There is currently a severe shortage of medical laboratory scientists in the United States. Start a career in the lab today.
What is a medical laboratory scientist?
Medical laboratory scientists (MLS) perform a full range of laboratory tests used by physicians to diagnose and treat disease. They work quickly and carefully to confirm the accuracy of test results and report laboratory findings to pathologists and patients' physicians.
As an MLS, you'll work with microscopes, complex electronic equipment, computers, and precision instruments to give clear and accurate reports to physicians. Up to 70 percent of physicians' decisions related to disease diagnosis and treatment are directly related to laboratory results, making you a vital part of a patient's medical team.
Responsibilities:
Medical laboratory scientists are usually responsible for the following items:
- Running tests and analyzing blood, urine, and tissue samples
- Using and maintaining critical equipment such as microscopes, cell counters, and other equipment
- Managing automated hardware and software to conduct multiple sample analysis
- Reporting and recording data from tests
Specializations:
Medical laboratory scientists can focus on one or more of the following types of testing:
- Blood Bank Collections
- Clinical Chemistry
- Cytotechnology
- Hematology
- Histotechnology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Growing career opportunities
+ 5 %
Estimated job growth
(2023 to 2033)
$ 60,780
Annual median pay
(May 2023)
24,200
estimated job openings in the next ten years
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2024)
How it works
- Apply and enroll at the University of Iowa.*
- Complete two years of general education requirements on the University of Iowa campus. Second-year students apply to the MLS program.
- In year three: Once accepted into the MLS program, students apply to and begin the Medical Laboratory Technology program at the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa campus in Coralville.**
- In year four:
- Complete your clinical rotations in various laboratory departments at the University of Iowa or other affiliated hospital lab locations.
- Receive your MLS degree from Carver College of Medicine and be eligible for the MLS (ASCP) exam.
Read the full plan of study here
More information for new and current students:
* Students may also begin their coursework in the Kirkwood Community College Medical Laboratory Technology program and still complete the MLS degree requirements.
** Student acceptance to the Kirkwood MLT program is based on clinical site placement availability.
In addition to the Kirkwood partnership described above, the University of Iowa (UI) also has a partnership with Mercy College of Health Science. In the Mercy College program, students start at the UI and finish at Mercy College in Des Moines. If you're interested in the Mercy College program, please read this page for more information.
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Program overview
What you'll learn
In collaboration with Kirkwood, the Iowa MLS program offers a four-year bachelor’s degree program tailored to provide real-life hands-on experiences. Students start their educational journey at the University of Iowa to establish a strong foundational knowledge base, which they can apply in the technical courses at Kirkwood.
Following the completion of prerequisites at the University of Iowa, students transition to the technical training courses at Kirkwood which integrate online learning with hands-on laboratory and clinical site experiences. Classes are taught by skilled instructors with expertise in clinical laboratory science who are passionate and dedicated to fostering student learning and success.
Students acquire the entry-level skills to conduct, assess, verify validity and interpret a wide range of laboratory tests that are utilized in diagnosing and treating patients. These test results also play a critical role in maintaining patient health. Students also gain experience in problem-solving, directing and supervising laboratory resources and troubleshooting laboratory challenges as they arise. Graduates leave with the knowledge and skills needed to perform laboratory testing in all major areas currently practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory setting including clinical chemistry, hematology and hemostasis, immunology, immunohematology and transfusion medicine, clinical microbiology, urine and body fluid analysis, quality assurance, laboratory management and operations.
