What to expect
What is a Medical Laboratory Scientist?
This specialty, also known as Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) or Medical Technology (MT), is responsible for the development, performance and evaluation of laboratory testing that is needed in patient medical care and clinical research. Medical Laboratory Scientists analyze samples of blood, tissue, and body fluids using instrumentation, technology, and a variety of analytical techniques. 70-80% of medical decisions are based on laboratory results.
The MLS program through CCMLS-MSU Denver partners with the clinical laboratories of the Laboratory Services network to meet all the standards and requirements as specified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS).
About the program
Students interested in the post-BS certificate program usually have a degree in the sciences and meet the pre-requisite coursework requirements listed on the CCMLS website.
CCMLS-MSU Denver provides the academic curriculum which consists of 55 credit hours and two components:
- Lecture and student lab: 28 weeks on site at CCMLS- MSU Denver beginning Summer semester (June) through Fall semester (December)
- Clinical rotation coursework: 20 weeks at an accredited clinical laboratory affiliate during the Spring semester (Jan – May)
Clinic rotations
During clinical rotation coursework, the student will work in the Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology and Molecular laboratories under the supervision of a hospital medical laboratory scientist instructor. Upon completion of the year program, the student will receive a certificate of completion which qualifies the graduate to sit for the national MLS(ASCP) certification exam.
The MLS curriculum at CCMLS-MSU Denver is a NAACLS accredited program.
For more information or questions related to the Medical Laboratory Science curriculum, email us: