Graduate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science

Program Scope

The SF State Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Internship Certificate program provides students with the theoretical and practical skills necessary to work in hospitals, clinics, and biomedical research environments. The program prepares students at the post-baccalaureate level to take the national board examination for certification as Clinical Laboratory Scientists. In addition, the program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and meets the educational standards required for licensure as a CLS by the California State Department of Health, Laboratory Field Services (LFS). The program seeks to develop critical thinking skills for clinical and administrative decision-making in the complex and ever-changing healthcare environment.

Career Outlook

Clinical laboratory scientists play a pivotal role in the healthcare sector, finding employment in diverse settings ranging from medical laboratories within expansive medical centers to community hospitals, public health clinics, biotech companies, and private industry. As healthcare continues to advance, the role of clinical laboratory scientists remains dynamic and integral to the overall improvement of patient care and medical innovations.

Program Tracks

Students are admitted to either the in-person CLS program or to the hybrid CLS program depending on whether or not students hold a California Department of Public Health Lab Field Services Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) license. Students with an MLT complete didactic courses online and an in-person internship at their place of work in 26 weeks. Students without an MLT complete didactic courses in person in over 16 weeks and a 40 week in-person internship. 

Admission to Program

Requirements are:

  • A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited university is required, with a preference given to biological sciences, chemistry, or health-related disciplines, with completion of specified prerequisite coursework. Students with international degrees should check the CLS website for more information (https://cpage.sfsu.edu/clinical-lab-sciences).
  • College-level courses in hematology, immunology, medical microbiology and quantitative  analysis, biochemistry, physics and mathematics. Students must have completed the hematology, immunology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry or biochemistry and quantitative analysis course in the 5 years prior to the term of admission.Physics and mathematics courses can be older than 5 years.
  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or better, or a GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester units (90 quarter-units).
  • International students must score at least 80 on the internet-based TOEFL, or a 550 on the paper-based test with a Test of Written English (TWE) of at least 4.
  • Eligibility for a trainee license from the State of California Department of Health, Laboratory Field Services.
  • A complete application form and three letters of reference.
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Background checks may be required.
  • Meet SFSU CLS Internship essential standards per NAACLS Standard VIII.C by demonstrating excellence in cognitive abilities, psychomotor skills, affective capabilities, health attributes, and professional behaviors necessary for safe and effective clinical laboratory practice. 
  • A California Department of Public Health Lab Field Services issued Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) license is required for the MLT-CLS track.

English Proficiency Requirement

Level One

Students complete a proctored essay at the time of their application interview. If necessary, remediation will be fulfilled by successful completion of SCI 614 or equivalent.

Level Two

Successful completion of written professional documents as required for a leadership role in professional environments.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Communicate relevant laboratory information both orally and in writing using correct medical and scientific terminology.
  2. Mandatory 100% interpretation of ABD results, correlate the strengths of reactions with AABB standards, identify human RBC antibodies, crossmatch blood for compatibility, resolve ABO incompatibilities, transfusion reactions.
  3. Perform technical skills required in the clinical laboratory for optimum workflow.
  4. Identify the pathophysiology of major infectious diseases and propose proper microbiology testing for identification and antibiotic susceptibility.
  5. Identify the pathophysiology of major diseases (including leukemias, anemias, and inherited hematological disorders) and identify by blood smear review and enumeration of White Blood Cells, identification of abnormal Red Blood Cells and Platelets and estimation of White Blood Cell and Platelet counts.
  6. Recommend pre-analytical protocols in specimen handling, patient variables, and sampling requirements to maintain specimen integrity and proper testing conditions (pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical).

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science – 31-38 units

The CLS program consists of

  1. a 16-week semester of didactic and laboratory work and
  2. a 26-40 week off-campus internship at affiliated clinical laboratory sites.

Pre-Clinical Courses (18 units)

CLS 701Clinical Chemistry and Urinalysis4
CLS 706Contemporary Clinical Science Issues2
CLS 731Clinical Hematology and Laboratory Application4
CLS 753Clinical Microbiology for the Clinical Laboratory Science Intern4
CLS 790Clinical Serology and Immunohematology4

Internship Requirements (13-20 units)

Students who hold an MLT will take each course only once. Students who do not hold an MLT will take CLS 702 and CLS 705 twice and CLS 707 and CLS 709 once.

CLS 702Clinical Laboratory Science Internship I4-8
CLS 705Clinical Laboratory Science Internship II3-6
CLS 707CLS Bridge to Clinical Practice3
CLS 709Clinical Laboratory Science Internship III3