Medical Laboratory Sciences Certificate Program

The MLS Certificate Program is open to individuals who possess a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, molecular and cell biology, or a related subject area and who have completed appropriate prerequisite courses. You will apply by February 1st for admission the following January. The program is limited to a maximum of 24 students each year (combined undergraduate and certificate program admissions).

Over the course of 17 months, you will complete didactic and clinical laboratory training. The didactic portion of the curriculum will be completed over two semesters and a summer session at the UConn Storrs campus. Didactic coursework will cover seven major areas of study:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Clinical Immunology
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Diagnostic Molecular Technologies
  • Hematology
  • Transfusion Services
  • Urinalysis

In the final semester of the program, you will complete a clinical rotation at one of several clinical affiliates throughout Connecticut where you will work one-on-one with a practicing technologist in a licensed clinical laboratory. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the certification examination in Medical Laboratory Sciences offered by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Program Fees

The Medical Laboratory Sciences certificate program is billed based on the Undergraduate In-State Tuition rates, and a combination of Undergraduate and Graduate mandatory fees. Please contact bruce.blanchard@uconn.edu for further details.

For financial aid purposes, a student’s annual Cost of Attendance (budget ) includes direct educational costs (i.e., tuition, fees, housing, and food) and indirect costs.  Indirect costs include books, course materials, supplies and equipment, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, loan fees, and professional licensure or certification, if applicable.  For details about the Cost of Attendance at UConn, please  visit financialaid.uconn.edu/cost/.

Categorical Training 2023-2024

With the expansion of the laboratory, the MLS program will be offering categorical training to candidates from participating clinical sites. The candidates’ clinical rotations will be completed at the participating clinical site.

Candidates will be reviewed on a competitive basis. The number of accepted candidates will be dependent on a space available basis.

To be considered for admission, the candidate must complete the Categorical Training Application.

Candidates for categorical training should have completed the following general requirements:

  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university
  • Major in biology or chemistry (at least 30 credits)

Specific courses required for specific categorical training are listed below.

Note: An undergraduate grade point average of > 3.0 is recommended to be considered competitive.

Upon completion of the categorical training the candidate will be eligible to sit for the categorical certification examination.

Specific pre-requisite courses Courses in program
Blood Banking Immunology
Genetics		 MLSC 4321 Clinical Immunology, 2 credits (highly suggested)
2 weeks, starting May 8 to May 19, 2023
MLSC 4351 Transfusion Services, 3 credits
3.5 weeks, starting October 25 to November 17, 2023
MLSC 4352 Transfusion Services Lab, 3 credits
Chemistry Biochemistry and/or organic chemistry;
Anatomy & Physiology (highly suggested)		 MLSC 4301 Clinical Chemistry, 3 credits
3.5 weeks, starting October 2 to October 24, 2023
MLSC 4302 Clinical Chemistry Lab, 3 credits
Hematology Immunology (highly suggested) MLSC 4311 Hematology, 4 credits
6 weeks, starting August 21 to September 29, 2023
MLSC 4371 Urinalysis and Hemostasis, 2 credits
2 weeks, starting November 27 to December 8, 2023
MLSC 4312 Hematology Lab, 3 credits
MLSC 4372 Urinalysis Lab, 1 credit (optional)
Microbiology Microbiology
Immunology (highly suggested)		 MLSC 3333 Mycology, Parasitology and Virology, 3 credits
Spring 2023
MLSC 4341 Clinical Microbiology, 4 credits
6 weeks, starting May 22 to June 30, 2023
MLSC 4342 Clinical Microbiology Lab, 4 credits
Chemistry and Hematology Biochemistry and/or organic chemistry
Anatomy & Physiology (highly suggested)
Immunology (highly suggested)		 MLSC 4301 Clinical Chemistry, 3 credits
3.5 weeks, starting October 2 to October 24, 2023
MLSC 4311 Hematology, 4 credits
6 weeks, starting August 21 to September 29, 2023
MLSC 4371 Urinalysis and Hemostasis, 4 credits
2 weeks, starting November 27 to December 8, 2023
MLSC 4302 Clinical Chemistry Lab, 3 credits
MLSC 4312 Hematology Lab, 3 credits
MLSC 4372 Urinalysis Lab, 1 credit (highly suggested)

Notes:

  1. Courses are taken in a sequential basis: To progress to the next course, the student must achieve a grade of “C” or higher.
  2. Courses in bold are taken at the Storrs campus. Approximate dates are listed. All classes meet Monday through Friday, lecture from 8 – 12 and lab from 1 – 4 (approximately).
  3. Remaining classes are the clinical rotations and are completed at the clinical site.

Approximate Costs (for the 2022-23 catalog year)
Tuition, per credit                                                       $653 (in-state)
General university fee, per semester                         $184
Infrastructure fees, per semester                              $70
Student health services fee, per semester                 $86
Transit fee                                                                   $89
Technology fee                                                           $30
Approximate Costs for a three-credit course = Less than $2500    

For more information, interested candidates should contact:

Categorical Training Application