Undergraduate

MLS Application Procedures

OVERVIEW

Medical Technologists, or Clinical Laboratory Scientists, analyze human blood, tissues, and bodily fluids, or supervise the performance of thousands of types of medical laboratory tests using a wide variety of precision instruments. They may also conduct research and develop scientific hods to advance the study of disease processes.

Per CDC: 70% of today’s medical decisions depend on laboratory test results, showing the important role of clinical laboratories in today’s healthcare system. 260,000 CLIA-certified laboratories across the country represent the cornerstone of diagnostic medicine today. 14 billion laboratory tests are ordered annually—safety, quality, and cost effectiveness in laboratory testing are required for effective diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Medical Technologists exercise independent judgment, correlate test results, and interpret test findings. Physicians depend on Medical Technologists to produce reliable and valid results which may be used in determine the presence, extent, and possible causes of disease.

About the Profession

The medical laboratory scientist is qualified by academic and applied science education to provide service and research in clinical laboratory science and related areas in rapidly changing and dynamic healthcare delivery systems. Medical laboratory scientists perform, develop, evaluate, correlate and assure accuracy and validity of laboratory information; direct and supervise clinical laboratory resources and operations; and collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The medical laboratory scientist has diverse and multi‐level functions in the principles, hodologies and performance of assays; problem‐solving; troubleshooting techniques; interpretation and evaluation of clinical procedures and results; statistical approaches to data evaluation; principles and practices of quality assurance/quality improvement; and continuous assessment of laboratory services for all major areas practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory.

Medical laboratory scientists possess the skills necessary for financial, operations, marketing, and human resource management of the clinical laboratory. Medical laboratory scientists practice independently and collaboratively, being responsible for their own actions, as defined by the profession. They have the requisite knowledge and skills to educate laboratory professionals, other health care professionals, and others in laboratory practice as well as the public.

The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgment and a demonstration of commitment to the patient are essential qualities. Communications skills extend to consultative interactions with members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. - NAACLS Standards

Employment prospects for MLS (Formerly Tech)

One of the fastest growing health fields in the past decade, employment prospects are expected to continue to be excellent in the coming decade. Our program has a nearly 100% success in job placement and in passing licensure exams. The majority of Medical Technologists find employment in hospital laboratories. Medical Technologists may specialize in several different areas, including clinical chemistry, blood banking, hematology, microbiology, immunology, urinalysis, and toxicology.

USF offers a BS degree in Medical Technology, which includes three years of study on campus and a fourth year of internship at one of three participating hospitals: Tampa General (Tampa), Bayfront Health (St. Petersburg), and St. Vincent's Medical Center (Jacksonville).

 

Before the Application Process

Acceptance into the hospital internships is competitive and is not guaranteed. Students who are not accepted are offered the option of completing an alternative degree program, including the B.S. Degree in Biomedical Sciences and applying to hospital internships independently. Talk to an advisor for more information.

Please see "Hospital Information" at the bottom of this page for additional information about each hospital.

International Students

If you are an International student attending USF on a student visa, you MUST be authorized to work in the United States in order to be eligible for the Internship. 

Once you arrive at USF, it is critical that you apply for a Social Security Number (usually obtained based on seeking on-campus employment). If you are admitted to the Internship and are not authorized to work in the US or have not obtained a Social Security Number, you may not be able to complete the Internship and degree.

MLS Program Advisor
To know more about the academic side of the program, meet with the MLS Program Advisor: Mark Johnson. 
Click here to schedule an appointment.

MLS Coordinator
The MLS Coordinator will complie the submitted Preliminary Graduation Check, Letter of Evaluation Waiver Paperwork, & Letters of Evaluation to submit to the applied hospitals on your behalf.
For any questions or concerns please reach out to Matt Fernandez, MLS Coordinator
Fall 2026 Applicants, if you are not in the canvas group, please reach out! 

All internship application information (documents & submission loactions) will be communicated through the Fall 2026 Internship Application canvas group. 

Application Deadlines
  Fall 2026 Applications
Preliminary Graduation Check & Letter of Evaluation Waiver Paperwork: Friday, October 30th
Letters of Evaluation: Friday, Nov. 20th
Hospital Application:

Apply through hosptial

TGH
Bayfront
St. Vincent's
Final Graduation Check:

Once Admitted, submit paperwork to request final graduation check. 

April-May 2027

 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

ONLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE HOSPITAL ADMISSION COMMITTEES. WE ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FOR ALL THREE HOSPITALS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE
  1.  Reach out to the MLS Coordinator to be put on the Canvas page
    All internship application information (documents & submission locations) will be communicated through the canvas page.
    • Unofficial transcripts will be submitted by the MLS Coordinator on student's behalf
    • Make sure you have informed your advisors that you are a part of this upcoming application cycle so you can be in the canvas group to receive important details about the documents and specific submission locations.

  2. Submit the Preliminary Grad Check Paperwork
    • This will be sent to Matt Fernandez. May be sent by email.
    • See canvas updates for submission location.

  3. Submit the Waiver Paperwork for the Letters of Evaluation
    • You have the choice to waive your rights to seeing the letters of evaluation.
    • This will be sent to Matt Fernandez. May be sent by email.
    • See canvas updates for submission location.

  4. Evaluation Paperwork (Letters of Recommendation)
    Each hospital Program requires the following minimums and maximums for letters of recommendation: 
    • Directors will need formal written letters AND evaluation sheets. These are two separate sheets. One being the Evaluation letter linked above and one being the letter of reccomendation itself.
    • Must be 3-5 letters
    • At least 2 must be Science faculty as letter writers (minimum, can be other universities)
    • ALL evaluations and letters of reccomendations must be sent to Matt Fernandez (mbfernandez@usf.edu) and will then be sent to the hospitals the student applied to on their behalf

  5. Apply to the Hospitals.
    The application itself is done by the student on the Hospitals' website. Please see below for a direct link to each application
  6. Submit the Final Grad Check Paperwork before the Internship.
  7. Submit Official Transcript to hospitial after acception
    • Once accepted to a program, it is the *STUDENT'S* responsibility to send their OFFICIAL USF Transcripts to the respective hospital, along with transcripts from any other institutions you have attended.

Hospital Information/MLS Webpages

Tampa General Hospital (Tampa)

Bayfront Hospital/Orlando Health (St. Pete)

St. Vincent's Hospital/Ascension (Jacksonville)

 

RELATED WEBSITES TO EXPLORE

Career information

Training, Accreditation, and Certification information

Potential Employers of Medical Technologists