About
The American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) is a not-for-profit professional association dedicated to serving the community clinical laboratory and the professionals involved in clinical laboratory operations. Founded in 1956, AAB members are clinical laboratory directors, managers, supervisors, technologists, technicians, and phlebotomists. Laboratories can also become members through AAB's National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA). Learn more by visiting the AAB website.
The AAB Board of Registry (ABOR) is AAB's certifying board for bench-level laboratorians (technologist, laboratory scientist, technician).
The AAB Associate Member Section (AMS) consists of bioanalytical, clinical, reproductive, medical or environmental laboratory professionals and others interested in laboratory technology. AMS members are certified technologists, technicians, scientists, physician office laboratory technicians, non-certified regular class, and full-time student class members. ABOR certificants receive a free annual membership in AMS as a benefit of their certification renewal. Learn more by visiting the AMS webpage.
The American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB) is a separate certifying board for clinical laboratory directors consultants and supervisors. Learn more by visiting the ABB webpage.
About ABOR
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of the AAB Board of Registry is to identify, on a non-discriminatory basis, those individuals who meet the minimum requirements for certification as an:
- MT(AAB) – Medical Technologist
- ALS(AAB) – Andrology Laboratory Scientist
- ELS(AAB) – Embryology Laboratory Scientist
- MDxT(AAB) – Molecular Diagnostics Technologist
- MLT(AAB) – Medical Laboratory Technician
These requirements do not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, or source of national origin.
Where are ABOR examinations recognized?
Ten states that require MTs and MLTs to pass a certifying or licensing examination recognize the AAB Board of Registry examinations (39 other states use the CLIA regulations for laboratory testing personnel):
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
[NOTE: The State of Florida now recognizes the AAB Board of Registry’s Medical Technologist (MT) examinations in andrology, embryology and molecular diagnostics, in addition to the disciplines of Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Immunohematology, and Microbiology.]
IMPORTANT: Passing the AAB Board of Registry’s examinations may not be the only requirement for licensure in these states. Individuals must also meet the state’s educational, training, experience, and continuing education requirements to qualify for state licensure. Check with the state's clinical laboratory personnel licensing agency to obtain information specific to that state's licensure requirements.
*Tennessee discontinued its MT licensure requirements for non-hospital laboratories on May 25, 2021. Requirements still in effect for large hospital laboratories.
The Mission of the AAB Board of Registry
The AAB Board of Registry, since its inception in 1962, has championed the concept of a career ladder that includes “alternate routes” to formal academic degrees.
In doing so, the AAB Board of Registry places more importance on having the requisite knowledge and skills than on where or how the knowledge and skills are obtained.
Therefore, the AAB Board of Registry maintains alternate pathways for certification that permit individuals to qualify through a combination of formal education, training and experience.
The AAB Board of Registry’s requirements for Medical Technologist (MT) are consistent with the CLIA requirements for individuals performing high complexity testing.