ALS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify

ALS Requirements at a Glance

The Andrology Laboratory Scientist credential, issued as ALS(AAB) through the AAB Board of Registry (ABOR), is built around a single question: can you demonstrate competency in both general laboratory science and the specialized discipline of andrology? Unlike credentials that stack multiple certificates onto a single generalist exam, ALS(AAB) requires two distinct written examinations - the Basic Knowledge Examination and the Andrology Examination - each scored independently at 60% to pass.

Before you can sit for either exam, though, you have to clear the eligibility gate. That gate has two parts: an academic requirement satisfied through one of four education routes, and a hands-on requirement satisfied through an approved clinical laboratory training program or documented full-time experience in a high-complexity andrology lab. Understanding exactly how these pieces fit together - and where candidates commonly stumble - is the difference between a smooth application and months of back-and-forth with ABOR.

The Four Education Routes to Eligibility

ABOR recognizes four distinct academic pathways into ALS(AAB) eligibility. Each route is designed to accommodate a different type of candidate - from traditional bachelor's-degree graduates in the biological or clinical laboratory sciences to career laboratorians who built expertise through a combination of coursework and supervised experience. The specific coursework, degree level, and prior credentials accepted vary by route, which is why it's worth reviewing the official ABOR eligibility criteria closely rather than assuming your degree automatically qualifies.

What all four routes share is an expectation that you've been exposed to core laboratory science concepts - chemistry, biology, and clinical laboratory methodology - before you attempt to layer andrology-specific knowledge on top. If you're still deciding whether your background fits, our overview of What Is ALS Certification? breaks down how the credential fits into the broader clinical laboratory science landscape and who typically pursues it.

Clinical Training and Experience Requirement

Meeting an education route is only half the eligibility equation. ABOR also requires candidates to complete either:

• An approved clinical laboratory training program that includes andrology rotations, or
• At least three months of full-time, high-complexity andrology laboratory training or work experience completed within the preceding 10 years.

This requirement exists because the Andrology Examination assumes familiarity with bench-level procedures - not just textbook theory. Candidates coming from a general clinical chemistry or hematology background often need to specifically seek out andrology rotation time to satisfy this piece, since general MLS/MT training doesn't automatically include it. If your current role doesn't offer andrology exposure, our guide to ALS Training covers how candidates typically structure or locate qualifying experience.

Provisional Status: ALS-P(AAB)

Not every candidate finishes their education and training requirements at the same time. Recognizing this, ABOR offers provisional status - ALS-P(AAB) - for candidates who have satisfied the education requirement but haven't yet completed the required training or experience. This lets you move forward in the process rather than waiting idle for a training rotation to open up.

Provisional status is a practical bridge, not a shortcut around the requirement. You'll still need to complete the training component to convert to full ALS(AAB) certification. If you're weighing whether to pursue provisional status now versus waiting until you have complete documentation, it's worth reading our broader breakdown in ALS Certification, which walks through how the provisional and full credential relate to each other.

Registration Mechanics and Fees

Once eligibility is confirmed, the financial and logistical side of registering is straightforward but worth planning around. Current ABOR fees are:

• $115 for the initial certification application
• $105 for the first discipline examination
• $65 for the second examination taken on the same day
• $35 for an AAB proctor

If you sit for both the Basic Knowledge and Andrology exams on the same day with an AAB proctor, the combined total comes to $320. If you test through a college or university proctor instead, that proctor fee is billed separately from ABOR's fees, so factor that into your budget when choosing a testing location. For a full line-item breakdown of every fee and how they add up under different scheduling scenarios, see ALS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Exam Format Rules You Must Know

The mechanics of test day matter as much as the content you've studied. Both the Basic Knowledge and Andrology examinations are multiple-choice, each consisting of 70 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. A few rules are non-negotiable:

• Basic Knowledge must be taken first. If you're sitting for both exams, Basic Knowledge is required at your first sitting - you cannot save it for a later date while taking Andrology first.
• Calculators and outside notes are prohibited. Plan your preparation around mental math and memorized reference points rather than assuming tools will be available.
• 60% is the passing threshold on each exam - they're scored independently, so a strong Andrology score doesn't offset a weak Basic Knowledge score.

For a deeper look at exactly how that 60% threshold is calculated and what it means practically for how many questions you can miss, see ALS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you're trying to gauge overall difficulty before committing to a test date, How Hard Is the ALS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 puts the format and content demands in context.

What Each Domain Actually Tests

ALS(AAB) eligibility and format questions are only useful once you understand what you're actually being tested on. The certification is built around two examinations that function as separate content domains:

Because these two domains draw on genuinely different knowledge bases, treating them as one undifferentiated "exam" during preparation is a common mistake. For a full domain-by-domain breakdown of subtopics and relative emphasis, see ALS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas.

Renewal and Keeping Your Certification Active

Once you've earned ALS(AAB), maintaining it is administratively simple compared to credentials that require continuing education units. ABOR does not impose a continuing-education requirement for renewal - certification renews annually for $115. However, timing matters: if you go three years without renewing, ABOR closes your certification file, which effectively means starting the eligibility and exam process over rather than simply reactivating an old credential.

This makes the renewal fee one of the more predictable long-term costs of holding the credential, and it's worth factoring into any decision about whether the certification is worth pursuing for your career stage. If you're still weighing the investment against career benefits, Is the ALS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ALS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis both dig into that question from different angles.

Building a Timeline to Qualify

Because ALS(AAB) eligibility involves both an academic route and a training/experience component, most candidates benefit from mapping out a realistic timeline rather than trying to check every box at once. The sequence below reflects how eligibility, registration, and study naturally layer on top of each other once your education route is confirmed.

Once you've qualified and passed both examinations, the credential opens doors specifically in fertility clinics, reproductive endocrinology labs, and hospital andrology departments. If you're curious which employers actively recruit for this specialty and how the credential factors into hiring decisions, ALS Jobs covers the employer landscape in more depth. And if you want a broader refresher on how ABOR frames the credential's purpose and history before you finalize your decision to pursue it, What Is ALS? is a good starting point, alongside practicing full-length simulated exams at ALS Exam Prep before committing to a test date.

Frequently Asked Questions