California currently faces an acute shortage of certified Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS’s) needed to meet the immediate and growing workforce need within the life sciences and healthcare industries.
The acute and growing workforce demand for CLS professionals is partly due to the emerging molecular diagnostics and personalized genomics industry in California. In biotechnology companies statewide, clinical professionals perform analyses that provide diagnostic and prognostic information. In addition, these companies hire clinical laboratory professionals to validate and certify their new products. Molecular diagnostics products are integral to the practice and promise of personalized medicine, which aims to reduce healthcare costs and increase the efficacy and safety of biopharmaceutical products.
Laboratories and companies that test human samples and specimens must comply with federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. Consequently professionals working in these laboratories must be licensed to practice, requiring specialized training and education.
Job titles and licensure for clinical laboratory sciences are varied - from cytogenetics to cytotechnology to medical technician to generalist clinical laboratory scientist. Visit the NAACLS website for an overview. See the California Department of Health Laboratory Field Services to find California licensing information and approved laboratory training programs. See also the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) webpage for more career information on the cytogenetics sub-specialty. To get a sense of jobs available in California today, click here.
Clinical Laboratory scientists often train toward California state licensure through post-baccalaureate programs. Clinical laboratory programs at CSU Dominguez Hills 
, San Francisco State University and San Jose State University have been accredited and approved by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Clinical Science - Cytotechnology Certificate
The Certificate in Clinical Science – Cytotechnology is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the clinical training as a Cytotechnologist Trainee in an affiliated clinical facility. Awardees are eligible to sit for the national certification of the ASCP - Board of Registry and for state licensure.
For more information contact: Cheryl Jackson-Harris, Program Coordinator at (310) 243-3748 or visit the CSU Dominguez Hills catalog .
Clinical Science - Medical Technology Certificate
The Certificate in Clinical Science - Medical Technology is awarded upon satisfactory completion of clinical training as a California Licensed Clinical Laboratory Technologist Trainee in an affiliated clinical facility. Awardees are eligible to sit for the state licensure examination for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and to sit for the National Registry Examination(s).
For more information contact: Cheryl Jackson-Harris, Program Coordinator at (310) 243-3748 or visit the CSU Dominguez Hills catalog .
Clinical Training Certificate Program in Clinical Laboratory Science
The Clinical Training Certificate Program in Clinical Laboratory Science consists of twelve-months learning of the specialties of each individual department in a clinical laboratory at a partner hospital, including blood bank, chemistry, urinalysis, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, hematology, microbiology and parasitology. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of safety, quality control and quality assurance.
Prerequisites: BS in Biology with an Emphasis in Clinical Laboratory Science or equivalent educational credential.
For more information contact: Jessyka Dalton at (805) 437-2779 or biology@csuci.edu or visit program website .
Post-baccalaureate Certificate Programs in Clinical Laboratory Science and Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist (CGMBS) - New Fall 2011!
For more information visit program website .
Clinical Lab Sciences
Since 1977, the San Francisco State University Clinical Laboratory Science Internship Program has been training post-baccalaureate candidates for rewarding careers in medical laboratories, clinics, and biomedical research environments. The job responsibilities of a Clinical Lab Scientist involve the collection and analysis of body fluids, tissues and cells in order to diagnose diseases and monitor the progress of treatments. Advances in molecular diagnostics and cryopreservation are welcoming new surroundings for licensed CLS. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 138,000 openings for medical laboratory technologists and technicians by2012.
The program offers expert guidance, both on campus and at affiliated clinical sites. The first semester on campus includes (5) courses specifically designed for CLS training. The remaining 40 weeks are spent at affiliated clinical sites, completing internship. Once finished, interns are eligible to challenge the California State and National examinations for required licensure. A new class of CLS interns starts on campus every fall and spring session.
For more information contact: (415) 817-4273 or ninah@sfsu.edu or visit program website .
Clinical Laboratory Scientist and Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist (CGMBS) Training Programs
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist Training Program at San Jose State University is a 12 month training program that prepares students to take the California State Licensing exam for Clinical Laboratory Scientists. The training program is a 40 hour per week commitment with an emphasis on hands-on learning in the hospital setting. Most weeks, students will spend 32 hours training at a hospital and 8 hours in lecture.
For more information contact: cls@science.sjsu.edu or visit the program website .
