Medical Laboratory Science
BS
Why study Medical Laboratory Science?
UC's seven-semester, online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program (BS MLS) offers working professional clinical laboratory technicians (CLTs) and medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree and develop the skills needed for professional growth in a rigorous program with the convenience of online learning — students complete almost all of the course work online with exceptions as follows: occasionally students will need to take proctored exams at a testing center or other location and clinical rotations required at the end of the program are completed on-site in laboratories, usually scheduled where the student works. Students may also apply for life experience credit to reduce or eliminate clinical rotation hours.
Associate degree credits transfer directly to the online BS in medical laboratory science. Graduates are eligible and well prepared for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS (ASCP) credential.
The most recent program outcomes can be found on the Program Outcomes page.
State Authorization
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
Admission Requirements
- Earned associate degree in MLT/CLT from a NAACLS accredited institution
- Equivalent education or experience, i.e. military trained MLTs, are highly encouraged to apply.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- Proof of ASCP, AAB or AMT CLT/MLT certification
- Conditional admission into the program is possible with proof of passing MLT certification exam scores for recent MLT graduates.
- Students are eligible to sit for certification within 5 years of graduating from their CLT/MLT program. UC’s online MLS program may admit students without certification if they graduated from their MLT more than 5 years ago but did not sit for their MLT exam. To confirm that you qualify for this program, please contact our enrollment team at onlineenrollment@uc.edu or (833) 556-8611 for assistance.
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While current employment as an MLT is not required for admission to the program, please note that the application process does require recent professional or academic laboratory references, and that students will be responsible for securing a site to complete their clinical requirements while in the program. This program does not allow students to participate from outside of the United States unless they are active-duty U.S. military, in which case the program will work individually with the student.
Application Requirements
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Complete the Transfer Application Form
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After filling out the initial application, MLS Applicants will need to log back into their application portal and submit the following materials:
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Proof of MLT certification through ASCP, AMT or AAB
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Contact information for two references (at least one must be a laboratory supervisor and both must be a professional reference)
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After their contact information has been submitted, references will receive a form to complete via email.
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Official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions attended.
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Transcripts can be sent through online systems such as Parchment to the University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Office of Admissions. This is the preferred method. These transcripts must be official copies of the student’s record.
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Transcripts can also be physically mailed to the Office of Admissions at the address below. These transcripts must be the official copies of the student’s record and come directly from the student’s school.
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University of Cincinnati,
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Office of Admissions
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PO Box 210091
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Cincinnati, OH, 45221
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Ranked in the "Top 20 Best Jobs" in the Jobs Rated Almanac, MLS/MLTs have expanded career options. Hospitals, reference and research labs, industry and public health facilities all currently have open positions for qualified applicants.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.-
The University of Cincinnati has online enrollment services advisors (ESAs) available to help learners complete their application and get started in the Online Bachelor of Social Work program. If you have not already, please use the request information form above to be connected to an ESA today!
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Upon starting the program, a dedicated student success coordinator (SSC) will be assigned to all learners to help them achieve their academic goals. You will be introduced to your SSC as your first semester approaches, and they will be your primary liaison to the university all the way through graduation.
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In order to apply to the University of Cincinnati as a transfer student, learners must submit a transfer application form and have official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions they’ve attended.
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To request these transcripts, please contact your previous institution’s registrar and ask them to send the official transcript to the University of Cincinnati via an approved electronic method such as Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or similar services. This is the preferred method. If electronic submission isn’t available, transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at:
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University of Cincinnati
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Office of Admissions
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PO Box 210091
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Cincinnati, OH 45221
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Transfer Articulation Agreements & Pathways
UC has developed clear pathways (articulation agreements) between select associate degrees at partner institutions and compatible bachelor’s degrees at UC. Each pathway includes a Transfer Degree Map that offers a semester-by-semester course comparison to assist with your transfer planning.
The following institutions have Transfer Degree Maps for this major:
- Columbus State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
- Sinclair Community College
- Alamance Community College
- Northcentral Technical College
- Reading Area Community College
- Southwestern Community College
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Please note that due to the nature of this program, students without an associate in medical laboratory technology or otherwise related coursework may not transfer into this program.
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Past UC students who have not attended any other institutions since their departure can apply to be readmitted to the university and enter the online MLS program by following the readmission instructions found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Clinical and Health Information Sciences
Application Deadlines
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Spring 2026 – November 15th
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Summer 2026 - March 15th
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Fall 2026 – July 15th
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018; Phone 773-714-8880; Fax 773-714-8886; info@naacls.org.
Contact Information
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0394
(833) 556-8611
onlineenrollment@uc.edu
Find related programs in the following interest areas:
Program Code: 35BAC-MLSC-BS-.MLSC-DL