Admissions and Application to the Medical Laboratory Science Certificate Program and BS MLS Clinical (Senior) Year

The BS in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is a bachelor's program, while the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Certificate program is an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate certificate program. 

The courses and clinical practica (clinicals) of the BS MLS clinical (senior) year and the MLS Certificate program are the same.

• Students in both programs take the same courses for 3 semesters (one year), starting only in the fall semester. 
  
  
• For this reason, the FAQs will frequently refer to "the program" singular when the answer is the same for the BS MLS and the MLS Certificate. 

The BS MLS requires admission to the clinical (senior) year of the program. 

The courses and clinical practica (clinicals) of the BS MLS clinical (senior) year and the MLS Certificate program are the same.

• Students in both programs take the same courses for 3 semesters (one year), starting only in the fall semester. 
  
  
• For this reason, the FAQs will frequently refer to "the program" singular when the answer is the same for the BS MLS and the MLS Certificate. 
  
  
• Since both programs require application to start the same courses in the following fall, BS MLS students and MLS Certificate applicants apply using the same application. 

Yes, the University of Cincinnati Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). Contact for accreditation inquiries: NAACLS; 5600 N. River Rd Suite 720; Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; Phone: 773-714-8880;  Email: info@naacls.org. 

The University of Cincinnati is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

No, both programs - the clinical (senior) year of the BS in Medical Laboratory Science program and the MLS Certificate program - require attendance on campus in Cincinnati. They also contain some online courses which do not comply with DHS visa rules. International students with questions should contact UC's International Services at 513-556-4278. 

We do offer a fully online AS to BS completer program for individuals who completed an Associate in Science in Clinical or Medical Laboratory Technology (AS in C/MLT) to complete an online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. The AS in C/MLT is required for admission to the AS to BS completer program. 

Unfortunately, due to the number of online credits required, the program does not meet federal requirements for international students planning to attend on a visa.

This program is not feasible for students living outside the US, since it requires in-person attendance in Cincinnati. 

International students with questions should contact UC's International Services at 513-556-4278.  

Full-time:
Three full-time semesters starting in the fall. Students who complete the program graduate at the end of the summer semester in August. Students may petition to complete clinicals part-time or through a co-op option, both of which require additional time to complete clinicals.

Part-time:
Five or six semesters. Program staff will provide individual guidance on scheduling and clinical placement to ensure that all required courses and clinical requirements are completed.

No. Due to the rigorous nature of the programs, students can take only the courses required for the clinical (senior) year or certificate program (e.g., MLS majors cannot take Gen Eds or courses from years 1-3 during their clinical year).  This is why we require successful completion of all admission prerequisites before starting the program. 

Attending part-time can be a good option for students with other significant obligations, such as full-time work or family/care-giving.

The application has a question asking you to select any options you are willing to do for the program: full- time, part-time or Co-op. Once students have confirmed their acceptance to clinicals, we ask them to finalize their decision. Once a student starts a part-time or Co-op option, they cannot change to the full-time option, so we support students making the best decision for their circumstances. The availability of part-time and co-op positions is dependent on space. Students interested in either option should discuss this with the program during the application process. 

Our co-op option requires two years to complete. Students follow an alternating schedule for two years, taking clinical courses and requirements in one semester followed by one semester of paid, full-time work. Program staff will provide individual guidance on scheduling and clinical placement to ensure that all required courses and clinical requirements are completed.

The primary benefit is getting paid to work during the working semesters. MLS differs from some other majors where Co-op might significantly increase your chances of employment after graduation: the job outlook for the MLS profession is growing much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) and most of our clinical students find jobs near the end of their clinical year or shortly after graduation. The main downside of doing Co-op is the added time to degree; however, some students see this offset by the opportunity to earn money to pay for college.

The application has a question asking you to select any options you are willing to do for clinicals: full- time, part-time or Co-op. Once students have confirmed their acceptance to clinicals, we ask them to finalize their decision about attending. Once a student starts a part-time or Co-op option, they cannot change to the full-time option, so we support students making the best decision for their circumstances. 

Generally, no. Clinical-year courses are offered on a cohort-schedule and are not offered every semester. Changes in tracks are sometimes permitted but only with permission or on recommendation/requirement from the MLS program director. Several factors have to be considered which include academic performance, student laboratory space and clinical laboratory space. Additionally, courses are taught only once per year, so students switching tracks may need to wait until the course is offered again.

The program consists of two clinical practica courses, in the spring and summer, when students complete clinical rotations (clinicals), where they gain technical proficiency and professional experience by working in clinical laboratories under the supervision and guidance of Medical Laboratory Scientists. These experiences are required as part of clinical practica courses and are not paid. Locations and schedules vary depending on the corresponding content the student is learning.  

