Medical Laboratory Undergraduate Certificate

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 55

Course Length: 12-16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Apply Now

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 55

Course Length: 12-16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Apply Now

Graduates of the University of West Florida’s online Medical Laboratory Certificate will be able to perform high complexity testing in clinical laboratories in the areas of hematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunohematology and serology.

Why Study Medical Laboratory Sciences at UWF?

The University of West Florida’s online Medical Laboratory Certificate program provides working professionals seeking career advancement and students interested in the field with the requirements needed to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, this program allows students to sit for the American Society Clinical Pathology Medical Laboratory Scientist (ASCP MLS) Generalist exam and credentialing in all five areas of the clinical lab.

You’ll enroll in the same courses as students in the degree-seeking program and includes clinical internships throughout the curriculum. At the end of the program, you’ll participate in a virtual review week and take the national board examination to help you advance your career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

UWF also offers Medical Laboratory Sciences Categorical Concentration Undergraduate Certificates if you are only interested in a specific clinical area.

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What You Will Learn

By completing this certificate, you will be able to:

Demonstrate entry-level medical laboratory scientist knowledge of the all five areas of the clinical laboratory including microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology and serology.
Identify and apply principles of quality assurance in the clinical laboratory.
Evaluate patient results and distinguish normal from abnormal results.
Interact effectively with laboratory peers and supervisor.

Courses

UWF’s online Medical Laboratory Certificate program is made up of 55 credit hours and qualifies students for credentialing by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and Florida licensure as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. The program is limited to employees of participating institutions currently affiliated with the UWF Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences. Students are expected to perform the internship courses at their place of employment. The student internship hours may not be used as paid employment hours.

Required Courses (55 credit hours)

MLS 4631C - Clinical Chemistry II Professional Track
MLS 4552C - Immunohematology Professional Track
MLS 4193C - Molecular Diagnostics Professional Track
MLS 4705 - Special Clinical Topics
MLS 4944 - Clinical Practicum I
MLS 4306C - Hematology Professional Track
MLS 4461C - Diagnostic Microbiology Professional Track
MLS 4506C - Clinical Immunology Professional Track
MLS 4945 - Clinical Practicum II
MLS 4221C - Urinalysis/Body Fluids Professional Track
MLS 4626C - Clinical Chemistry I Professional Track
MLS 4335C - Hemostasis and Thrombosis Professional Track
MLS 4463C - Medical Microbiology Professional Track
MLS 4946 - Clinical Practicum III
MLS 4947 - Clinical Practicum IV

To be considered for admission to the University of West Florida’s online Medical Laboratory Certificate, you must meet the requirements at the time of application and be admitted to the University as an undergraduate non-degree-seeking student. Other requirements include:

A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from your bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree in biology, biomedical sciences, microbiology, chemistry, or a related discipline
Completion of all science prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C" or better (prerequisite courses include Human Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology I, General Microbiology with Lab, Genetics, Organic Chemistry 1 with Lab, and Biochemistry)
Submission of a departmental application
Personal interview with the certificate coordinator
Recommendation letters, as needed
Submission of an eligibility form
Currently employed at one of the participating UWF MLS affiliates

Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to, student health physical examination, hospital-required immunizations, TB test, criminal background check, Florida training license, proof of health insurance and drug screen.

How to Apply

Interested students need to fill out a non-degree seeking application through Undergraduate Admissions. Once accepted, contact the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences to speak with an advisor about course availability and scheduling. Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our undergraduate admissions team at admissions@uwf.edu. If you are a current UWF student, please reach out to the department's academic advisor.

Some UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations for professional licensure, UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm program eligibility for licensure in any state outside Florida. Learn more about UWF State Authorization Status.

Full Course Descriptions Admission Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

MLS technologists perform laboratory testing that helps physicians diagnose illnesses, monitor treatment plans and improve patient outcomes. Hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs and research facilities continue to need skilled laboratory professionals, creating strong employment opportunities nationwide.

Job Titles

Medical Laboratory Scientists
Laboratory Managers

Career Outlook

An average of 22,600 job openings per year is projected for clinical laboratory technicians over the decade
The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $61,890 in May 2024

Source: BLS, 2026

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Medical Laboratory Online Undergraduate Certificate Tuition
Component	Cost	Total
In-state Tuition	$218.98 per credit hour	$12,043.90
Full Out-of-state Tuition	$648.37 per credit hour	$35,660.35
75% Out-of-state	$341.67 per credit hour	$18,791.85

Tuition waivers cover up to 75% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online campus programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. The renewal of Online Campus Out-of-State Tuition Waivers is not automatic. Waiver requests must be submitted every semester and are not retroactive for previous semesters. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. See more about Tuition Waivers.

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida provides eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See more about Financial Aid and Education Funding Opportunities.

Featured Courses

A sample of featured courses you will take in the Medical Laboratory Sciences Undergraduate Certificate programs.

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