California State University Los Angeles
One year post-baccalaureate certificate and training programs for
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or
Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist (CGMBS)
offered as Special Sessions through Extended Education
Application period for the program year beginning Fall, 2014, will open October 1, 2013.
Applications will be accepted until January 21, 2014.
A licensed CLS performs the full spectrum of diagnostic tests in hospital clinical laboratories, in commercial reference laboratories, or in research and development for biotech companies. The CLS program will provide both didactic and practical clinical training in hematology, clinical chemistry, blood banking, microbiology and immunology to prepare students to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology CLS licensing exam. A CLS license is required to work as a CLS in California. Eligibility to take the exam requires a full academic year of clinical training for 52 weeks, 4 days/week, 8 hours/day as well as one 8-hour day/week of face-to-face classes (3 quarters of 8 units each at approximately $450/unit = $10,800).
A licensed CGMBS performs specialized molecular diagnostic tests in hospital clinical laboratories, in commercial reference laboratories, or in research and development for biotech companies. The CGMBS program will provide both didactic and practical clinical training in molecular testing for cancers, genetic disease markers, histocompatibility types, and some infectious diseases to prepare students to sit for the CGMBS licensing exam. A CGMBS license is required to work as a CGMBS in California. Eligibility to take the exam requires a full academic year of clinical training for 52 weeks, 4 days/week, 8 hours/day as well as one 6-hour day/week of face-to-face and online classes (3 terms of 6 units each at approximately $450/unit = $8,100).
Both the CLS and CGMBS Programs have been approved as Gainful Employment Programs by the Department of Education. This means that eligible trainees can apply for Federal Financial Aid to support them during the year that they are in the program.
| Start Dates (2014) for CLS and CGMBS |
| Program |
Orientation |
Clinical training (M-Th) |
Friday classes |
| CLS |
September 12th |
Late September or early October depending on clinical site |
September 19th |
| CGMBS |
On hiatus |
NA |
NA |
Application Forms
CLS Forms
CGMBS Forms
Statement of General Health Form for CLS and CGMBS
For further information on these programs, please see the admission requirements below and the CLS brochure or the CGMBS brochure.
If you have questions, please contact Michael Coover, the Education Coordinator for the programs, at (323) 343-6065 or Michael.Coover@calstatela.edu. Appointments to meet with Mr. Coover can be made by contacting him directly.
Admission Requirements
Begin preparing now!
| CLS |
CGMBS |
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree in biology or related science, received prior to admission to the program (approved by the program director and accepted by the state of California for the purposes of licensure)
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- 16 semester (24 quarter) units of chemistry that must include general chemistry (inorganic), analytical chemistry (quantitative analysis), organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
- 18 semester (27 quarter) units of biological sciences that must include immunology, hematology, and medical microbiology.
- 3 semester (4 quarter) units of physics that must include instruction in the principles of light and electricity.
- Prefer at least 4 units of upper division biology laboratory instruction and at least one, and preferably all, of the following courses: physiology, genetics, biostatistics, and a lab class that includes molecular biology techniques.
- (New for 2014.) Proof of enrollment in or completion of the hematology, immunology, medical microbiology, biochemistry and quantitative analysis courses must be received no later than February 15.
- For candidates with foreign degrees whose language of instruction was not English, a minimum of 90 (IBT), 230 (CBT), or 575 (PBT) TOEFL score AND an upper division course in hematology (with lab) or medical microbiology (with lab) taken in the U.S.A. with a grade of B or better.
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- A minimum of 10 semester (15 quarter) units of chemistry that must include an upper division course in biochemistry.
- 18 semester (27 quarter) units of biology including:
- 3 semester (4 quarter) units of genetics
- 3 semester (4 quarter) units of molecular biology or cell biology
- The remaining 12 semester (19 quarter) units in biology must be in advanced genetics or upper division cell biology, molecular biology, or microbiology. At least two of these courses must have laboratory components that include molecular techniques.
- 3 semester (4 quarter) units of college level statistics
- (New for 2014.) Proof of enrollment in or completion of all course requirements must be received no later than February 15.
- For candidates with foreign degrees whose language of instruction was not English, a minimum of 90 (IBT), 230 (CBT), or 575 (PBT) TOEFL score AND an upper division course in genetics, molecular biology or cell biology taken in the U.S.A. with a grade of B or better.
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- ALL courses listed above must have been completed within the last 7 years. An exception may be made for individuals who can provide evidence of relevant recent work experience. In that case the coursework must have been completed within the last 15 years.
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale in the required courses listed above. International students must have their transcripts evaluated by the U.S.A. transcript evaluation service AACRAO and their grades must be converted to a 4-point scale.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from upper division/graduate course instructors or work supervisors, with at least two letters from instructors.
- Pending application to Laboratory Field Services for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Trainee License OR Clinical Genetic Molecular Biology Scientist Trainee License. Final acceptance for admission to the program is contingent upon receiving this license.
- A Statement of General Health Form (see link above) completed, signed, and mailed by the student's primary healthcare provider.
- Candidates with foreign degrees must have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in the U.S. to be admitted to the programs.
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