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(904) 244-0411

Application Process

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Admission Requirements

Prerequisite Coursework from a Regionally Accredited College or University Include:

  • Bachelor’s Degree: A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biological science, or medical laboratory science with the following courses:
    • Chemistry: A minimum of 16 semester hours acceptable toward a major in chemistry to include two semesters of general chemistry with laboratory and two semesters in organic chemistry with laboratory. One semester organic chemistry with laboratory may be replaced with one semester biochemistry with laboratory. Survey and introductory courses are not acceptable. Additional recommended courses include quantitative analysis, clinical chemistry and instrumental analysis, and
    • Biological Science: A minimum of 16 semester hours acceptable toward a degree or major in a biology to include general biology, microbiology (including bacteriology) and immunology, or
    • Medical Laboratory Technology/Science: A minimum of 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses to include Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Hematology, Clinical Immunology/Serology, Clinical Immunohematology and Clinical Microbiology, or
  • Other Science Degree: A minimum of 32 semester hours of science courses that include 16 semester hours of chemistry, and 16 semester hours of biology. Not all Bachelor’s degrees qualify. Applicants that do not have Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry, Biology or related field are subject to review by the Florida Board of Laboratory Personnel.
  • Mathematics: For all degree paths, a minimum of one course in college level mathematics to include algebra, trigonometry and/or calculus. Minimum requirements are met by courses recognized as prerequisites for admission to physics courses.
  • Recommended Courses: Two semesters of physics, computer science, statistics, genetics, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology
  • General Requirements Include: Sufficient credit hours for additional courses to satisfy all pre-clinical requirements of the college/university and ensure a broad academic background, including English, social science, and humanities in which the student is enrolled in order to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the clinical program.
  • Minimum Grade Point Average: A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required. Only courses with grades of "C" or better will be considered in evaluating the prerequisite requirements listed above.

Criteria for Students with Dated Coursework

All required courses must have been completed no more than seven (7) years before application is made. Courses completed before this time must be updated in a manner acceptable to NAACLS:

  • Recent and relevant work experience in the prerequisite content areas or within a clinical laboratory.
  • Successful completion of self-study units with examinations resulting in academic and/or clinical credit.
  • Updated course work applicable to a degree with a minimum of a "C". (Most often in upper level Chemistry, Immunology, and Microbiology courses).

Credit for Previous Laboratory Experience

Applicants may be eligible to receive credit for previous clinical laboratory experience or training. Requests for consideration must be made in writing to the Program Director at the time of application. Students must submit transcripts from all previous training establishments and/or documentation of all previous experience. The Selection Committee will evaluate all transcripts and prior work experience to determine whether the student is eligible to be tested for credit. Both written and practical examinations are used to determine whether any credit for previous training or experience can be granted, thereby reducing the length of the Program. Applicants, however, are urged to participate in the entire 50-week program regardless of their previous experience. For credit to be received a student must pass all written and practical examinations for a given subject area (Microbiology, Hematology, Chemistry, Immunohematology/Blood Banking, Immunology/Serology, or Clinical Microscopy) with a score of 70% or better prior to entering the program.

Foreign Transcript Evaluation

Individuals who possess a foreign Bachelor’s degree may be considered for admission if enrolled in a United States college/university integrated medical laboratory science program, or if admitted to an accredited graduate program in a United States college/university whereby the college/university has accepted the foreign degree.

Only those students who have completed their education in a foreign country and will not be awarded a United States Bachelor’s degree from a regional accredited college/university are required to submit a transcript evaluation verifying United States Bachelor’s degree equivalency before consideration for admission into the program.

Foreign transcripts should be sent to one of the foreign transcript evaluation agencies. A list of acceptable foreign credential evaluation services can be found at the Department of Health/Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel (DOH/BCLP) website at http://floridasclinicallabs.gov/resources/

Application Process

Admission to the UF Health Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science Program is open to qualified students. Students are unpaid employees of UF Health Jacksonville, therefore students must be eligible for employment in the United States of America. Entrance dates are early January of each year. Applications and supporting documentation will be accepted beginning March 1st for the upcoming January start date. With the exception of Letter of Conditional Eligibility, the application and all documentation must be received by August 3 of each year. Once the application and documents have been received by the Program, selected students will be notified to schedule an in person interview. Students that have not completed their Bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program, must furnish a Letter of Conditional Eligibility from the Registrar of their college or university at least two (2) months before the date for which admission is requested. These students may be admitted to the program on a conditional basis. Should the student fail to obtain their Bachelor’s degree or be eligible for their Bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the Program, the offer of acceptance to the Program will be withdrawn. Up to six (6) students are accepted per year. It is the applicant’s responsibility to see that all required materials are forwarded as necessary.

Correspondence by US Postal service must be sent to:

Program Director
UF Health Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science
UF Health Jacksonville
580 W. 8th St., Tower 1, First Floor Mailroom, Box T-56
Jacksonville, Florida 32209-6597

Correspondence via email must be sent to RSVP-MLS@jax.ufl.edu.

