What Is ALS?

What Is ALS, Exactly?

ALS stands for Andrology Laboratory Scientist, a professional certification for laboratory personnel who perform semen analysis, sperm function testing, and related reproductive laboratory procedures. This credential is distinct from other acronyms that share the same three letters in unrelated fields - on this site, and throughout this article, ALS refers exclusively to the andrology laboratory certification issued through the AAB Board of Registry.

Andrology laboratories support fertility clinics, urology practices, and reproductive medicine centers. The scientists who staff them need specialized knowledge of sperm morphology, motility assessment, cryopreservation, and quality control procedures that general medical laboratory training doesn't always cover in depth. The ALS credential exists to formally validate that competency.

If you landed here after searching a broader question like What Is ALS? or ALS Meaning, this article narrows the focus specifically to the certification pathway, exam structure, and what candidates actually need to know to pass.

Who Administers the ALS Credential

The AAB Board of Registry (ABOR) administers the ALS(AAB) certification. ABOR sets the eligibility requirements, develops the examination content, scores the exams, and manages the annual renewal process. Because ABOR is a single certifying body for this credential, the requirements are consistent and documented rather than scattered across competing programs.

For a deeper look at how the certifying process fits into the broader picture - including how it compares to related lab certifications - see ALS Certification and What Is ALS Certification?.

Exam Structure and Format

Certification requires passing two separate written, multiple-choice examinations:

• Basic Knowledge Examination - 70 questions, 90 minutes
• Andrology Examination - 70 questions, 90 minutes

There's an important sequencing rule: the Basic Knowledge exam must be taken at your first sitting. You cannot attempt the Andrology exam first and circle back. Both exams are closed-book - calculators and outside notes are prohibited - so candidates need to internalize calculations and reference values rather than relying on tools during the test.

A passing score of 60% is required on each examination independently. Passing one exam with a high score does not offset a low score on the other; each is evaluated on its own. For the exact scoring mechanics and what a 60% threshold means in practice across 70 questions, see ALS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

Eligibility Routes and Provisional Status

ABOR offers four education routes to eligibility, giving candidates from different academic backgrounds a path into the profession. Beyond meeting one of those education routes, candidates also need either:

• Completion of an approved clinical laboratory training program, or
• At least three months of full-time, high-complexity andrology laboratory training or experience within the preceding 10 years

Candidates who satisfy the education requirement but haven't yet completed the training or experience component can earn ALS-P(AAB) provisional status. This lets people already working toward the credential demonstrate progress while they accumulate the required hands-on experience.

A full breakdown of each education route, documentation needs, and how the provisional pathway works is covered in ALS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Fees and Registration Mechanics

ALS certification fees are structured around the application and the two required exams:

That $320 figure assumes both required exams are taken on the same day with an AAB proctor. If you instead test through a college or university proctor, that proctoring fee is paid separately and isn't included in the AAB fee schedule above. Understanding these mechanics upfront helps you budget and plan your testing day rather than being surprised by add-on costs. For a complete pricing walkthrough, including scenarios where exams aren't taken same-day, see ALS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

The Two Exam Domains

The ALS exam content is organized into two domains that mirror the two examinations themselves:

Because there are only two domains, candidates sometimes underestimate the depth required within each one. A closer breakdown of subtopics, question style, and how much weight to give each area in your study plan is available in ALS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas.

Who Hires ALS-Certified Professionals

ALS-certified scientists typically work in settings where semen analysis and andrology testing are performed regularly:

• Fertility and reproductive medicine clinics
• Sperm banks and cryopreservation facilities
• Urology practices with in-house andrology labs
• Hospital and reference laboratories offering andrology testing services

Employers in these settings often list the certification as a preferred or required qualification because it signals verified competency in high-complexity testing - work that carries real clinical consequences for patients pursuing fertility treatment. If you're evaluating career paths and openings, ALS Jobs covers what employers typically look for, and ALS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis discusses compensation considerations for certified professionals.

For candidates weighing whether to pursue the credential at all, Is the ALS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the cost-versus-career-value tradeoffs in more detail.

Preparing for the Exams

Because Basic Knowledge must be passed at your first sitting, an effective prep plan usually front-loads review of general laboratory science before narrowing into andrology-specific content. A simple way to structure the final weeks before your test date:

Since both exams are closed-book, memorization of reference ranges and calculation methods matters more than it would on an open-resource test. A structured, ALS-specific study plan - rather than generic review - makes a measurable difference. For a complete week-by-week strategy built around these two domains, see ALS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for an honest assessment of exam difficulty, How Hard Is the ALS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 is a useful companion read.

You can also review current data trends in ALS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows to calibrate how much preparation time to allocate, and use practice testing on our main practice test platform to simulate the timed, closed-book format before exam day.

Renewal and Keeping Your Certification Active

Once certified, ALS(AAB) renews annually for $115. Notably, ABOR does not impose a continuing-education requirement to maintain the credential - renewal is a matter of paying the fee on schedule rather than accumulating CE hours. However, if renewal lapses for three consecutive years, the certification file closes, meaning the credential effectively expires and would need to be re-earned from scratch.

This makes it worth setting a personal reminder system for the annual renewal date, even though there's no coursework attached to it. Letting the file close after years of maintaining active status would mean repeating the exams and eligibility documentation.

For a quick, condensed reference covering fees, domains, and renewal facts in one place, bookmark ALS Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. And if you're still getting oriented with terminology, What Does ALS Stand For?, What Does ALS Mean?, and What Is A ALS? all address the basics from slightly different angles.

Frequently Asked Questions