Academic Affiliates and Program Options

The Post-Baccalaureate Program (4+1 Option)

This refers to a student who already has a bachelor’s degree upon entering a hospital based MLS program.

The Methodist Hospital MLS Program accepts applicants with bachelor’s degrees who have already taken the prerequisite courses. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees are accepted based on their qualifications and mandatory prerequisites. Students may be required to update any biology and chemistry course work that was completed more than five years prior to admission to the clinical year.

National Certification Exam

Nebraska Methodist Hospital will grant a Certificate at the successful completion of the professional MLS Program. With a bachelor’s degree and the MLS Certificate from Methodist Hospital, the graduate is eligible to take the national Board of Certification examination from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (www.ascp.org). After passing the exam, the individual becomes certified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS (ASCP).

The Undergraduate Program (3+1 Option)

This refers to an applicant who enters a training program to complete their last (senior) year of college in a hospital based medical laboratory science degree program. An affiliation agreement must be established between your university and an MLS program in order for you to enter the program as a 3+1 student.

During the first three years, the student follows a course of study concentrating on biology and chemistry at the college where the student is matriculated. Students must complete approximately 84-90 semester hours from their accredited college or university; the minimum number of semester hours is dependent on the affiliated college’s bachelor’s degree requirements. In the fourth (senior) year, all medical lab clinical courses are held at Nebraska Methodist Hospital.

Upon completion of the MLS Program and all other college requirements, the student is eligible to receive a bachelor’s degree. Nebraska Methodist Hospital will grant a certificate at the successful completion of the professional MLS Program.

National Certification Exam

With a bachelor’s degree and the MLS Certificate from Methodist Hospital, the graduate is eligible to take the national Board of Certification examination from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (www.ascp.org). After passing the exam, the individual becomes certified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS (ASCP).

Academic Affiliates

Students who meet the pre-requisites are eligible to apply. We are affiliated with:

• Wayne State College 
• North Dakota State University
• College of Saint Mary
• Northwest Missouri State University