Home >
About
Mission, Vision, and Value Statements of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Mission Statement:
The National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is committed to being the premier agency for international accreditation of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines.
Vision Statement:
Medical laboratories preferentially seek graduates of NAACLS programs to assure quality, value, innovation and safety for healthcare consumers.
Values:
Quality
Education
Innovation
Collaboration
Peer Review
Global Accreditation
A process of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in clinical laboratory science disciplines of Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Doctoral Clinical Laboratory Scientist (DCLS), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Cytogenetic Technologist (CG), Diagnostic Molecular Scientist (DMS), Histotechnician (HT), Histotechnologist (HTL), and Pathologists' Assistant (Path A), Phlebotomist (Phleb). All accredited programs are required to submit a self-study and host a site visit in the cyclical review process. Accredited programs are eligible for a maximum award of ten years. These programs must either grant the associate degree or higher or a certificate of completion (if students already hold a degree) upon the successful culmination. The NAACLS Accreditation process is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
International Accreditation Policy
The NAACLS Board of Directors has voted to open the accreditation process to laboratory programs located outside the United States. Such programs are invited to have the chief executive officer submit letters of intent to seek NAACLS accreditation. All materials sent to NAACLS regarding accreditation must be submitted in English.
The steps of the accreditation process for international programs are identical to the steps for United States programs and are found in the Guide to Accreditation and Approval. These include an application for accreditation, attainment of serious applicant status, submission of a self study document, and an on-site evaluation.
The program is expected to meet the Standards as defined by NAACLS. The sponsoring academic institution must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency for higher education and must be authorized under applicable law to provide post secondary education and to grant the appropriate degree.
The program is expected to pay the application fee, all costs associated with the on-site visit (including business class air fare), plus an annual fee.
Who We Are
About Board of Directors
President
ASCLS Representative (2021 - 2025)
Maribeth L. Flaws, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM(ASCP)SI
Rush University Medical Center
Email
ASCP Representative (2020-2024)
Karen A. Brown, MS, MASCP, MLS (ASCP)cm
Medical Laboratory Sciences,
University of Utah
Email
Treasurer
ASCP Representative (2020 -2024)
Joel M. Shilling, MD(FASCP)
Email
Member at Large
Four Year Educator (2019 - 2023)
Julie O'Sullivan Maillet, PhD, RD, FASAHP
Email
AAPA Representative (2019 - 2023)
Robert Cottrell, MHS, PA(ASCP)cm
Quinnipiac University
Email
ASCLS Representative (2021 - 2025)
Christie L Massen, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
North Dakota Department of Health
Email
ASCLS Representative (2019 – 2023)
Suzanne Norris Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM
Laboratory Solutions
Email
ASCP Representative (2022 - 2026)
Nathan H. Johnson, Ph.D., MASCP, MT(ASCP)DLM, SC, SLS, FASCHE
College of Health Professions at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Email
AGT Representitive (2021 - 2025)
Jun Gu, MD, PhD, CG(ASCP)CM, SM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email
NSH Representative (2020-2024)
Mark A. Bailey, MA, HTL(ASCP)CM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email
Public Member (2021 - 2025)
Nathan Marik, MBA
Bank of the West
Email
Two Year Educator (2021 - 2025)
Elaina Bleifield, PhD
Inver Hills Community College
Email
About Doctoral Review Committee
Chair
MLS Graduate Faculty (2020-2024)
S. Renee Hodgkins, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
University of Kansas Medical Center
Email
Vice Chair
Doctoral Level Clinical Laboratory Educator (2020-2024)
Nadine Lerret, Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)CM
Rush University
Email
Member at Large (2019-2023)
Brenda C. Barnes, PhD, MT(ASCP), SBB
Allen College
Email
Clinical Laboratory Sciences Industry Executive or Leader (2021-2025)
Jennifer Thebo,
JuST Scientific Solutions, LLC
Email
Dept. Chair, Vice President/Provost, or Dean (2021-2025)
Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, MT(ASCP)
Quinnipiac University
Email
DCLS Practitioner (2019-2023)
Brandy D Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Email
