The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Augusta are launching a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree designed to expand career pathways for laboratory professionals and help meet growing healthcare workforce needs across Maine.
Applications are now being accepted for the new online program, which was approved in September 2025 by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees and creates a direct pathway for students who have already earned an associate degree in medical laboratory technology and are ready to move into advanced practice and leadership.
Designed for working professionals, the joint program offers a fully online medical laboratory technician-to-medical laboratory science pathway. It is the state’s only pathway to a bachelor’s degree in this field. With no additional clinical practicum required, the program expands access for those already working in laboratory settings while providing opportunities to advance technical and analytical skills and increase earning potential.
UMA and UMPI already collaborate on Maine’s only medical laboratory technology degree program, the MLT Program of Maine, which prepares students for careers as laboratory technicians across the state. Healthcare systems across Maine continue to face a growing need for trained laboratory professionals who play a critical role in diagnosing and monitoring disease.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 24,000 medical laboratory science job openings each year nationwide. In Maine, healthcare is one of the state’s fastest-growing sectors, and demand for trained laboratory professionals continues to rise. Graduates are needed in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and across the healthcare industry, including companies that develop the technologies used in modern lab testing.
“Laboratory professionals are the backbone of modern medicine, yet they are often the unsung heroes of healthcare,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “This program creates new opportunities for career advancement and helps ensure that hospitals and clinics in Maine and beyond have the skilled laboratory scientists they need to deliver quality care.”
“This partnership illustrates what Maine’s public universities can accomplish together,” UMA President Jenifer Cushman said. “By creating a flexible pathway for working laboratory professionals to advance their education, UMA and UMPI are expanding career opportunities for Mainers while helping hospitals and healthcare providers meet a growing need for highly trained laboratory scientists.”
The program builds on the universities’ longstanding partnership in medical laboratory education through the MLT Program of Maine. In that program, students complete hands-on lab training and clinical placements across the state, preparing them to continue into the fully online MLS degree.
“We see firsthand how important laboratory professionals are to patient care,” said Elisha Sirois, director of laboratory services at MaineGeneral Health. “With limited clinical laboratory education available in Maine, this program creates a clear pathway to build the skilled workforce we need, while making that training more accessible to professionals across the state.”
In recent years, the MLT program has expanded and modernized its laboratory training capacity across both campuses with a combined $1.16 million in grant funding. The laboratory training center at UMPI was originally completed in 2019 and expanded in 2023, while a new state-of-the-art facility opened at UMA in 2024. The training centers have allowed the program to double its capacity and provide students with increased access to advanced equipment. Together, these investments strengthen hands-on learning and prepare graduates to serve in hospitals and clinical laboratories across Maine.
“Through the MLT Program of Maine, UMA and UMPI have prepared hundreds of skilled laboratory professionals who are essential to patient care in hospitals and clinics across the state,” Malissa Norfolk, assistant professor and MLS program coordinator at UMA, said. “This new degree creates a clear and accessible pathway for those professionals to continue their education, expand their expertise and advance in their careers.”
“Programs like this help ensure hospitals and clinics across Maine have the trained professionals they need to care for patients and sustain critical lab services,” Leigh Belair, MLT Program Director and UMPI associate professor, said. “With impending laboratory workforce retirements and ongoing recruitment challenges in rural areas, it’s an essential step in strengthening Maine’s healthcare system for the future.”
Students working in the field say the new degree provides a critical opportunity for professional growth.
“I earned my associate degree in medical laboratory technology through UMA and have been working in a hospital lab ever since,” Sarah Aguirre-Mutter of Westbrook said. “This new program gives me a way to earn my bachelor’s degree and move forward in my career without having to leave my job or my community.”
The new degree will launch in fall 2026 and supports the University of Maine System’s strategic goal to double its fully online academic offerings by 2028. The initiative expands access to affordable, high-quality programs for the estimated 200,000 Mainers who have some college credit but no degree.
About The University of Maine at Augusta
UMA is a public university and a member of the University of Maine System. With its main campus in Augusta, a second campus in Bangor, and UMA centers and sites statewide, UMA provides high-quality distance and on-site education, student support, civic engagement and professional and liberal arts programs to learners of all ages. Learn more: uma.edu.
About The University of Maine at Presque Isle Located in the heart of northern Maine, UMPI is a nationally recognized institution of innovation and opportunity, providing students with an affordable and personalized education and life-changing experiences that prepare them to be career-ready graduates. Established in 1903, UMPI is a member of the University of Maine System, offering Master’s, Bachelor’s, Associate’s, online, and Competency-Based Education degree programs. Learn more: umpi.edu.