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ASCP vs AMT Certification: Which Should You Choose?

For U.S. medical laboratory scientists (MLS) and technicians (MLT), both ASCP and AMT are legitimate national certifications — but they aren't interchangeable in every job or state license. Here's how to pick.

The quick answer

Run three checks before you pay either non-refundable application fee:

  1. Eligibility: Which board's route can you fully document today?
  2. Employer: Does the job you want name a specific board?
  3. State license: If your state licenses lab staff, does it accept that board's exam for the license you need?

Then use this table.

Your situation Choose Why
You want to work in New York as an MLS/clinical laboratory technologist or MLT/clinical laboratory technician ASCP New York's current examination requirements list ASCP/qualifying ASCPi exams. A current AMT MLS or MLT can satisfy an education alternative, but it does not replace the separately listed ASCP examination requirement. (NYSED technologist, NYSED technician)
A job posting says "ASCP required" ASCP The employer's wording controls. Don't assume AMT will substitute — ask HR first.
A job posting says "ASCP or AMT" or "national certification" Either Compare eligibility and long-term cost below, then confirm any state license separately.
You plan to climb MLT → MLS using your MLT plus a bachelor's Start with MLT(ASCP) ASCP's MLS Route 2 requires a valid MLT(ASCP). An AMT MLT doesn't count toward that route. (ASCP MLS routes)
You finished a NAACLS-accredited program and have no New York or employer constraint Either; verify the job and state first A recent qualifying NAACLS program can fit both organizations' education routes. ASCP avoids the New York examination mismatch described above, but outside that situation you still need to check the exact employer and state rule.
You have a degree and lab experience but no accredited MLS/MLT program Check AMT first AMT's alternate routes need 1 year of experience for MLS (ASCP Route 4 needs 5) and 6 months for MLT (ASCP Route 4 needs 3 years).
Your program's accreditor isn't NAACLS (or ABHES for ASCP MLT) Check AMT's education route AMT's education route also accepts qualifying programs accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA, or otherwise approved by AMT. ASCP's program routes require NAACLS for MLS and NAACLS or ABHES for MLT.
You already hold one accepted credential Usually keep it There's no general reason to collect both unless a specific job or license creates a gap.

ASCP vs AMT at a glance

U.S. applicant figures from each board's official pages, checked November 3, 2026.

Comparison point ASCP Board of Certification American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Scientist credential MLS(ASCP) MLS(AMT) — called MT(AMT) before AMT renamed it
Technician credential MLT(ASCP) MLT(AMT)
MLS application fee $260, non-refundable (source) $245, non-refundable; includes application, exam, and first annual fee (source)
MLT application fee $235, non-refundable (source) $220, non-refundable; includes application, exam, and first annual fee (source)
Exam style Computer adaptive (CAT): 100 four-option questions in 2 hr 30 min (source) Computerized, four-option multiple choice. MLS: 210 questions in 3 hr 30 min. MLT: 3 hr (handbook, MLS specifications)
Calculator On-screen calculator provided Not allowed; AMT says calculations can be performed by hand
Passing score 400 on a 100–999 scale 70 on a 0–100 scale (not a percentage)
Results Preliminary pass/fail on screen; official score report normally available within 4 business days if required transcripts have been processed Results on screen and on paper at the test center
Test centers Pearson VUE Pearson VUE (or at school when AMT-approved testing is arranged there)
Keeping it active 36 CMP points + $110 fee every 3 years $110 annual fee + 45 CCP points every 3 years (source)
Retakes Up to 5 attempts per eligibility route; new application and fee each time; next eligibility period no earlier than 30 days after the prior exam (source) Up to 4 total attempts for one certification; wait 45 days after an unsuccessful attempt; retest fee required (source)
New York licensure exam Accepted for the MLS/MLT pathways described by NYSED AMT MLS/MLT can satisfy an education alternative, but NYSED's examination requirement lists ASCP/qualifying ASCPi exams
California licensure Accepted for CLS Generalist and MLT, subject to California's other requirements Accepted with exam-date/version limits described below

Which states accept which credential?

Most states do not have a separate state personnel license for MLS/MLT practice. Federal CLIA personnel rules are separate from national certification and state licensure; where a state license is required, the federal high-complexity personnel rule also requires the individual to hold that license. (42 CFR § 493.1489)

For states that do license, certification and licensure are separate steps, and states can treat the two boards differently:

State ASCP AMT What to know
New York ✅ Meets the listed MLS/MLT exam requirement ⚠️ Can satisfy an education alternative, not the separately listed exam requirement Technologist: current ASCP MLS qualifies for the exam requirement; qualifying ASCPi MLS is also accepted under NYSED's date rule. Current MLS(AMT) is one education alternative. Technician rules follow the same basic separation: current MLT(AMT) can meet an education alternative, while the examination section lists ASCP/qualifying ASCPi MLT. A provisional permit may be available to some technologist applicants while they complete education and/or examination requirements. (NYSED technologist, NYSED technician)
California ✅ CLS Generalist since 10/01/2002; MLT since 06/01/2003 ✅ CLS Generalist: 2014-and-later exam versions only; MLT: exams passed on or after 01/30/2023 California says its initial acceptance date means only exams taken and passed after the listed date satisfy the examination requirement. All other education, training, and fee requirements still apply. (CDPH)

Bottom line: If New York MLS/MLT licensure is a realistic possibility, the current examination rules make ASCP the practical choice. Elsewhere, do not assume the two credentials are interchangeable — check the exact state board rule and employer requirement before you pay.