Board Liaison to DRC
Julie O'Sullivan Maillet, PhD, RD, FASAHP
Email
About NAACLS Staff
Chief Executive Officer
Marisa K. James, MA, MT(ASCP)CM
Email
Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator
Russ DeCaluwe
Email
Staff
Meetings and Events Planner
Megan Hennessy Eggert
(773) 714-8880
Email
Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator and Board Liaison
Michele Giannosa
Email
Staff
Accountant
Francine Schwartz
Email
Staff
IT Manager
Elizabeth Swartz
Email
Staff
Program Approval Coordinator & Volunteer Services Manager
Mark Spence
Email
Staff
Accounting Associate
Jennifer Loyo
Email
Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator and Review Liaison
Jessy Jasso
Email
Staff
Program Services Associate
Stefanie Troxell
Email
About Programs Approval Review Committee
Chair
Phlebotomy Educator (2022 - 2026)
Keri Brophy-Martinez, MHA, MT(ASCP)
Austin Community College
Email
Vice Chair
Phlebotomy Educator (2021 - 2025)
Phyllis Ingham, EdD, MEd, MT(ASCP)
West Georgia Technical College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2021- 2025)
Laura Ahonen, MS, MT(ASCP)
Northcentral Technical College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2021- 2025)
Terri McElhattan, MHA, MT, PBT (ASCP) CPI (ACA)
Geisinger Health System
Email
Phlebotomy Practitioner (2020-2024)
Marilyn S. McCain, MBA, H(ASCP)
Grady Health System
Email
Clinical Assistant Educator (2021- 2025)
Rita Miller, EdD, MLS(ASCP)
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2019 - 2023)
Tywan G. Banks, M.Ed., PBT (ASCP)
Columbus State Community College
Email
Clinical Assistant Educator (2020 - 2024)
Andrea Stone, MPA, MT(ASCP)
Moraine Valley Community College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2024)
Michelle M. Hill, MS, MT(ASCP)SLS
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Email
Board Liaison to PARC
Susanne Norris Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM
Laboratory Solutions
Email
About Review Committee for Accredited Programs
Chair
MLT Educator (2020 - 2024)
Andrea Gordon, MEd, MT(ASCP)SH
Email
Chair Elect
Four Year Educator (2021 - 2025)
Charity E. Accurso, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM
University of Cincinnati
Email
Pathologist's Assistant Practitioner (2020 - 2024)
William F. Ahlfeld, MS, PA(ASCP)
Email
Pathologists’ Assistant Educator (2022 - 2026)
Michelle M Costas, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
West Virginia University Department of Pathology
Email
MLS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Ramona Fox, MS, MT(ASCP)
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Email
MLS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Jeanne Isabel, EdD, MLS, SH(ASCP)
Northern Illinois University
Email
MLS Educator (2021 - 2025)
Janna Schill, PhD, MS, MT(ASCP)
Email
MLS Educator (2021 - 2025)
Dawn Tripolino, MBA, MT(ASCP)
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
Email
MLS Educator (2019 - 2023)
Jennifer Knight, MHS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
Email
MLS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Elizabeth A. Gockel-Blessing, PhD, MLS(ASCP)cm
St. Louis University
Email
MLS Educator (2021 - 2025)
Carol Rentas, PhD, MEd, MT(ASCP)
George Washington University
Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
Email
MLS Educator (2022 - 2026)
James March Mistler, ABD, MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Email
MLT Educator (2021 - 2025)
Sally Pestana, MT(ASCP)
University of Hawaii - Kapiolani
Email
MLT Educator (2019 - 2023)
Maria Torres-Pillot, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Northern Virginia Community College
Email
MLT Educator (2022 - 2026)
Candice Grayson, MS, MA, MT(ASCP)
Community College of Baltimore County
Email
MLT Educator (2022 - 2026)
Frankie Harris-Lyne, MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
Northern Virginia Community College
Email
MLT Educator (2019-2023)
Candy Hill, MAEd, MT(ASCP)
Jefferson State Community College
Email
Histology Educator (2019 - 2023)
Michelle Nelsen, MS, HTL(ASCP)CM
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Email
HT Educator (2022 - 2026)
Dale Telgenhoff, PhD, HTL(ASCP)CM
Oakland University
Email
DMS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Eric A. Elsinghorst, PhD, MPH, MB(ASCP), MLS(ASCP)
University of Kansas Medical Center School of Health Professions
Email
DMS Educator (2022 - 2026)
Amy R Groszbach, M.Ed
Mayo Clinic
Email
CG Educator (2021 - 2025)
Jason Yuhas, BS, CG(ASCP)CM
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
Email
Two Year Educator (2020 - 2024)
MaryEllen Tancred, PhD, MBA, MT(ASCP)SH
Columbus State Community College
Email
Board Liaison to RCAP
Christie L Massen, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
North Dakota Department of Health
Email
Peer Organizations