Categorical Programs

In Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology

Some NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) programs offer structured categorical programs in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, and/or microbiology, in addition to the complete MLS program.

Students may apply for an American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) categorical certification under Route 3 if they complete a structured categorical program. This structured categorical program must be conducted under the auspices of a NAACLS-accredited MLS program and meet specific guidelines.

Curriculum

A structured categorical program requires completion of the general MLS curriculum in addition to all coursework, both didactic and clinical, for the specific area.

The structured categorical program must prepare a graduate with the scope and breadth of knowledge and skills as a Medical Laboratory Scientist graduate in the laboratory specialty area as well as general MLS coursework. The curriculum must include all courses for the specific laboratory area (e.g. chemistry, microbiology, etc.) in the MLS program as well as other courses or parts of courses about the general laboratory and laboratory operations (e.g., laboratory introduction, laboratory safety, quality control/quality assurance, laboratory management, education, research & development, and instrument maintenance & troubleshooting as appropriate to the specific laboratory area.)

Verification of Categorical Program Completion

As the program director of the NAACLS-accredited MLS program, you must complete a documentation form and a letter of authenticity for graduates applying for a categorical examination under route 3 (structured program) or route 5 (completion of a full MLS program). Your students will need to upload these documents when submitting their online application.

Student Scores

Students' scores from categorical examinations will not appear on the Program Performance Report (PPR) for your MLS program, but they can be provided to you. Please email PDInfo@ascp.org with your request. It will take 2-3 weeks for the data to be provided. Please provide:

name of student(s)
ASCP customer ID(s)
examination taken
date of examination

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