1. Students who are applying for the clinical (senior) year of the BS in Medical Laboratory Science program; this includes Direct Admission students**. All MLS and pre-MLS majors apply in their junior year.   
   
   
2. Applicants seeking admission to the MLS Certificate program. 

Applicants for both programs use the same application, which has an area for applicants to indicate which program they are applying for. The year (3 semesters) of coursework for the two programs is the same. To learn more about each of these programs, please follow their respective links above. 

Students in the BS-MLS major must complete the clinical-year program to earn their degree. This includes students who were offered Direct Admission as high school / 1st-year applicants.

• ** Students who confirmed a Direct Admission offer as high school applicants who maintain the minimum qualifications throughout their MLS program are guaranteed admission to the clinical year; however, they must submit the application on this page which collects required information.
  
  
• For students who were not offered MLS Direct Admission, admission to the clinical year/certificate program is competitive and requires separate application using the application on this page. 

Certificate applicants should hold a completed bachelor's degree in a science discipline AND have completed pre-requisite courses in Immunology and Microbiology by the time the Certificate program starts in fall semester next year. 

• The Certificate program does not meet federal guidelines for international students. See the FAQ about international students. 

The clinical (senior) year of the BS MLS major and the MLS Certificate program start only in the fall semester. Appicants to either should apply by the posted deadline in the fall semester one year before admitted students start the following fall semester. 

• UC BS MLS majors should apply in the fall of their junior/3rd year, a year before their senior/clinical will start. 
• Certificate applicants should apply in fall for next year's program which starts in the fall; your bachelor's degree and prerequisites must be completed before starting the certificate program next fall semester.
• Applicants can still apply even if they are currently finishing required courses. We expect this will be the case for BS MLS majors and might be the case for certificate applicants who need to complete prerequisite courses. 

Yes! We expect all of our pre-MLS and BS MLS students will be taking courses and that many of our MLS Certificate applicants will be taking courses if they need to finish their bachelor's and/or complete the program's prerequisite courses.

• Please do not delay applying under the mistaken belief that you have to be finished with all of your courses before you apply. 
  
  
• All courses must be completed before you start the program next fall semester.     

No, we do not charge an application fee.

No, applicants do not need to complete the general (undergraduate Admissions) UC application.

The entire application can be completed in less than thirty minutes. It consists of several forms so you can complete them separately, in shorter blocks of time, or all in one sitting. 

When you enter the application webpage, the first form is a very brief intake form to submit demographic information (name, address, phone etc.) indicate which program you are applying for and your preferences. 

Submitting this form creates your application, which is accessed by the email you entered on the intake form. It sends you an email with links to the other 4 forms which are as brief as the intake form.  

The items which take the most time to complete are sending any transcripts (if needed; see the information elsewhere on this page about transcripts and how to check if you need them) and identifying three references and a healthcare provider to sign your health form.  

The MLS program revises its application each year and applicants must complete the current application. Until it becomes available, applicants can begin work on the items that typically take the most time:

• identifying 3 references (see the information about choosing references elsewhere on this page).
  
  
• requesting transcripts sent which show grades for previously-completed courses if you have not previously sent these to UC (see the information about transcipts elsewhere on this page). 
  
  
• seeing a healthcare provider if they will require you to meet with them before they will sign a form verifying your health will allow you to participate in our program. Most providers will sign a form if they have seen you within at least 30 days.
  

We recommend starting several weeks to a month in advance to allow time for any needed transcripts to arrive, to communicate with references and to obtain a signed health form from a provider.

Yes. Applicants are offered admission conditionally on them successfully completing their prerequisite before the program starts in the fall semester. We will rescind our admission offer if an applicant fails to do so.

Due to the rigorous nature of the programs, students can take only the courses required for the clinical (senior) year or certificate program (e.g., MLS majors cannot take Gen Eds or courses from years 1-3 during their clinical year).  

• Pre-MLS and MLS majors must complete all courses and degree requirements for years 1-3 of their declared BS MLS standard or pre-med program, including the completion of all General Education courses. Students should meet with an academic advisor early and at least once a semester to ensure they are completing these requirements. Students can also check BS MLS program requirements in their Degree Audit.    
  