Plan of study
| Location | Course No. | Course Title | *Kirkwood s.h. | Iowa s.h. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First Year (Fall) | ||||
| Iowa | CHEM:1070 or CHEM:1110 | General Chemistry or Principles of Chemistry I | 3 or 4 | |
| Iowa | MATH:1005 | College Algebra or Higher | 4 | |
| Iowa | RHET:1030 | Rhetoric | 4 | |
| Iowa | SOC:1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| Iowa | CSI:1600 | Success at Iowa | 2 | |
First Year (Spring) | ||||
| Iowa | HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 | |
| Iowa | CHEM:1110 or CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry I or Principles of Chemistry II | 4 | |
| Iowa | GE CLAS CORE | Literary Visual or Performing Arts | 3 | |
| Iowa | GE CLAS CORE | Understanding Cultural Perspectives | 3 | |
Second Year (Fall) | ||||
| Iowa | CHEM:1120 or CHEM:2210 | Principle of Chemistry II or Organic Chemistry I | 4 or 3 | |
| Iowa | GE CLAS CORE | Historical Perspectives | 3 | |
| Iowa | CS:1020 or BAIS:1500 | Principles of Computing or Business Computing Essentials | 3 or 2 | |
| Iowa | BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology | 4 | |
Second Year (Spring) | ||||
| Iowa | BIOL:1412 | Diversity form and Function | 4 | |
| Iowa | CHEM:2210 or BMB:3110 | Organic Chemistry I or Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Iowa | HHP:1300 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 | |
| Iowa | MICR:3164 | Microbiology and Human Health | 3 | |
| Kirkwood | Apply to Kirkwood Community College | |||
Third Year (Fall) | ||||
| Iowa | MICR:3147 | Immunology and Human Disease | 3 | |
| Kirkwood | MLT-105 | Pathophysiology for the Laboratorian | *3 | 3 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-106 | Introduction to Biosafety | *1 | 1 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-109 | Principles of Phlebotomy | *3 | 3 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-115 | Clinical Lab Fundamentals | *3 | 3 |
Third Year (Spring) | ||||
| Iowa | STAT:1030 or STAT:1020 | Stats for Business or Elementary Statistics and Interference | 4 or 3 | |
| Iowa | GE CLAS CORE | International and Global Issues | 3 | |
| Iowa | BMB:3110 or Elective | Biochemistry or Elective | 3 | |
| Kirkwood | MLT-120 | Urinalysis | *3 | 3 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-130 | Hematology | *3 | 3 |
Third Year (Summer) | ||||
| Kirkwood | MLT-230 | Advanced Hematology | *3 | 3 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-233 | Hemostasis and Thrombosis | *2 | 2 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-270 | Immunology and Serology | *2 | 2 |
Fourth Year (Fall) | ||||
| Kirkwood | MLT-245 | Clinical Chemistry | *5 | 5 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-255 | Clinical Microbiology | *5 | 5 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-260 | Immunohematology | *4 | 4 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-290 | Clinical Seminar and Review | *2 | 2 |
Fourth Year (Spring) | ||||
| Kirkwood | MLT-283 | Clinical Practicum: Urinalysis | *1 | 1 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-286 | Clinical Practicum: Immunology and Serology | *1 | 1 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-287 | Clinical Practicum: Hematology | *4 | 4 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-293 | Clinical Practicum: Immunohematology | *3 | 3 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-297 | Clinical Practicum: Chemistry | *3 | 3 |
Fourth Year (Summer) | ||||
| Kirkwood | MLT-288 | Clinical Practicum: Microbiology | *4 | 4 |
| Kirkwood | MLT-271 | Lab Survey and Preparation | *1 | 1 |
| Iowa | PATH:4201 | Lab Management Course | 3 | |
| Total |
| |||
Course listings are accurate as of February 17, 2025.
Costs
Medical Laboratory Scientist
School Year: 2024–28
For the most recent academic year’s tuition and fees at the University of Iowa, please visit the Tuition and Estimated costs page on the admissions website.
See also: Applying and Scholarship Information
Program outcomes
| Graduation year | Graduation rate* | Certification pass rate** | Graduate placement rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*Graduation Rate: The percentage of students completing the program who started the final half of the program, which is defined as the start of the fall semester in the second year of the professional part of the program.
**Certification Pass Rate: Percentage of students who pass the exam taken within 1 year of graduation.
Admission requirements
Admission to the Medical Laboratory Science Program requires satisfactory grades in prerequisite course work and acceptance into a clinical program.
In order to apply to the MLS program, you'll need to do the following:
Read, sign and date the Essential and Technical Standards.
Complete the application for admission which requires:
Two references (one college science professor or teaching assistant and one former/current employer)
A one-page essay describing why you’ve chosen MLS as a career and your future plans as an MLS.
Learn more and download the Essential and Technical Standards, application and reference forms.
Statement of accreditation
The University of Iowa Medical Laboratory Science program is currently seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
NAACLS
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
www.naacls.org
773-714-8880
Contact information
Kizer Friedley, MBA, MLS
Gabe Young, MLS
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm (visited February 27, 2025).