CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) work with pathologists, other physicians or scientists who specialize in clinical chemistry, microbiology, or other biological sciences. Together they detect, diagnose, and treat many patient diseases. A CLS is responsible for performing tests and developing data on a patient’s blood tissues and body fluids. They have the knowledge of the principles behind these tests and the ability to recognize physiological conditions affecting test results and developing data that may be used by a physician in determining the presence, extent, or the cause of disease. In addition to working in a clinical laboratory, jobs for CLS are available in departments of public health, industrial labs, pharmaceutical companies, the armed forces, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization (WHO). CLS licenses may be general (for all areas of the clinical lab) or limited to one particular area (clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, immunohematology, and toxicology). Requirements to become a nationally certified and CA licensed CLS include a bachelor’s degree with courses pertinent to the clinical laboratory. Although no particular undergraduate major is required, some schools prefer students majoring in one of the biological sciences or chemistry. COMMON CLS PRE-­‐REQUISITES Chemistry Organic Chemistry Biochemistry Hematology Immunology Medical Microbiology Physics Math One year of general inorganic chemistry w/labs One year of general organic chemistry w/labs One quarter/semester One quarter/semester One quarter/semester One quarter/semester Two quarters/one semester One quarter/one semester CHM 121/L, 122.L, & 123/L CHM 314/317L, 315/318L, & 316/319L CHM 321/L or CHM 327/L, 328/L, & 329/L MIC 444/444L MIC 415/415L MIC 410/410L PHY 121/L & 122/L or PHY 131/L & 132/L STA 120 RECOMMENDED COURSES General Physiology Virology Genetics Human Anatomy Advanced Immunology One quarter/semester recommended One quarter/semester recommended One quarter/semester recommended One quarter/semester recommended One quarter/semester recommended BIO 235/235L and BIO 428/L MIC 428/L MIC 430/430L BIO 303 (Genetics), BIO 403/L (Human Genetics), BIO 421 (Advanced Genetics) ZOO 234/L MIC 445/445L Resources Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine American Medical College Application Service Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Osteopathic Medicine Volunteer Medical School Advising AspiringDocs.org www.aamc.org www.aacom.org www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/ www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/ www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/ www.aacom.org www.naahp.org www.aspiringdocs.org •
This information is not comprehensive and serves as a guideline. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to research various institutions for up to date information and school specific pre-­‐requisites/admission requirements.