  
• Certificate students must have completed: 
  • a bachelor's degree (BS or BA) in a science discipline (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology or equivalent).
    • Coursework should be comparable to the science courses in years 1-3 of our BS MLS standard program.
    • Your bachelor courses should be comparable with the number and type of science courses in years 1-3 of our BS MLS standard program (e.g., having 1 or 2 biology courses and 1 or 2 chemistry courses is not comparable.) 
    • Generally and with a few exceptions, a bachelor's degree in a social science (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology) or engineering do not require the amount of biology and chemistry courses to be comparable to our BS MLS, unless a student has taken additional courses or taken a non-traditional path. 
  • one 3-semester-credit-hour, upper-division course in Immunology. 
    • Upper-division course = an advanced undergraduate course - usually numbered in the 300/3000 or 400/4000 range - designed primarily for junior and senior students, e.g., years 3 and 4 of a 4-year bachelor's program. 
  • one 3-semester-credit-hour course in Microbiology with a lab. 
    • Starting with the 2027 application (not 2026), these requirements will add: one 3-semester-credit-hour course in Statistics and the Microbiology course with lab must be in-person (not online). 
      
• While we do not currently require applicants to have courses in Anatomy and Physiology and Statistics, those who do are better prepared for the MLS Certificate program. 
• Due to the volume of inquires received for this program, we are unable to review transcripts in depth before you apply. We appreciate your understanding.
• Before emailing to ask if a prequesite course is acceptable, we ask that you 
  • look up your courses in UC's Transfer Equivalency Database (TED) which shows how external courses have been equated to UC courses. Sometimes a course is not in TED if it has not been previously submitted to UC. In this case, it is acceptable to email us to check if you really cannot determine if your microbiology course had a lab or if your immunology course was at the upper-division level of a bachelor's program. (It really is this straight-forward.) 
  • Applicants should email questions about their prerequisites or qualifications to MLS-Campus-Based@uc.edu   

The number and type of prerequisite courses are straightforward, so we ask that you check some sources first before emailing to ask.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to enable us to more quickly respond. Due to the volume of inquires received for this program, we are unable to review transcripts in depth before someone applies. Also, we do not charge applicants to apply for this program. 

Please read the FAQ about Prerequisites, which explains how you can confirm your eligibility. 

The MLS program currently has approximately 24 spaces at partnering laboratories and in the student laboratory. We do not accept more students than we are able to place for clinicals in partnering laboratories, and the number of available host institutions varies slightly each year: this is the main factor that restricts our annual cohort size. Each year's applicant pool varies and there is no way to predict the upcoming applicant pool, so we encourage everyone interested in the program to apply: you cannot be admitted unless you apply.

Yes, when we evaluate applicants, priority is given to UC students majoring in BS MLS. Among MLS majors, priorty is given to automatically admit Direct-Admit students who have maintained the minimum requirements of their Direct-Admit admission.

Other students are admitted on a space-available basis. The next group given priority is certificate students from other universities which have affiliate agreements with the UC MLS campus-based program, e.g., Miami University in Oxford, OH, followed by all other certificate applicants, including those with a bachelor's from UC or other schools. We usually admit several certificate students each year. 

As the profession gains visibility, competition has increased to get into MLS programs nationwide, not just in our program. Each year's applicant pool varies and there is no way to predict the upcoming applicant pool, so we encourage everyone interested in the program to apply: you cannot be admitted unless you apply.

We do not always use interviews as part of the application process because we know the MLS majors taking courses with us. Applicants may be interviewed individually or in small groups. This depends on the number of certificate applicants which varies each year; however, the process for the year's application review is always handled consistently. 

All applicants are evaluated on their GPAs, cumulative (overall) and Math/Science. (See Q&A on how GPAs are calculated.) Students are additionally evaluated on their references, and if invited to interview, on their overall impression. 

We factor grades from every course taken - this may include courses that are not applying to the MLS program; for example, courses a student took in a previous major are included in combined GPAs.

For the math/science GPA, we treat repeated courses as grade replaced/forgiven, whether or not they are official grade replacements: we take the higher of two grades only for exact courses, which includes courses indicated as equivalent in UC's Transfer Equivalency Database.

Students should indicate in the related application question if they have taken any course more than once to alert us to use the higher of the two grades. In the event that personal circumstances affected a student's performance in a course(s), we ask that the student explain these circumstances on the clinical application. (See also the Q&A for statistics of recently admitted students.)

In the last application round for clinical students starting in fall 2026, we received approximately 40 applications. Some of these applications were incomplete or withdrawn. We offered admission to all of our qualified MLS major applicants and to several certificate students. The average GPAs of all admitted students (MLS majors and certificate applicants) were 3.47 cumulative (overall) and 3.35 Math/Science.

Each year's applicant pool varies and there is no way to predict the GPAs or numbers of upcoming applicants, so we encourage everyone interested in the program to apply: you cannot be admitted unless you apply.

