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Admission Requirements

Minimum Academic Requirements

The following prerequisites are considered minimum academic requirements for admission:

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university OR completion of a prescribed curriculum at an affiliated college or university culminating in a baccalaureate degree upon successful completion of the clinical program;   
• 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of credit acceptable toward a major in chemistry including a course in organic chemistry or biochemistry; 
• 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of credit acceptable toward a major in biology. One course in microbiology is required. Immunology is required either as part of the microbiology or as a separate course; and 
• One course in college level mathematics, preferably statistics.  

Desirable electives include quantitative analytical chemistry, anatomy and physiology, genetics, physics, statistics, bioinformatics, and management courses. First consideration for admission to the program will be given to students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.

In addition to the academic requirements, students must possess skills and capabilities including the manual dexterity, visual acuity, and mobility necessary to obtain blood specimens, perform complex manual and instrumental laboratory analyses, and use computer keyboards. They must also be able to communicate orally in English both in person and by telephone. 

Applicants who met the minimum academic requirements seven or more years prior to application must update their academic preparation. Contact the program director for additional instructions.

International Applicants

International applicants holding a baccalaureate degree must:

• Have their transcripts evaluated by an ASCP approved agency to determine the U.S. degree equivalency.  Go to www.ascp.org for a list of approved agencies.
• Take at least 12 semester hours at an accredited U.S. baccalaureate academic institution.  Courses taken will be determined by the Program Director and may include, but are not limited to, Immunology, Microbiology, Genetics, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis and Statistics.
• Submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if native language is not English. Minimum scores required are as follows:
• Internet based - 83
• Computer based - 220 

The Medical Laboratory Science Program does not sponsor student visas. Program participants must be legally authorized to live and attend school in the US. Contact the program director for further information.

Application Procedure

Medical Laboratory Science Program Application Forms are available online; you can print the file, complete it, and return by mail as indicated. If you prefer, the forms can be mailed to you upon request.

The deadline for submitting an application is November 15 for the July class and August 15 for the January class, the year before the date of desired enrollment.

The following materials must be submitted in making application to the program

• A legible and complete Application (instructions are included on the downloadable form); 
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended; 
• Three reference forms (included in application form packet) completed by a biology professor, a chemistry professor, and a recent employer or college advisor;  
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) scores if from a nonaffiliated school; and  
• Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for any applicant whose primary language is not English.  
• A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00 must accompany each application. 

Following receipt of the application, transcript(s), and reference forms, applicants who are to be considered further will be asked to schedule personal interviews with members of the Admissions Committee.

Selections are based on college academic record, standardized test scores, recommendations of teachers, and impressions made in personal interviews.

The Program in Medical Laboratory Science of the Wake Forest Baptist Health will consider the application of any qualified individual and is committed to administer all educational and employment activities without discrimination in regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, or handicap.