Getting your MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) certification requires completing an approved education program or equivalent training, then passing a national exam. Most people follow the associate degree route, which takes about two years, though military veterans and experienced lab workers have alternate pathways. Two organizations offer MLT certification: the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Medical Technologists (AMT).
ASCP vs. AMT: Choosing a Certifying Body
Both the ASCP Board of Certification and AMT are nationally recognized, but ASCP is the more widely requested credential among employers. The ASCP exam application fee is $235 (non-refundable). AMT is a solid alternative, particularly if your educational background doesn’t fit neatly into ASCP’s eligibility routes. Both exams cover the same core laboratory disciplines: blood banking, chemistry, hematology, and microbiology.
Some employers accept either credential interchangeably, while others specifically request ASCP. If you’re unsure which to pursue, check job postings in your area to see which credential appears more often.
The Standard Education Route
The most common path is completing an associate degree from an accredited college or university that includes an accredited MLT program. These programs are accredited by NAACLS (the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences) and typically take two years. The curriculum covers clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, blood banking (also called immunohematology and transfusion medicine), microbiology, urine and body fluid analysis, and laboratory operations.
A significant portion of the program involves clinical rotations, where you work in a real laboratory under supervision. You’ll rotate through multiple departments, getting hands-on experience with the equipment and procedures you’ll encounter on the job. These rotations are required for both ASCP and AMT eligibility, so a program without a clinical component won’t qualify you.
For ASCP specifically, you need either an associate degree or at least 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of college credit, combined with successful completion of an accredited MLT program. AMT requires an associate degree from a NAACLS-accredited or otherwise approved MLT program. If you graduated from your AMT-qualifying program more than five years ago, you’ll also need at least 1,040 hours of approved clinical lab experience within the last five years.
Alternate Routes Without an MLT Program
Not everyone follows the traditional MLT program path. Both certifying bodies offer alternatives for people with different backgrounds.
Work Experience Route (ASCP)
ASCP’s Route 4 lets you qualify with an associate degree that includes at least 6 semester hours of chemistry and 6 semester hours of biology, plus three years of full-time clinical laboratory experience within the last six years. That experience must span blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids. This route exists for people who’ve been working in labs without formal MLT training.
Alternate Education Route (AMT)
AMT offers an alternate education route for people who have an associate degree from an accredited institution (or at least 60 semester hours, including 24 hours in medical laboratory technology or specific science courses) combined with 1,040 hours of approved clinical lab experience within the last five years. One important note: COVID testing and research experience don’t count toward those hours. AMT defines full-time work as 40 hours per week, though part-time hours can be combined to reach the threshold.
Military Route
If you completed a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course, both ASCP and AMT recognize that training. For ASCP, you need the military training within the last 10 years, plus an associate degree (or 60 semester hours) with at least 6 semester hours each in chemistry and biology. AMT requires the military training within the last five years. If your military training was more than five years ago, AMT requires an additional 1,040 hours of recent clinical lab experience.
Preparing for and Passing the Exam
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility through one of these routes, you submit your application and documentation to your chosen certifying body. After approval, you schedule your exam at a testing center. The exam is computer-based and covers the core laboratory disciplines you studied: chemistry, hematology, microbiology, blood banking, immunology, and urinalysis.
Most candidates study for several weeks to a few months, depending on how recently they completed their program. If you’re coming through the work experience route, you may need more preparation time since you won’t have had the structured coursework as recently. Practice exams and review books specific to the MLT certification are widely available and closely mirror the format of the actual test.
State Licensing Requirements
National certification through ASCP or AMT is sufficient in most states, but roughly a dozen states and territories require a separate state license to work as a laboratory professional. These include California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, New York, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Each has its own application process and may have additional requirements beyond national certification.
California and New York offer state-licensure-only exams administered through ASCP. Passing these exams grants your state license but does not give you ASCP certification. If you’re eligible for the full ASCP credential, it’s worth pursuing that instead, since it satisfies the state requirement and gives you a nationally portable credential.
If you plan to work in one of these states, check the specific state board’s requirements early. Some have additional coursework or documentation requirements that take time to fulfill.
Keeping Your Certification Active
ASCP certification operates on a three-year renewal cycle. You need to earn 36 continuing education points within each cycle. These points come from activities like completing online courses, attending conferences, or participating in proficiency testing. The requirement keeps your knowledge current as laboratory technology evolves.
AMT has its own continuing education requirements for maintaining your credential. Letting your certification lapse can create complications with employers and state licensing boards, so it’s worth setting calendar reminders well before your renewal deadline.
Salary and Job Outlook
The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $61,890 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure combines both MLTs (technicians, typically with an associate degree) and MLS professionals (technologists, with a bachelor’s degree), so entry-level MLT salaries tend to fall below that median. Employment in the field is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average but reflects steady demand. Retirements and turnover in the field create consistent openings even with modest overall growth.
Many MLTs eventually pursue a bachelor’s degree and upgrade to MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) certification, which opens up higher-paying positions and supervisory roles. Your MLT coursework and experience typically transfer toward that degree, shortening the path considerably.