Please submit the following:

  • Complete UF Health Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science application form
  • A $25.00 application fee. Payment may be made by credit card, check or money order payable to the UF Health Jacksonville and place School of Medical Laboratory Science on the MEMO line on the check or money order and submit with your application. Payments in cash may be made directly to the Cashier’s office on the first floor of the clinical center. Credit card payments may be made over the phone to the Cashier’s office at 904-244-2298. Reference all payments through the cashier be applied to the "Medical Laboratory Program" cost center 610200, subaccount 491000. The cashier button color is lime green.
  • Request the Cashier’s office forward proof of Application fee payment to you for student records and promptly forward proof of payment to Program staff at RSVP-MLS@jax.ufl.edu. Include your name in the subject line.
  • Official transcripts, mailed directly from the registrars' office from all colleges and universities attended. In addition, spring semester transcripts for January applicants are to be forwarded as soon as available from the registrar's office.
  • List of courses in progress, or scheduled courses from the registrar’s office
  • Three (3) references. The program staff will email reference forms to the individual references on the application.
    • At least two (2) references must be from college/university biology and/or chemistry professors
    • The third reference may be a professional reference.
    • The applicant is responsible for requesting that these references be sent to the Program Director, UF Health Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science
  • A letter of eligibility or conditional eligibility contingent upon successful graduation with a Bachelor’s degree. Degree candidates must submit a letter of "anticipated graduation" from the registrar's office of their school.
  • A one-page biographical sketch and personal statement describing why the applicant has chosen the field of Medical Laboratory Science
  • Official foreign transcript evaluation to be forwarded to the Program Director, UF Health Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science, by the transcript evaluation office. (Foreign degree applicants only.)

Selection Process

Factors for consideration in the selection process include grade point average (GPA) (science & overall), recommendations, volunteer service, work experience, number of repeated classes, course grades of D and F, and the interview. Select students will be invited to interview. Interviews are conducted by three or more members of the Admissions Committee after reviewing the candidate's completed file. Personal interviews will be arranged through the Program Director and Program Staff.

The Admissions Committee consists of the Program Director, Medical Director, faculty, and/or members of the Advisory Committee. The interview is used as a means to assess each applicant’s motivation, goals, communication and interpersonal skills, professional conduct, and a realistic concept of commitment to the medical laboratory science profession.

After all applications are reviewed and the selected applicants have been interviewed, the Admissions Committee chooses six of the best candidates for initial admission and creates a pool of alternate candidates. At least four (4) month prior to start date, applicants are notified of acceptance or denial along with letters to alternates.

Admission may be refused to any student who does not meet stated criteria.

A fee of $300.00 (subject to change) is required along with an acceptance letter by the student acknowledging their acceptance of the program offer. This fee is non-refundable and is applied toward tuition.

After the position is accepted, students are required to complete a health screening, background check and urine drug screening through Employee Health prior to orientation. Students who fail the health and/or drug screening will be dismissed from the program.

UF Health Jacksonville and the school does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, or any other.

Essential Functions (General Physical, Mental, and Behavior Expectations

The essential functions (technical standards) are the essential non-academic requirements of the program and are functional capabilities required in order to successfully participate in the program.

  • Visual acuity to identify cellular structure under the microscope.
  • Discriminate/Differentiate shades/hues of color.
  • Physical and manual dexterity to collect, process and analyze lab test specimens in a timely fashion as well as process sharps, and biological and chemical hazards without endangering self and others.
  • Ability to communicate with patients, visitors and other medical staff (written and oral or written and sign language).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Essential Functions are discussed with applicants at the time of interview. Copies of ADA Essential Functions are distributed to students at the time of acceptance into the program. For a comprehensive list, refer to Appendix 2 of the Student Handbook.

COMMUNICATION:

The Medical Laboratory Science Student must be able to:

  • Follow verbal and written instructions.
  • Communicate with faculty members, fellow students, laboratory staff, and other health care professionals both verbally and in writing.
  • Clearly instruct patients prior to specimen collection.
  • Independently take examinations (written, practical, computer).

MOVEMENT:

The Medical Laboratory Science Student must be able to:

  • Move freely and safely around the laboratory.
  • Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves.
  • Reach patients (both lying and seated) and maneuver equipment for specimen collection.
  • Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged standing or sitting, over several hours.
  • Perform fine hand manipulations with dexterity.
  • Use a computer keyboard.

OBSERVATION:

The Medical Laboratory Science Student must be able to:

  • Read and comprehend text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print or on a video monitor.
  • Observe laboratory demonstrations.
  • Characterize the color, odor, clarity and viscosity of biologicals and laboratory chemicals/reagents.
  • Use a binocular microscope to discriminate among fine structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences.

Upon acceptance into the program the student will be required to sign a statement documenting that they have read and understand the essential functions of a Medical Laboratory Science student.