Academic Requirements
Academic Requirements
Applicants to the Medical Laboratory Science Program must have completed a baccalaureate degree in chemistry, biological sciences or medical technology or must be enrolled in a degree program at one of the academic institutions with which the Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science has a formal affiliation. Before admission to a hospital-based medical laboratory science program, applicants must have completed all pre-clinical medical laboratory science requirements of the college and must be eligible for a baccalaureate degree at the completion of the clinical program.
Prerequisites for admission to the Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science include the following courses. Applicants must have completed these courses by the end of the Fall semester preceding entry to the program.
- Chemistry – 16 semester hours. Organic and/or biological chemistry must be included.
- Biological science – 16 semester hours. Microbiology (including bacteriology) and immunology must be included.
- Mathematics – a minimum of one course in college-level mathematics. The content of chemistry and biological science courses must be acceptable towards a major in those fields or in medical technology, or must be certified by the college/university as equivalent. Survey courses do not qualify as fulfillment of chemistry and biological science prerequisites. Remedial mathematics courses do not satisfy the mathematics requirements.
Science coursework must be completed within 7 years prior to enrollment. Individuals who meet the minimum requirements 7 years or more prior to application are requested to update their coursework in immunology. Other areas suggested for updating include microbiology, organic and or biochemistry.
GPA Requirement
The applicant must possess at least a 2.5 GPA cumulative from all colleges/universities attended and at least a 2.5 GPA in the sciences which is calculated from the required courses listed above.
Non-Academic Requirements for Admission
Personal Qualifications
Personal qualifications for a career in Medical Laboratory Science include an interest in science and medicine, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills and a genuine desire to help others. Other requirements include good communication skills, good judgment, a sense of personal responsibility and the ability to work cooperatively with others. In addition, good general health, endurance, and a willingness to work long hours, both in school and on the job, are essential.
Application Process
Applicants must submit the following:
- Three professional letters of recommendation are required. References may be from current/previous faculty or from an employer or individual familiar with the applicant's character. Recommendation letters may be sent directly from the reference source to the Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science. Recommendation letters may also be emailed directly from the source to the program supervisor at Urvi.Bhula@inova.org.
- Students working toward a degree in Medical Laboratory Science should instruct the university to send a letter to the program supervisor, stating that Medical Laboratory Science prerequisites will be completed upon entry into the clinical program and that the student will be eligible for a baccalaureate degree at the end of this program.
- Applicants who completed their education training outside the U.S. must have their educational transcripts evaluated for U.S. equivalency by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission. (Refer here for a list of qualified companies) The applicant pays for the examination and credential evaluation services. The official transcript evaluation must be sent directly from the official credential evaluation source to the Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science.
- Students accepted into the Medical Laboratory Science Program are considered employees of the Inova Fairfax Hospital: therefore applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
- To become a team member, the federal government requires a form of identification proving eligibility to work in the United States. Examples of acceptable documents include Social Security Account Number and Permanent Resident card.
- Employment is contingent upon having satisfactorily passed all parts of the employment process which includes a health assessment, background check and a drug screen.
Essential Functions
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences requires the Medical Laboratory Science Program to publish the essential functions of the program. This information is to be used to become aware and informed of the skills required in the performance of the duties of a medical laboratory scientist and to assess your ability to complete such duties. These essential requirements reflect performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the Medical Laboratory Science Program. These standards are not conditions of admission to the program. Prior to admission each student must agree that they can, and are prepared to meet these requirements with or without reasonable accommodation. The program will provide reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with disabilities.