completion of the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) exam after graduation provides eligibility for state licensure and employment in a medical laboratory. Certification by ASCP denotes official recognition of the graduate’s qualifications to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in a variety of laboratory environments. Student completion of the BOC exam is not a requirement for graduation from the MLS program.
There are currently 12 states with laboratory personnel licensure (California, Hawaii, Florida, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Louisiana, Nevada, West Virginia, Montana, Georgia). Puerto Rico also has licensure. The components of the law vary state-to-state, but licensure usually includes an annual licensing fee (some are bi-annual), a provision for continuing education, as well as minimum education and professional competency requirements.
Check with the individual state regarding trainee licenses or other requirements for new graduates without a valid license in that state. Please note that the information on this list is subject to change.
List of the states with laboratory personnel licensure and contact information which is current as of June 2017
California
California Department of Health Services
Laboratory Field Services Personnel Licensing Section
850 Marina Bay Pkwy Bldg P, 1st Floor
Richmond, CA 94804
Tel: 510-620-3834 | Fax: 510-620-3697
Florida
Department of Health
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257
Tel: 850-488-0595 | Fax: 850-922-8876
Georgia
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Office of Regulatory Services
Diagnostic Services Unit
2 Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 33.250
Atlanta, GA 30303-3142
Tel: 404-657-5450 | Fax: 404-657-8934
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Health
State Laboratory Division
2725 Waimano Home Road
Pearl City, HI 96825
Tel: 808-453-6653 | Fax: 808-453-6662
Louisiana
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
PO Box 30250
New Orleans, LA 70190-0250
Tel: 504-524.6763 ext 261 | Fax: 504-568-6820
Montana
Montana Department of Commerce
Board of Clinical Laboratory Science Practitioners
301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
Linda Grief, Administrative Services
Tel: (406) 841-2395 | Fax: 406-841-2305
E-Mail: dlibsdcls@mt.gov
Nevada
Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification
1551 College Parkway #158
Carson City, NV 89710
Tel: 702-687-4475 | Fax: 702-687-6588
New York
Kathleen M Doyle, PHD
State Boards for the Professions
89 Washington Ave
2nd Floor - East Wing
Albany, New York 12234
New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions | E-mail: clinlabd@mail.nysed.gov
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health
Division of Microbiology
1205 Ave. A West
P.O. Box 5520
Bismark, ND 58506-5520
Tel: 701-328-5262 | Fax: 701-328-5270
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Medical Technology Board of Medical Examiners
Call Box 10200
Santurce, PR 00908
Tel: 809-792-6400 | Fax: 787-792-6627
E-mail: ctmpr@ctmpr.com
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Health
Division of Health Services Regulation
Room 104, 3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908
Tel: 401-222-2827 | Fax: 401-222-1272
Tennessee
Tennessee State Licensure Board
Lynda England, MT (ASCP) Administrator
Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board Personnel
1st Floor Cordell Hull Building
425 5th Avenue
North Nashville, TN 37247-1010
Tel: 615-532-5128 | Fax: 615-532-5369 | Toll Free: 888-310-4650
West Virgina
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services
Marilyn Richards
WV Office of Laboratory Science | Dept. of HHS
167 Eleventh Avenue
South Charleston, WV 25303
Tel: 304-558-3530 | Fax: 304-558-2006
E-mail: Marilynrichards@wvdhhr.org