萝莉社

Admission Requirements

Prerequisite Coursework from a Regionally Accredited College or University Include:

• Bachelor鈥檚 Degree: A Bachelor鈥檚 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.
  • Biological Science: A minimum of 16 semester hours acceptable toward a degree or major in a biology to include general biology and microbiology (including bacteriology)
  • 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 or Clinical Microbiology
• 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鈥檚 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, molecular biology and immunology.
• 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 degree from a regional accredited college/university are required to submit a transcript evaluation verifying United States Bachelor鈥檚 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

Application Process

Admission to the 萝莉社 Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science program is open to qualified students. Students are unpaid employees of 萝莉社 Jacksonville, therefore students must be eligible for employment in the United States of America. Entrance dates are early January of each year. Applications and any supporting documentation (with the exception of Letter of Conditional Eligibility) are accepted beginning June 1^st and must be received by the Program before the close of the application period which is August 3^rd of each year. Once the application and documents have been received by the Program, the application folder will be screened for eligibility. Eligible applicants will be notified to schedule their interview. Applicants that have not completed their Bachelor鈥檚 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 or be eligible for their Bachelor鈥檚 degree prior to the start of the Program, the offer of acceptance to the Program will be withdrawn. Up to 6 students are accepted per year. It is the applicant鈥檚 responsibility to see that all required materials are forwarded as necessary.

Correspondence by US Postal service must be sent to:

Program Director
萝莉社 Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science
萝莉社 Jacksonville
580 West 8th St., Tower 1, 1st Floor Mailroom, Mailbox T-56
Jacksonville, Florida 32209-6597

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

Please submit the following:

• Complete 萝莉社 Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science application form

• A $25.00 application fee. Payment by credit card is preferable, however, check, money order and cash are accepted. Checks and money orders are made payable to the 萝莉社 Jacksonville and must be hand delivered to the Cashier鈥檚 office found on the first floor of the Clinical Center. Identification is required when paying by check or money order. For credit card payments call the Cashier鈥檚 office at 904-244-2298 Monday through Friday 7:00 am-3:00 pm. Reference all payments through the cashier be applied to cost center 610200 subaccount 491000 and make sure the receipt states 鈥淢edical Laboratory Program鈥� printed on it. If any other department/entity is used, request the cashier correct the payment. See the image below:

• Ask the Cashier to forward proof of Application fee payment to you for your records and promptly forward proof of payment to RSVP-MLS@jax.ufl.edu. Include your name on the receipt and in the subject of the email.
• Official transcripts, sent electronically or mailed directly from the registrar鈥檚 office from all colleges and universities attended. In addition, spring and fall semester transcripts for January applicants are to be forwarded as soon as available from the registrar's office. When sending transcripts electronically through services such as Parchment, select an option similar to 鈥淚鈥檓 sending this to another individual鈥� and input the Program鈥檚 contact information.
• List of courses in progress, or scheduled courses from the registrar鈥檚 office
• Three (3) references. The program staff will email requests to the references provided 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 following up and ensuring that these references be mailed or emailed timely to the Program Director, 萝莉社 Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science
• A letter of eligibility or conditional eligibility contingent upon successful graduation with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree. Degree candidates must submit a letter of "anticipated graduation" from the registrar's office of their school or academic advisor.
• A biographical sketch/personal statement that describes why the applicant has chosen the field of Medical Laboratory Science. This document is to be one-page, double spaced, and approximately 200-300 words in length.
• Official foreign transcript evaluation sent directly from the transcript evaluation company to the Program Director, 萝莉社 Jacksonville School of Medical Laboratory Science (foreign degree applicants only). Foreign transcript evaluations sent directly from the applicant are considered 鈥渦nofficial鈥� and will not be accepted as part of the application packet.

Selection Process

Factors for consideration in the selection process include grade point average (GPA) (science and overall), recommendations from references, volunteer service, work experience, number of courses repeated or withdrawn, number of recommended courses taken, course grades of C- or lower, and the interview. Select students will be asked to interview. Interviews are conducted by three or more members of the Admissions Committee after reviewing the candidate's completed folder. Interviews will be arranged through the Program Director.

The Admissions Committee consists of the program director, 2 medical directors, and 3 laboratory operations managers. The interview is used as a means to assess each applicant鈥檚 motivation, goals, communication skills, professional conduct, interpersonal skills 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 approximately three (3) months prior to start date, applicants are notified of acceptance, wait list, or denial.

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

A fee of $300.00 (subject to change) is required with the student's acceptance letter into the program. This fee is non-refundable and is applied toward tuition.

萝莉社 Jacksonville and the Program do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, or any other classification.

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.