MLT(AAB) - Medical Laboratory Technician (Generalist) Certification
Quick Links: Disciplines | Qualifications | Provisional Status | Laboratory Training and Experience | Apply Now
Note: As of January 1, 2011, MLT(AAB) certification is for Generalists only.
Disciplines
Individuals may be certified as an MLT(AAB) Generalist after passing the MLT(AAB) Generalist examination, which covers the following disciplines:
- Chemistry (Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, Heme Derivatives, Toxicology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance)
- Hematology (Coagulation, Hematopoiesis, Laboratory Methods in Hematology, Special Hematology Procedures, Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell Morphology and Disorders, Platelets, Urinalysis/Body Fluids, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance)
- Immunology (Theory and Principles of Immunology, Immunology Practices and Laboratory Methods, Immune Disorders, Infectious Disease Serology, Tumor Immunology and Transplantation Immunology, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance)
- Immunohematology (Basics of Immunohematology, Blood Donation, Blood Components, ABO System, Rh Blood Group System, Other Blood Group Systems, Blood Banking Procedures, Transfusion Medicine, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance)
- Microbiology (Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance)
Note: The MLT(AAB) examination, in addition to the five (5) disciplines listed above, also includes a “Basic Knowledge” component that includes General Operations, Regulatory Compliance, Patient Confidentiality, Information Security, and Administration.
MLT Qualifications
To be certified as MLT(AAB), an individual must be a high school graduate, or equivalent and meet one (1) of the following requirements:
Route 1
Complete a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
and
Pass the MLT(AAB) Generalist examination.
Route 2
Earn an associate degree (or the equivalent) in laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology, from an accredited institution. The equivalent of an associate degree is defined as sixty (60) semester hours, of which twenty-four (24) semester hours are either:
a) medical laboratory technology courses (i.e., chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, microbiology)
or
b) six (6) semester hours of chemistry; six (6) semester hours of biology; and twelve (12) semester hours of courses in chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination
and
Pass the MLT(AAB) Generalist examination.
Route 3
Successfully complete an official U.S. military medical laboratory procedures course of at least fifty (50) weeks duration and earn the military enlisted occupational specialty of Medical Laboratory Specialist (Laboratory Technician)
and
Pass the MLT(AAB) Generalist examination.
Provisional Status
Individuals who have documented the required education but who lack the necessary training/experience listed below may still challenge the MLT(AAB) examinations. Upon passing the examinations, these individuals will be designated Medical Laboratory Technician - Provisional [MLT-P(AAB)] until they complete the training/experience in the applicable disciplines, at which time the provisional status will be removed from their certification designation.
Click here to learn more about provisional status and removing provisional status from a certificate.
Laboratory Training/Experience
All individuals qualifying for MLT(AAB) Generalist certification via routes 1, 2, and 3 must document laboratory training that includes either of the following:
a. Completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by ABHES, NAACLS (formerly CAHEA), or other accrediting agencies approved by HHS. (This training may be included in the 60 semester hours listed above.)
OR
b. At least three (3) months of documentedfull-time laboratory training/experience performing moderate complexity testing in each applicable discipline within the ten (10) years immediately prior to the application date.
Ready to Apply?
Learn more about the required documents and application process or follow the link below to begin your application: