Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
From Lab Tech to Clinical Lab Leader
Pursue or Build on ASCP Certification
Study Online at a Top 65 University1
95% Employment Within 3 Months
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about our programs.*
*Note, 45 transferrable credits required to apply for BSHS and BSHS/MSHS dual degree programs.
Designed for Ambitious Medical Lab Techs
Prepare to oversee important scientific discoveries with online degrees and certificates from the George Washington University (GW). Our distinguished faculty will support you during online programs that offer a bridge to an ASCP certification and in-demand positions. You can build qualifications to become a lead medical lab technician (MLT) or manager of clinical microbiology and MLS/MT/CLS teams.
Online Degrees That Enable Success in MLS, MLT, MT, and Microbiology Roles
Employment data indicates clinical lab technician and technologist openings will rise faster than most other jobs over the next decade.2 With GW’s online degrees and certificates, you can attain the qualifications needed to sit for ASCP MLS certification exams,* become a medical lab technician, or advance into clinical microbiology laboratory management.
Online Degree Programs That Serve as a Bridge to Lab Tech Management
MLS/MT/CLS Manager $92,120 per year3
Clinical Laboratory Supervisor $73,639 per year4
Clinical Research Manager $78,251 per year5
Blood Bank Supervisor $82,487 per year6
Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Curriculum
Students admitted into the GW Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) programs must complete the required courses on a part-time, lock-step basis. The lock-step design ensures courses are taken in a specific order while assisting students in managing their course workload by setting course load standards per enrollment session.
GW has designed these online degree and certificate programs for working professionals. The program plans are thoughtfully created to provide the best experience for the student and the shortest time to completion possible. Unfortunately, this lock-step format does not allow for changes or modifications to the program plan.
Additionally, it is important to note that leaves of absence can disrupt the student’s future enrollment due to the scheduling and availability of subsequent courses required to complete the online degree or certificate program. Leaves of absence can lead to an additional forced break while also prolonging the completion of the program.
An Exceptional Success Rate
- GW grads have a 100% overall pass rate for the ASCP MLS board of certification exam vs. 69.14% for the national average*
- More than 95% of GW graduates are employed in the field within three months of program completion
- GW is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- GW was ranked No. 62 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best National University rankings1
Frequently Asked Questions
As you explore an online program at the George Washington University, our dedicated staff is here to support you. If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 844-386-7323.
View All FAQsOnline classes are designed to take the same amount of time as on-campus classes. They are taught by GW faculty members and have comparable assignments to campus programs that can be completed off-site. Time spent per course varies by the course’s length and credit hours. For example, students are expected to spend approximately 14 hours per week working on an eight week long, three-credit hour course and 7.5 hours per week working on a fifteen week, three-credit hour course. As an off-campus student, you also save time that on-campus students spend commuting.
While most studies will be completed online, your program may require you to visit campus during the course of your studies.
No, you do not need to attend class at a specific time. Our online courses are designed to be asynchronous, giving you flexibility.
Assignments will have specified due dates that must be met. Students are expected to read the weekly readings, participate in online weekly discussion boards and other asynchronous group activities, and submit papers and other assignments through the online learning management system.
Yes, an academic advisor will work with you throughout the admissions process, scheduling classes, and the course of your studies. GW also offers our online students 24/7 technical support.
Students in GW’s master’s, bachelor’s and post-bachelor’s programs may be eligible for financial aid. Students seeking graduate certificates are not eligible for federal financial aid.
You may also be able to benefit from loans, institutional scholarships, merit- or need-based grants, employer reimbursement programs, and more. Explore your options on our Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Yes, GW is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
You can request more information to speak with a GW program manager, or you can begin the application process today.
Yes. GW’s transcript ordering service is available to interested applicants of the programs listed on this website. The service is designed to make the application process simpler for you, while also helping us expedite the admissions decision on your behalf. Our transcript services team will order all domestic transcripts once you decide to allow us to help you with this task.
The George Washington University will only request and pay for your domestic college transcripts that allow third-party requests up to the point of admission to the university. This means that any coursework completed after you are advised of an admission decision, including coursework you are currently completing, will still need to be submitted by you.
It is your responsibility to request and purchase these additional transcripts to complete your file. This information may be used to determine your eligibility for financial aid, admission, and potential transfer credits. Additionally, some institutions may require you to obtain your official transcripts directly; if this is the case, we will contact you.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Colleges Rankings: George Washington University. Retrieved May 9, 2023, from https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/george-washington-university-131469
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021 September 8). Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. Retrieved January 7, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm.
- American Journal of Clinical Pathology. (2020 November 18). American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2019 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States. Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article/155/5/649/5987744.
- Payscale. (2021 December 19). Average Laboratory Supervisor, Medical / Clinical Salary. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Laboratory_Supervisor%2C_Medical_%2F_Clinical/Salary.
- Payscale.com. (2022 January 7). Average Clinical Research Manager Salary. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Research_Manager/Salary.
- Payscale. (2021 November 12). Average Blood Bank Supervisor Salary. Retrieved on January 5, 2022, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Blood_Bank_Supervisor/Hourly_Rate.
*While the completion of this program will make graduates eligible to register for an ASCP Board of Certification Exam, this does not automatically guarantee a graduate will also meet their state’s requirements for state licensure (if applicable). Since each state may have different requirements for licensure, each student is encouraged to contact their state’s regulating agency and review these requirements prior to beginning any degree program.
Please be aware that the fully online post-baccalaureate certificate programs do not meet the student lab requirement for New York state licensure. Also, for those applying to the fully online post-baccalaureate categorical certificates in hematology, microbiology, blood banking, and chemistry, the state of New York does not provide licensure for categorical certification (e.g., Technologist in Microbiology, Technologist in Blood Banking, etc.). We recommend that students who live in New York or plan to relocate to New York do research to determine the NY licensure requirements.