Yes. We recommend students work with an advisor to determine any strategies possible to strengthen their GPA, possibly by repeating courses where lower grades were earned. Applicants must submit a new application each year. 

MLS majors are assigned an academic advisor in the College of Allied Health Sciences Office of Student Affairs (CAHS OSA). Pre-MLS students have advisors at UC Blue Ash and UC Clermont.Given the competitive nature of clinical admissions, we strongly recommend students work closely with an advisor as soon as they begin contemplating the major and throughout their time in the program, to assess the strength of their clinical application and to always identify a viable alternate program if they are not offered admission to the clinical (senior) year. 

Students denied to clinicals have several options, including re-applying the following year or changing to another major to complete their degree and graduate. Students should work with their advisor on an academic plan to determine courses to take in the interim (possibly grade replacements to strengthen reapplication or courses toward another program).

• Apply with the strongest grades possible. Students entering UC from high school should set high GPA goals early on. Students in the BS-MLS or pre-MLS programs should work closely with their advisor to track GPAs and discuss the feasibility of repeating courses where lower grades were earned.
  
  
• Avoid foreclosure (facing a dead-end because your only plan was getting into the MLS program and clinicals) by having an alternate plan to graduate and achieve your career goals. Work with your advisor to explore related occupations - not all lab work requires an MLS degree or board certification.
  
  
• Apply to more than one MLS program. This should always be the strategy for certificate students since most MLS programs nationally have few spots to offer certificate students. Search for MLS program types by state on the NAACLS website in the Programs section: https://www.naacls.org
   

You should find individuals who can speak to your academic performance in a lab, medical, scientific or MLS course, lab or work.

We ask for three references, at least two of which should be from science or lab instructors. Certificate students who may been out of school for a while may need to rely on work references, ideally from someone who can speak to your abilities related to MLS. 

Another good reference is someone who has worked with you, either in paid or volunteer work, ideally as your supervisor although this is not required. References cannot be family members, even if they are instructors, work colleagues or medical professionals.

Please read the instructions about References elsewhere on this page. 

If your advisor can speak to your abilities from 1) teaching you in a science or lab course or 2) working with you as a supervisor: Yes. If not, we recommend you find a science/lab instructor or work reference, because we deduct points on your application evaluation for references that don't comply with instructions, meaning, if you are a current student, you should be able to obtain references from faculty. 

Applicants who have been out of school for several years and feel unable to find a suitable instructor should use work supervisors and let us know in your application why you are doing so.

Please read the instructions about References elsewhere on this page. 

Rather than simply asking "Will you serve as a reference for me?" or worse, submitting their names and emails without asking them, briefly explain what the reference is for and then ask if the person feels they know you well enough that they could serve as a reference for you. This allows them the opportunity to decline or to admit if they could not honestly provide a strong reference.

Also let them know that they will be completing a short online form for you, not writing a letter - this requires less work than is typically involved in serving as an academic reference and increases the chances that they will agree to complete your form. Completing the form also requires them to know you less well than writing a letter. 

Allow enough time for your reference to handle your request - a few weeks to a month is standard to respect their busy schedules. Follow-up with them one week before the due date you agreed upon to see if they need any additional information from you (this also reminds them to complete the reference form if they haven't already done so). For more information on requesting references, search for one of the many guides on the internet on "etiquette of requesting references/recommendations."

Please read the instructions about References elsewhere on this page. 

Your and your references will each receive an email confirming submission of their form. You can also ask your references to let you know when they have submitted their form.  Please read the instructions about References elsewhere on this page. 

Non-UC students must request official transcripts be sent from the Registrar of schools they have attended. Please refer to detailed instructions elsewhere on this page about transcripts. In short, all students who are not currently attending UC must send official transcripts from their institution's Registrar's office. UC students need transcripts for courses taken at other universities if they were not previously sent to UC - please read the section elsewhere on this page about transcripts for UC students.

In most cases, no. We have access your official record of UC courses which includes any courses taken at other colleges/universities that were previously sent to UC as official transcripts.

Current UC students can check their transfer credits in the My Academics area in Catalyst, which shows all external courses that you've sent to UC. If a course(s) is not listed, you will need to request an official transcript from the school(s) attended using the directions for transcripts for applicants without UC credit.

When you send transcripts to UC, you will receive directions to access your online Credit Evaluation Report which lists courses UC has received through official transcripts and how those courses equate to UC courses. Sometimes courses are pending evaluation (UC is still determining how they equate to UC courses), and if so, students should check their CER later to see when all courses have been evaluated. Those courses also show in Catalyst.

Given the number of applications we receive, we want to receive official transcripts by the posted deadline to allow adequate time to evaluate our applicants. The application deadline occurs before most fall semester grades have posted. Many students are taking science and other significant courses in the fall semester, so we want to include those grades for the most thorough evaluation of applicants.

