Clinical Laboratory Scientist Program

Applicants to the Scripps Health Clinical Lab Scientist Training Program are required to:

1. Meet the licensure requirements for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Trainee by possessing the following qualification requirements, in adherence with the California State Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (CDPH-LFS) division for licensure as a CLS Trainee, as provided in the California Business and Professional Code, Clinical Laboratory Technology, Licensing, and the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 17, Section 1033:
2. Bachelor’s degree (baccalaureate) with specific course requirements:
3. 16 semester or equivalent quarter units of chemistry, which must include clinical chemistry OR (analytical chemistry AND biochemistry)
4. 18 semester or equivalent quarter units of biology, which must include hematology, immunology, and medical microbiology
5. 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of physics (including instruction in principles of light and electricity)
6. For applicants with degrees or courses completed outside of the United States:
7. Obtain and submit with your CLS application a course-by-course evaluation of coursework documented on non-US transcripts. Per the CDPH-LFS section, for all non-US transcripts:
8. All non-US transcripts must be evaluated by “Current Members” of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or “Endorsed Members” of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). This allows LFS to determine if your education is equivalent to a US college or university education. Official transcript from the university is required in addition to the evaluation. The evaluation service will send an evaluation of your educational institution and academic courses directly to LFS.
9. To obtain an application, instructions and information, visit them on the web:
10. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
11. Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE)
12. If you are an applicant whose education and training/experience is from a non-US school, college, university or clinical laboratory, please make sure that your name is printed in English on all your transcripts and supporting documents and that it matches your name on the application.
13. Note that official academic transcripts from non-US institutions will be required to be forwarded to CDPH-LFS as part of your application for the TRL, but official academic transcripts from non-US institutions are not required by the Scripps Health CLS program. 
14. Apply for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Trainee License (TRL) and provide evidence of your application as part of your program application
15. Meet the Scripps Health CLS Training Program requirements:
16. Completion 6 weeks prior to the training program’s start date:
17. Baccalaureate degree, with evidence of degree conferred and date of award on an official academic transcript.
18. Completion of all prerequisite courses, with a final letter grade posted on an official academic transcript.
19. Excellent ability to communicate, both interpersonally and in written form.
20. Ability to meet the non-academic essential functions of the program and the profession.
21. Visual skills
22. Manipulative skills
23. Cognitive skills
24. Affective skills

The Scripps Health CLS program makes the following strong recommendations to its applicants:

1. Experience in a clinical hospital laboratory or clinical reference laboratory setting.
2. Academic achievement of an overall GPA and a science course GPA of at least 3.0. 
3. Completion of “Core Courses” with a minimum letter grade of “B” or higher. Core courses are defined as Clinical Chemistry OR (Analytical Chemistry AND Biochemistry), Hematology, Immunology, and Medical or Clinical Microbiology.
4. Completion of core courses that include a broad and rigorous curriculum in theory and practical knowledge.
5. Completion of all core courses within seven (7) years prior to application. For chemistry and microbiology, this can be achieved by work experience or additional related coursework.
6. Additional related coursework in such areas as Molecular Biology, Genetics, Phlebotomy, Mycology, Virology, Parasitology, Human Anatomy/Physiology, Statistics or Biostatistics.
7. Practical laboratory courses or clinical laboratory experience in Clinical Chemistry OR (Analytical Chemistry AND Biochemistry), Hematology, Immunology and Medical Microbiology.
8. Completion of a college level or medical mathematics course defined as Calculus and/or Statistics or Biostatistics.
9. Residence in the greater San Diego region.

Upon notification of admission to the program, additional requirements include:

1. Approval of a California Clinical Laboratory Scientist Trainee License (TRL) with the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services section. A TRL Trainee License paper document is required on the first day of training. 
2. Completion of a health assessment and submission of other health and background documents. Specific instructions will be communicated by a program official in advance of training. Requirements may include:
3. Health screening and/or vaccination or documented immune status for hepatitis, mumps, measles, varicella, rubella, Tdap, influenza and COVID-19
4. Tuberculosis testing performed within a specified number of months prior to the start date of the program
5. Drug screen performed prior to the program start date. Admission is contingent on a negative result, or a positive result reviewed and cleared by a program official.
6. A health assessment physical
7. Background Check (conducted by Scripps Student Placement). Admission is contingent upon clearance of the background check.
8. Evidence of personal health insurance effective through the duration of the program
9. Professional Liability Insurance for the full period of training (one year)
10. NOTE: The list of items for the health assessment and other requirements is subject to change. It may be the responsibility of the trainees to obtain such items at their own expense.

Clinical laboratory scientist jobs are stable and satisfying. In San Diego, salaries for new graduates typically exceed $100,000 per year.

Successful completion of our 12-month CLS certificate program leads to conferring of a certificate of completion and qualifies you to sit for an approved certifying organization examination, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) MLS generalist examination.

For a comprehensive list of other approved examinations, see the California Department of Public Health website.

Completion of the Scripps Health CLS Training Program and receipt of a passing score on the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) MLS generalist exam, or other California qualifying certification exam, meets CLS licensing requirements in California as well as confers a national MLS certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Refer to the ASCP BOC State Licensure information page.

A California CLS license (CLS generalist license) allows you to work and report results in all specialty areas of a clinical laboratory. A CLS limited license allows you to work and report results in a specialty or subspecialty section of a clinical laboratory defined by the license.

Refer to the CDPH-LFS website for specifics on generalist and limited licenses, scope of practice, academic requirements, training or experience, and examinations.

CLS licensure is required in California. Other states may require only medical laboratory scientist (MLS) certification, which may be referred to as medical technologist certification or MLS certification. Programs that offer training for certification are known as medical laboratory scientist (MLS) or clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) training programs.

A CLS Trainee License (TRL) allows you to train or intern (not work) as a licensed clinical laboratory scientist trainee in a CDPH-LFS department approved CLS training program. The TRL is required by all CLS training (internship) programs in California. 

Refer to the CDPH-LFS website on how to obtain a TRL.

Clinical laboratory scientists find challenging employment positions in a variety of laboratory settings. As vital members of the health care team, they enjoy assisting practitioners during the care, diagnosis and treatment of patients. Lab scientists can work in all areas of laboratories or specialize in one of several sections of a clinical lab, such as chemistry, transfusion medicine, hematology, immunology or microbiology.

Clinical laboratory scientists can be employed in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, research facilities, industry (such as biotech), public health institutions, forensic or pharmaceutical laboratories, and veterinary or zoological animal clinics.

Of the many science careers you may have considered, being a CLS offers broad and unique opportunities. The role is becoming more visible and respected among all medical careers. And for health care jobs in San Diego, Scripps Health is a local leader.

Essential functions are non-academic skills for which you must be competent in order to successfully participate in the CLS training program. These are often required for many medical technology careers, and include:

• Visual skills — Differentiating colors and stained vs unstained materials. Distinguishing solution clarity. Reading charts, graphs, rulers and scales. Reading print on paper and computer screens. Locating veins for venipunctures.
• Manipulative skills
• Mobility — Sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting and reaching. Lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs. 
• Fine Motor— Operating microscopes and pipettes, using lab instruments such as wire loops and centrifuges, manipulating tubes and containers into racks and trays.
• Cognitive skills — Communicating with others using direct conversation, telephone and email. Prioritizing high-level tasks. Recognizing and responding to emergency situations. Following directions and maintaining personal behavioral control.
• Affective skills — Practicing respect, honesty and accountability. Complying with professional standards. Accepting change.