→ License types by state: medical laboratory scientist licensure requirements by state

Will employers accept AMT?

Many do. Some don't. There's no single national rule, and we haven't found a neutral dataset that ranks employer preference, so don't trust any page that claims one.

What we can show: the VA's hospital-based MLS program in New England tells graduates they can sit for the ASCP MLS exam and/or the AMT exam, and lists both MLS(ASCP)CM and MLS(AMT) as credentials graduates can practice under after passing the applicable credentialing exam (VA VISN 1 MLS program).

For your own market, check before you pay:

  1. Pull up 10–20 current postings from the labs you'd actually work for.
  2. Note the wording: "ASCP required," "ASCP preferred," "ASCP or AMT," "national certification required," or "certification within X months of hire."
  3. If a posting says "ASCP required," treat AMT as not accepted unless HR or the lab manager tells you otherwise.

Eligibility: where the two boards really differ

If you finished a qualifying NAACLS-accredited program recently, you may qualify for both. The gap shows up for career changers and people with experience but no program. Both boards make the actual eligibility decision after reviewing your application and documents, so treat this as a map, not a ruling.

MLS (bachelor's level)

Your background ASCP MLS (routes) AMT MLS (routes)
Bachelor's + NAACLS MLS program Route 1: program completed within the last 5 years Education route: NAACLS or another qualifying accredited MLS program within 5 years; older graduates add 1 year of qualifying experience in the last 5
Bachelor's + you already hold an MLT Route 2: valid MLT(ASCP), bachelor's with 16 semester hours of biology (including microbiology) and 16 of chemistry (including organic or biochemistry), and 2 years of full-time clinical experience in the last 5 years MLT or Military route: bachelor's + completed accredited MLT program within 5 years; older graduates add 1 year of qualifying experience in the last 5
Bachelor's + lab experience, no MLS program Route 4: bachelor's with the 16/16 science hours + 5 years of full-time clinical experience in the last 10 years Alternate Education route: bachelor's + 48 semester hours of medical laboratory technology/clinical laboratory science or related clinical-lab science coursework + 1 year of qualifying experience in the last 5 years
U.S. military 50-week lab course Route 6: course within 10 years + bachelor's with 16/16 science hours + 1 year of qualifying experience in the last 10 years MLT or Military route: bachelor's + 50-week program within 5 years; older graduates add 1 year of qualifying experience in the last 5

MLT (associate level)

Your background ASCP MLT (routes) AMT MLT (routes)
Accredited MLT program Route 1: associate degree (or 60 semester hours) + NAACLS or ABHES MLT program within 5 years Education route: associate degree from a NAACLS or other qualifying accredited MLT program within 5 years; older graduates add 6 months of qualifying experience in the last 5
U.S. military 50-week lab course Route 3: associate/60 hours with 6 chemistry + 6 biology, and the course within 10 years Military route: 50-week program within 5 years; older graduates add 6 months of qualifying experience in the last 5
Coursework + experience, no MLT program Route 4: associate/60 hours with 6 chemistry + 6 biology + 3 years of full-time experience in the last 6 years Alternate Education route: associate degree, or 60 semester hours with 24 hours of medical laboratory/clinical laboratory science or specified science courses, + 6 months of qualifying experience in the last 5 years

The fine print matters. AMT requires clinical rotations across blood banking, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology through training or qualifying work experience, and its current MLS/MLT pages say COVID-testing or research experience does not count toward the qualifying work requirement. ASCP's MLS and MLT experience routes require experience in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids in an acceptable laboratory.

Three quick examples

  • Recent NAACLS MLS grad staying in Texas: the program route can fit both boards. Use the credential your target employers accept; if both are accepted, compare the exam and maintenance differences below.
  • Biology B.S. with 2 years of full-time clinical lab testing across the required AMT disciplines and at least 48 qualifying semester hours: you may fit AMT's MLS Alternate Education route now if AMT accepts the coursework and experience. ASCP Route 4 would still require 5 years of qualifying full-time clinical experience.
  • ABHES-accredited MLT grad who plans to finish a bachelor's later: ASCP MLT Route 1 accepts NAACLS or ABHES programs, and MLT(ASCP) keeps ASCP's MLS Route 2 available if you later meet that route's remaining requirements.

What each costs: cheaper today vs. cheaper over time

AMT's application fee is lower, but AMT charges an annual fee every year. ASCP charges its maintenance fee once every 3 years.

