A licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist (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 Cal State LA CLS Training Program consists of two components, a didactic component and a clinical practical training component. The CLS Training Program provides 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 Medical Laboratory Scientist certification exam. Passage of this exam is required to obtain a California license as a CLS. 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 terms of 8 units each). Clinical Training Affiliates for the CLS program have been approval by California Laboratory Field Services.

The Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program in Clinical Laboratory Science is the didactic component of the Cal State LA CLS Training Program. The lecture courses required for this program are offered through the College of Extended Studies and International Programs in Special Sessions to students accepted into the Post-baccalaureate CLS Training Program. This is a joint program between Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona. The program has been approved as a Gainful Employment Program 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.

The courses required in this certificate program provide students with the technical knowledge, critical thinking, and management skills needed to pass the American Society for Clinical Pathologists certification exam for Medical Laboratory Scientists. All students admitted to the program must have obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology or related sciences, and have completed the following required courses: inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, hematology, medical microbiology, and physics.