Severe understaffing continues to challenge the medical laboratory profession, making public visibility essential for its future. However, raising awareness can be challenging when educational institutions, HR departments, and even licensing organizations all use different titles to describe the same profession. From Medical Technologists to Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) to Biomedical Scientists, these varied titles lead to unnecessary confusion for students, professionals, and the public.
Fortunately, key professional and accrediting bodies in the laboratory field have agreed on a unified nomenclature for a four-year degree: Medical Laboratory Science (MLS).
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), along with numerous professional partner societies all agree that this title is the best choice to encapsulate the skills and credentials of the profession. And it aligns with the ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC).
Embracing this standardization across the profession won't happen overnight. But if educational programs adopt the MLS terminology for their degree programs and certifications, it will gain traction much faster.
Encouraging your institution to commit to such a significant change can feel daunting. That's why ASCP, in collaboration with NAACLS, ASCLS, and the ASCP BOC, developed the Navigation Guide for Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program Title Change. This eBook provides program directors with practical steps for getting their institutions to agree to switch to the MLS standard.
Critical Values spoke with three laboratory professionals about the guidebook, how the name change process works, and why it's so important.
CC: @Molly Strzelecki @Michelle Campbell @Susan Harrington @Marisa James
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Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SM(ASCP)CM,SVCM,MBCM, FACSc
Regents' Professor, Texas State University System
University Distinguished Chair & Professor, Medical Laboratory Science [MLS] Program
TEDx Speaker & Global Fellow – Global Citizenship Alliance
Texas State Honorary Professor of International Studies
Associate Director, Translational Health Research Initiative @txst_THR
Past President, Texas Association for CLS
Texas State University
MLS Program, Encino Hall 350B [office ENC 363]
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666-4616
512-245-3500 [CLS suite]; 512-245-2562 [office]
Email:
rrohde@txstate.eduPronouns: he/him/his
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