Credential Pay at application Listed certification fees through first 3-year cycle Listed certification fees through 6 years
ASCP MLS $260 $370 $480
AMT MLS $245 $465 $795
ASCP MLT $235 $345 $455
AMT MLT $220 $440 $770

After the first cycle, a 3-year period currently adds $110 with ASCP and $330 with AMT (3 annual fees × $110) in listed certification-maintenance fees — a $220 difference at today's published rates.

How we calculated this: first-attempt pass, U.S. fees verified November 3, 2026. ASCP = application fee + $110 CMP fee at each 3-year renewal (ASCP CMP fees). AMT = application fee (which includes the first annual fee) + $110 for each later annual renewal at AMT's currently published MLS/MLT rate (AMT maintenance). Not included: continuing-education course costs, retake fees, state license fees, optional memberships, transcript/evaluation costs, and reinstatement fees. Fees change, so recheck before you pay.

Is AMT easier than ASCP?

There's no defensible answer, and here's why: the exams are built differently.

  • ASCP is computer adaptive. Each answer affects the system's estimate of your ability, and your score comes from your overall response pattern rather than a simple count of correct answers. You can't skip questions. Most ASCP certification exams, including MLS and MLT, have 100 questions in 2.5 hours. An on-screen calculator is available.
  • AMT uses computerized, competency-based, criterion-referenced exams with four-option multiple-choice questions. The current MLS specification lists 210 questions, and the Candidate Handbook gives 3.5 hours for MLS and 3 hours for MLT. Calculators are not allowed.

Pass rates don't settle it either. AMT's current published table reports that 1,114 candidates took the MLS exam in 2025 and 61% passed (AMT Candidate Handbook, Addendum B). The boards test different candidate pools under different eligibility rules, so a gap between their published rates would not measure which exam is inherently easier. Forum claims that one is "easier" conflict and don't make a good basis for spending a non-refundable fee.

What does matter for prep: both MLS exams cover major clinical laboratory areas such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, blood banking/immunohematology, urinalysis/body fluids, and laboratory operations. AMT's current MLS specifications put 21% of the exam on General Laboratory, including quality, safety, regulations, specimen handling, instrumentation, and laboratory mathematics (AMT MLS specifications).

Keeping your credential active

Comparison point ASCP Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) AMT Certification Continuation Program (CCP)
Cycle 3 years 3 years
Continuing education 36 points: 2 each in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, and microbiology; 1 in lab or patient safety; 1 in medical ethics; 26 in your lab specialty or other eligible areas (MLS, MLT) 45 points over 3 years for MLS and MLT; AMT suggests recording about 15 a year (source)
Fee $110 CMP application fee per cycle; $135 reinstatement fee is added for an expired credential $110 annual fee for MLS/MLT at the current published rate
Key timing rule Points must be earned within the current 3-year credential cycle Annual fee is due each year; CCP total is measured over the 3-year cycle

One exception: AMT medical technologists first certified on or before January 1, 2006 are grandfathered out of the CCP point requirement, though they still must keep up with the applicable annual fee (AMT MT-to-MLS FAQ).

→ Full ASCP renewal details: ASCP certification maintenance program

Do you need both?

Usually not. One current credential that satisfies your employer and any required state license is the practical goal.

Reasons to add the second one on purpose:

  • A specific employer you want requires the other board.
  • You're pursuing New York MLS/MLT licensure with an AMT credential and still need to meet NYSED's separately listed ASCP examination requirement.
  • You plan to use ASCP's MLT-to-MLS Route 2 and currently hold only MLT(AMT).

Holding one never exempts you from the other's exam. You apply under that board's routes and pass its test unless that board publishes a specific alternative route that says otherwise.

Credential names, decoded

  • MLS (medical laboratory scientist) is the current bachelor's-level name at both boards. AMT renamed its MT credential MLS and began transitioning records in early 2023 (AMT). Older titles like MT and CLS still show up in job postings, and California still licenses a "Clinical Laboratory Scientist."
  • (ASCP)CM identifies an ASCP credential maintained through the Credential Maintenance Program.
  • (ASCPi) is ASCP's international credential with separate eligibility rules. Some U.S. licensing authorities apply specific acceptance conditions to ASCPi, so check the rule that applies to your state and exam date.

Your next step

  1. Check eligibility with the official tools: ASCP Eligibility Assistant · AMT MLS and MLT eligibility.
  2. Check your state's license rule if you'll work in a licensure state (see the state examples above).
  3. Start preparing for the board you chose.

Weighing a third board such as AAB? Compare all major routes on our medical laboratory certification page.

Sources

Last verified: November 3, 2026 — ASCP and AMT fees, eligibility routes, exam format/scoring/retake rules, maintenance requirements, AMT's published 2025 MLS examination volume and pass rate, and the New York and California rules cited on this page.

Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the ASCP Board of Certification, or American Medical Technologists (AMT). Exam and credential names are used for identification; trademarks belong to their respective owners. This page is general information, not an eligibility or licensure decision — the certifying board and your state board make those.

By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team.