Licensure Information

Students interested in becoming Medical Laboratory Scientists must note that the Salisbury University degree in Medical Laboratory Science is NOT, by itself, sufficient to be employed in the profession in all locations. Passing external credentialing exams (such as the American Society of Clinical Pathology or ASCP) is virtually always required, and the professional licensing requirements vary from state to state and country to country. Please refer to the information below for a summary of licensing requirements as of 2021 in the USA for medical laboratory science to assist you in determining the adequacy of this degree for your preferred place(s) of employment.

Regardless of how a degree is earned (face to face, on-line, etc.), federal rules require that Salisbury University make it clear to students whether or not the degree they are earning complies with the certification/licensing requirements in a given locale, if known. The degree from the Salisbury University (SU) Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program complies with all state of Maryland requirements, but the MLS Program does not guarantee that the degree is sufficient for practice in other municipalities, states, territories or countries. That said, the information below is a good faith effort to provide the relevant information for the other 49 states as of 2021. Students should always contact the appropriate regulatory body for any state(s) in which they hope to work for the most current information. Students interested in practicing outside of the USA should refer to the regulations for the country(s) in which they hope to practice before committing to the degree at SU.

It is important for students to review the academic requirements for the MLS program at SU, including those related to practicum/internship as well as pre-qualifications for licensure such as the need for a criminal background check and drug testing. Similarly, they should also contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum.

As noted, it is typical for municipalities, states, territories and countries to have requirements beyond degree completion for licenses, and their requirements, policies, regulations and/or laws can change at any time. While the information provided here will be reviewed periodically, it is not possible for SU to continuously monitor these changes. Both prospective and enrolled students are strongly urged to be proactive in monitoring the rules in any locations where they may hope to work after graduation. The SU MLS Program does not guarantee that any particular licensure or certification entity will approve or deny a student’s application, but it does have a history of assisting students with appropriate documentation to facilitate successful application when possible.

*There are additional requirements for New York and California licenses above what SU requires, so students should be especially proactive in planning how to meet requirements in these states if they desire to work there.