We accept unofficial fall semester grades to expedite course evaluation and to save applicants the cost of sending additional transcripts. Once students are accepted into clinicals, we require complete official transcripts to verify any grades sent unofficially.

Grades can be obtained from the student's online grade report and can be copied/pasted into an email OR saved as a PDF. Send your grade report to the email address or fax number listed in the application packet.

As soon as fall grades post, applicants must send an unofficial copy of their grade report showing current cumulative/overall GPA statistics. Email those to MLS-Campus-Based@uc.edu 

For UC applicants, this only applies if they took courses at another institution during the fall semester of application.

No, because we want to begin review of students' applications as soon as possible. Please send official transcripts when you are applying so that we receive them before the application deadline or shortly afterward. Ideally these should show any courses you are taking in the fall term preceding the deadline.

Yes. Check the Transfer student requirements on UC's International Undergraduate Admissions website. TOEFL scores are good for 2 years.

The most up-to-date information on Tuition & Program Fees can be found on the Bursar's webpages, including information about non-tuition costs associated with attending college. 

We encourage all our students, and especially those admitted into the Certificate program, to budget the costs of completing their program and to know how much Financial Aid may be available each year, considering the senior BS MLS and certificate program require three semesters (fall, spring and summer) if taken full time.

Students enrolled in the Bachelors of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (BS MLS) or the campus-based Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science are charged undergraduate tuition and fees including fees for the program and for UC’s health insurance.

• All students are billed for UC's health insurance, which includes blood-borne pathogen insurance.  
  
  
• Students covered under another qualifying health insurance policy (e.g., theirs or their parents' or guardians') can waive UC's student health insurance by completing the Student Health Insurance Waiver located on their "To-Do List" in the Catalyst student portal.
  

All students are required to have blood-borne pathogen insurance which is included in UC's student health insurance. Students who waive UC’s health insurance will be billed for the blood-borne pathogen insurance. 

For questions about your financial aid, contact the Student Financial Aid Office .

For questions about your bill, contact Enrollment Services.

Generally speaking, and this implies no guarantees:

Often, for the BS MLS program.

Frequently No, for the MLS Certificate, because it is a post-baccalaureate, undergraduate certificate program. Some certificate programs, while degree-seeking, are not eligible for aid. 

Counseling for Financial Aid is complex, unique to every student and outside the MLS program's expertise and authority.  

• We strongly encourage all applicants, and especially those applying to the certificate program, to speak with Enrollment Services about their financial aid eligibility.  
  
  
• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025  and makes significant changes to federal financial aid programs, including new loan limits, new loan repayment options, and updated eligibility requirements, for both current and future students. 
  • Important: Not every change applies to every borrower. Your eligibility depends on your student type, program, enrollment, prior federal loan history, and whether you qualify for the limited exception. UC will confirm the rules that apply when your aid is reviewed. 
  • View UC's Financial Aid webpages to understand how aid works and how aid might have changed due to OBBBA. 

The MLS program holds a White Coat ceremony for students admitted to the clinical (senior year) of the BS MLS and certificate programs. This ceremony recognizes our students' accomplishments to gain entry into their program and awards their white (lab) coat before students start their clinical rotations at partnering laboratories. We invite our students and their loved ones to celebrate this achievement with us.

Since our certificate students do not participate in UC's commencement (see the related FAQ), our White Coat ceremony is an opportunity for our certificate students and their families to celebrate their accomplishments.  

All BS MLS and Certificate students must apply to graduate.

Only BS MLS students may participate in commencement. 

Graduation is the official awarding of your certificate or BS MLS degree and is not the same as commencement, which is the graduation ceremony. 

Students receive graduation information in their courses reminding them they must apply to graduate. After UC has confirmed a student's graduation, the program is closed and posted as completed on the student's official transcript. 

Commencement, the ceremony celebrating graduation, is open only to students graduating with their UC BS MLS.

• MLS Certificate students cannot participate in the commencement ceremonies. We regret this decision, which was not made by our program or college, and we will continue to advocate for ALL our MLS students to participate in commencement. 
  
  
• We hold a White Coat ceremony for all our clinical (senior BS MLS) and certificate students so we can recognize their accomplishments with them and their loved ones.  
  
  
• Miami certificate students follow Miami University's rules for graduation and commencement. 
   

Mel Woods (she/hers), MLS Program Manager, at MLS-Campus-Based@uc.edu

Please do not email Mel's personal UC email address. The MLS-Campus-Based account receives a high number of emails. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work diligently to respond to all emails.