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Apply for Licensure

Requirements for Provisional Permit and Licensure

Initial/Reciprocity Licensure

All initial licenses issued expire July 1 of the upcoming even-numbered year.  The license is then renewed for a two-year period of July 1 of the even-numbered year to July 1 of the following even-numbered year if the license holder chooses to renew the license.  The Board does not pro-rate the application fee if you are issued an initial license in the middle of the 2-year licensure period.  However, if you are issued an initial license on or after May 1 of the even-numbered year, you are not required to renew the license until the following even-numbered year.

Apply for Initial Licensure

The following items must be submitted to apply for an initial license:

  • Apply online now or print the paper application form (paper form must be notarized where designated)
     
  • Medical Technologist (MT)/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) license requires a Bachelor's degree or higher degree in a science-related discipline and successful completion of a national certifying examination approved by the Board.(Merely passing a MT/MLS level certifying examination without a Bachelor's degree or higher degree will not make you eligible for the MT/CLS license!  You would still only be eligible for the MLT/CLT license.)
     
  • Clinical Laboratory Specialist license requires a Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences and may only perform functions directly related to the person's particular specialty.  Successful completion of a national certifying examination approved by the Board in a specialty area is also required.
     
  • Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)/Clinical Laboratory Technician(CLT) license requires successful completion of the academic requirements of a structured educational program recognized by the Board.
     
  • Initial application fee (Click here to see fee schedule.)
    • Payable by credit card online.
    • Check or money order only for paper form, made out to : NDBCLP.
       
  • Official transcript sent by the school directly to the NDBCLP via mail or e-mail to ndbclp@aptnd.com.  Applicant may submit a student-issued transcript in envelope sealed by the school.
     
  •  Verification of passing a national certifying examination approved by the Board. You may upload or email a copy of your certification card or exam score report, or have the exam agency submit an exam score report directly to the NDBCLP.
     
  • Applicant must submit one of the following:
    • Verification of passing a national certifying examination approved by the Board completed within two years of the date of application for initial licensure.  You must submit copy of your exam score report or certification card;
    • Proof of practice by performing clinical laboratory testing as defined in subsection 5 of N.D.C.C. section 43-48-01 for a total of 300 hours within 3 years of the date of application for initial licensure.  You must submit a statement of job description and average hours worked signed by the laboratory's human resource department or the laboratory supervisor;
    • Proof of completion of 30 continuing education hours within two years of the date of application for initial licensure.  The continuing education hours must satisfy the requirements for continuing education established in section 96-02-04-01 of the N.D. Adminstrative Code.  You must submit copies of your completion certificate(s).
       
  • Verification(s) of license if previously or currently licensed in another state(s) - You will need to have verifications sent from every state in which you currently hold or have previously held licensure.  Applicants will need to contact the states and request the verification be sent to the NDBCLP Office.  The NDBCLP will accept verifications e-mailed directly from the other state to the NDBCLP Office.  License verification printed from a state board website is also acceptable if you include the website links and any instructions to verify your license on the other Board's website.  A copy of your license is NOT sufficient verification!

Apply for Reciprocity Licensure

Applications for reciprocity licensure may require Board review at a quarterly Board meeting therefore causing a delay in issuing the license!
The following items must be submitted to apply for a reciprocity license:

  • Apply online now or print the paper application form (paper form must be notarized where designated)
  • Initial application fee (Click here to see fee schedule.)
    • Payable by credit card online.
    • Check or money order only for paper form, made out to : NDBCLP.
  • Verification from the licensing authority of another jurisdiction in which you are currently licensed in good standing - You will need to have verifications sent from every state in which you currently hold or have previously held licensure.  Applicants will need to contact the states and request the verification be sent to the NDBCLP Office.  The NDBCLP will accept verifications e-mailed directly from the other state to the NDBCLP Office.  License verification printed from a state board website is also acceptable if you include the website links and any instructions to verify your license on the other Board's website.  A copy of your license is NOT sufficient verification!
  • A copy of the law and rules from the jurisdiction in which you are currently licensed which establishes the requirements for obtaining and maintaining a license in that jurisdiction.

Foreign Applicants

Applicants with education obtained outside the U.S. or Canada must submit an evaluation for equivalency reviewed by an evaluation agency approved by the Board along with the items listed above under "Apply for Initial Licensure". 

Board Approved Evaluation Agencies

Previously Held a North Dakota License

If you previously held a North Dakota MT/MLT/Specialist license and wish to become licensed in North Dakota once again, you must complete the Initial Licensure application (see above).  You are not required to re-take a national certifying examination.  However, you must have completed either 300 clinical laboratory testing employment hours within the 3 years immediately preceeding your initial licensure application submission date, or 30 continuing education hours within the 2 years immediately preceeding your initial licensure application submission date.  If you are currently licensed in another state, you may apply for the Reciprocity Licensure (see above) rather than the Initial Licensure.

Upgrade Current Provisional Permit to a License

In order to upgrade from a current provisional permit to a license, you must submit an application for initial licensure, the licensure fee, a copy of your national certifying examination score (photocopy of the applicant's score report or official score report from national certifying agency), and an official, final transcript showing degree and date earned (if not submitted previously with application form).  A license number and certificate will be issued upon receipt of these items.

Application Status

Once you send your application or apply online, you will be able to check your Application Status on the Board's website.  The status will show you what has been received and what is still missing.  The Board office does update the status daily and does its best to keep it accurate.  Please allow 2-3 business days to for your information to appear online.  To log in to the application status, you do not need a password or account number.  You will log in with your last name, last four digits of your Social Security Number (enter zeroes if you do not have a SSN at this time), and your date of birth.  Make sure you use the forward slashes (/) in the date of birth.  If you are unable to log in, please contact the Board office.

Forms and Resources

It is your responsibility to ensure forms are properly completed and sent to the NDBCLP office (NDBCLP, PO Box 4103, Bismarck, ND 58502-4103).  If you have not completed the application in full, it will be returned to you with your application fee and will not be processed until it is complete.  The transcript, copy of examination scores, and license verification(s) may be submitted uder separate cover from application form and fee.

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