Laboratory Professional Titles - Resources

The Journey to MLS

It is said that the laboratory profession is suffering from an identity crisis. Very few people have knowledge about the education, training, and experience required to be a laboratory professional. The American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) is dedicated to promoting awareness of the profession and addressing issues related to professional nomenclature, beginning with the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS).

2025

Coming soon: MLS and MLT comparison document for human resources 

Coming soon: Unified Nomenclature Toolkit: A Quick Reference Guide for Accurate Medical Laboratory Professional Credentials 

2024

Medical Laboratory Job Titles and Descriptions for the 21st Century. (Job description templates for MLT and MLS positions)

2023

Unification of Nomenclature. (Critical Values article) 

The ASCP BOC transitions all MT(ASCP)/MT(ASCPⁱ) to MLS(ASCP)/MLS(ASCPⁱ)

2022

Promoting the Medical Laboratory Science Profession through Standardized Titles. (ASCP BOC Nomenclature Task Force paper)

Promoting the Medical Laboratory Science Profession through Standardized Titles Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Cytologist/Cytology Adopted as New Certifying Terminology

Molecular Pathology MP(ASCP) credential transitioned to Molecular Biology MB(ASCP)

The ASCP BOC launches a pledge to create awareness.

• Take the I AM MLS pledge
• Be part of the movement and share the word with campaign images:

2020

Standardizing the Professional Title of Medical Laboratory Professionals A Position Paper of American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC)

2009

MT(ASCP) and CLS(NCA) become MLS(ASCP)

ASCP Board of Registry (BOR) and the National Credentialing Agency (NCA) form a single certification agency, the ASCP BOC