Frequently Asked Questions

Early Application Deadline: December 1
Regular Application Deadline: April 1
Late Application Deadline: June 15

Grades in prescribed courses are very important (at least a 2.0 is necessary for serious consideration); however motivation and knowledge about the field of Medical Laboratory Science are also very important. These are discussed during the interview conducted with invited applicants who qualify based on their GPA. To be prepared for this discussion, applicants should visit a clinical laboratory at least once before coming for the interview. Also, remember that UTHSC calculates GPA?s by including all attempts at a course, not just the last grade earned in a repeated course. You must have at least a 2.0 overall by UT calculations in order to enroll.

Yes, you can be accepted, but before you enroll in September, all prerequisite coursework must be successfully completed.

MLT professional course credits transfer only as electives. General education credits do transfer. You must make sure to take transferable courses, particularly in chemistry and biology. Your college advisor knows which courses are transferable.

Yes, you must take all the courses here at UTHSC listed in the professional curriculum. Even though some of the courses may appear to be similar from their titles, they are really quite different and there should be little overlap.

We urge you to take liberal arts and humanities rather than additional science courses. This is to ensure a well rounded education because you will get plenty of science at UTHSC. Courses in microcomputer applications are desirable.

Yes! There is a great need for Medical Laboratory Scientists in a variety of health care settings and students usually have several job opportunities upon graduation. Beginning salaries in Tennessee range from $42,000 to $45,000 per year depending on the institution and the shift worked. Salaries are expected to increase yearly.

For students who do not already have a BS degree, several federal scholarship and loan programs are available, eg., Pell, Stafford, etc. For students with a BS degree, loans are available but at a higher interest rate than federal subsidized loans. In addition several laboratories in Memphis have established scholarship loan programs for individuals who agree to work for them upon graduation. Many labs also employ MLS students evenings and weekends.

No. At this time we have only the full-time program.

Tennessee is one of several states that require a license in order to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in many laboratories in the state. To apply for a state license one must pass a written national certification examination that recognizes competence. Graduation from the Medical Laboratory Science program confers eligibility for the various exams that are available.

Yes, and this is one of the advantages of the UTHSC program. We assign students to many of the major hospitals in Memphis and several outside of Memphis, in West and Middle Tennessee. We are fortunate to have the strong support of the laboratory community in this area who are major employers of our graduates.

In addition to the wide variety of sites where students gain their clinical experience, UTHSC has a number of unique educational opportunities available because Memphis is a major medical center. Students are able to interact with many other health professionals and to experience a wide variety of laboratory settings which prepare them for any type of work responsibilities they may encounter after graduation. As the oldest Medical Laboratory Science program in the United States, UTHSC has a long history of distinguished graduates who have been successful in every aspect of clinical laboratory science. Thus we feel a responsibility, not only to provide an excellent technical and scientific education, but also to prepare students for roles as laboratory managers, educators, and leaders in the profession. The professional curriculum has been designed with these goals in mind. Our faculty and curriculum also enjoy a national reputation for excellence and for contributions to the field of Medical Laboratory Science through publications and leadership roles. It is important to note that the UTHSC Program in Medical Laboratory Science graduates more clinical laboratory professionals than any other program in the state, and our graduates are in great demand by employers throughout the state and region.

The College of Health Professions strives to create a diverse student body that is representative of a wide range of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds and maintains excellence in each program. All qualified in-state and-out of-state individuals who meet the admissions requirements for the academic programs offered by the College are encouraged to apply and will be considered fully. However, as a state-supported institution, preference for admission will be given to residents of the state of Tennessee who have the same qualifications as non-resident applicants.