MLT Practice Test

The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) exam is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) association and the ASCP Certification Board as a way to obtain MLT certification. Earning your MLT certification demonstrates your dedication, professionalism, and preparation as a medical laboratory technician.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free MLT practice test, and check out our premium-quality MLT test prep resources by clicking the links below!

MLT Exam Eligibility

There are four accepted routes of eligibility, one of which you’ll need to complete to sit for the MLT exam.

MLT Exam Outline

The MLT exam contains 210 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 3 hours.

This exam is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), so depending on your performance, the difficulty of your test will increase or decrease as you go on.

Here’s a look at how it works:

The first question is judged to be of medium difficulty, and depending on your performance, the next question may be easier or harder. If you do well on the first question, the second question will be harder; conversely, if you do poorly on the first question, the second question will be easy.

The exam is split into nine content areas:

I. General Laboratory (30 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• Laboratory quality
• Laboratory laws and regulations
• Laboratory safety
• Laboratory instrumentation, maintenance, and principles of operation
• Laboratory mathematics
• General microscopy
• Phlebotomy and specimen collection
• Patient identification
• Waived testing

II. Chemistry (41 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Instrumentation
• Renal function tests
• Hepatic function tests
• Carbohydrate metabolism
• Protein analysis
• Enzymology
• Endocrinology
• Lipids
• Water and electrolytes
• Acid-base balance
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Other chemistry procedures

III. Hematology (38 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Erythrocyte procedures
• Leukocyte procedures
• Thrombocyte procedures
• special procedures
• Automated instrumentation

IV. Coagulation and Hemostasis (11 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Coagulation procedures

V. Immunology and Serology (8 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Serological tests for syphilis
• Analytic procedures
• Special procedures

VI. Immunohematology (22 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Blood typing
• Immune response
• Compatibility testing principles and procedures
• Rh immune globulin
• Special tests

VII. Blood Banking and Transfusion Services (17 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Blood banking practices

VIII. Microbiology (20 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• Bacteiology
• General knowledge
• Media quality control, techniques, and cultures
• Bacterial identification
• Special tests
• Virology
• Parasitology
• Mycology

IX. Urinalysis and Body Fluids (23 questions)

The questions in this area cover the following topics:

• General knowledge
• Renal function
• Urinalysis procedures
• Special tests

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MLT Exam Registration

Registration for the MLT exam is completed online, and includes sending a valid photo ID, any necessary documentation, and the $225 exam fee, which is nonrefundable.

In some cases, the MLT exam may be available at your school. In that case, your faculty will be able to provide you with details for times and specific locations. If you aren’t sitting for the exam at your school, you may choose to take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center. Once you apply, you’ll be sent an official AMT letter with the next steps for scheduling your testing time and location.

Test Day

You should arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before your exam is scheduled to begin. Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide your authorization letter and two forms of ID. During the check-in process, your photo will be taken and a fingerprint/palm vein image will be taken.

In general, avoid bringing any personal items with you, such as a cell phone, pencils, bags, hats, etc.

How the MLT Exam is Scored

As soon as you complete your MLT exam, you will receive immediate notice of your pass/fail status. If you pass, you’ll receive an official certificate and card by mail within two weeks. As a special note, keep in mind that even if you receive a passing score, you won’t be officially certified until you physically receive your official documents in the mail from AMT.

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How to Study for the MLT Exam

How to Study Effectively

Your success on MLT test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking MLT practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free MLT exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:

• The questions you got wrong
• The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
• The ones you found difficult or slow to work through

This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.

Answer Explanations

Additionally, many MLT practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.

Comprehend Each Topic

As you go along, keep in mind that the MLT practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.

Strategy for MLT Practice

When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:

• Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.

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By Kate Nockunas

Kate has been Mometrix’s Nursing and Medical Editor for over four years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Vanderbilt University, a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Marymount University, and a master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins. Kate is a critical care registered nurse who still works occasionally in the ICU and PACU.