Home ->Profiles-> Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Occupational
Description Significant Points
Demand The need for Clinical Laboratory Scientists has dramatically increased in the Bay Area due to: the increased reliance of healthcare professionals on laboratory tests in the diagnosis and treatment plan (laboratory tests are far less expensive than radiological tests and repeated testing does not generally compromise patient safety); the growing population and the squaring of the age pyramid ("baby boomers" and dramatic increases in lifespan); the lack of public awareness about the clinical laboratory profession outside of phlebotomy means fewer people enter the occupation; the closure of the Bay Area CLS training programs due to budget cuts and the migration to the high-paying high-tech field in the 1980’s and 1990’s means that relatively few local individuals trained as CLSs for nearly 20 years; the expected retirement of a significant percentage of the CLS workforce (the majority of working CLSs training in the 1960’s when CLS programs were better-publicized); and also the presence of multiple world-renowned healthcare organizations (we need more CLSs than the area’s population would indicate due to out-of-town patients seeking treatment at UCSF, Stanford, etc). Individuals who have completed State-approved training programs, obtained California licensure, and who can communicate effectively in English, will likely be employed at graduation or shortly thereafter. Many individuals are hired directly from their internships. Employers prefer to hire CLSs out of their internship because it is a return on investment for the employer. Employers invest thousands of dollars in hosting internship sites for CLS programs and most will offer the intern a job before graduation if s/he has good clinical skills, a strong work ethic and good communication skills. Employers prefer to hire experienced CLSs, but the critical shortage in the field and expected mass retirement of much of the incumbent CLS workforce does not leave employers with a choice. Several individuals interviewed quoted the following statistic: "The number of individuals who will graduate from local CLS programs in 2006 is roughly equal to 10% of the number of local CLSs that are predicted to retire in 2006." Wages Click here to view the Santa Clara County wage survey for CLSs and here to view the corresponding survey for San Mateo County. Data indicates that new graduates earn approximately $34/hr with the median hourly wage hovering around $40/hr. The 75th percentile earn more than $45/hr. CLSs work around the clock and receive shift differentials of up to 15%. Employers commonly offer signing bonuses to incoming CLSs as the position is considered “difficult to fill”. These bonuses vary by employer and may reach $10,000 and/or include incentives such as student loan payback. Employers usually pay most or all of the costs associated with completing the continuing education units required to maintain CLS licensure. Education and Training CLS training is available exclusively as a post-baccalaureate program. Individuals must have a bachelor’s degree and complete specific prerequisites courses, usually in biology, immunology, hematology, medical microbiology, advanced math, physics, chemistry, statistics and biochemistry. Individuals with an undergraduate degree in life sciences, physical sciences, natural sciences or applied sciences will be at an advantage when applying for CLS training programs, as they will have likely completed a number of the prerequisites as an undergraduate. Individuals who struggle with science classes and concepts may find the CLS curriculum overwhelmingly difficult. According to individuals interviewed, completing prerequisite courses at DeAnza College or at a California State University may be advisable due to rigor of coursework, transferability to the CLS program and an emphasis on the lab sciences at DeAnza (due to the MLT program). Individuals with experience in a clinical environment (phlebotomy, biotech, environmental lab, etc.) are at an advantage when applying for admission to the CLS program as personal experience is considered in addition to academic factors. Phlebotomy may be considered to be the most valuable work experience for individuals pursuing CLS careers. CLS training programs are generally 12 months long. Individuals begin an internship as soon as they start the training program and this provides individuals with hands-on exposure to clinical laboratory procedures. Usually, individuals attend the internship 4 days per week and spend 1 day per week exclusively in the classroom. In the last month and a half of the training program, students work five days per week at their internship site. Individuals are often given a small stipend from the internship host. CLS programs are considered to be rigorous, and students are advised to focus exclusively on their studies and to avoid working if at all possible. Because the majority of CLS training is spent outside of the classroom, the number of students admitted to a CLS training program is contingent on the number of internship spots secured at participating medical laboratories. The number of spaces in a training program varies. Admission to CLS training programs has become somewhat more competitive in recent years as demand for CLSs has increased. San Jose State University admits students to the CLS program twice per year. In 2007, 60 students applied, and 12-15 were admitted each cycle. Though some unqualified students applied, approximately 10 students were not offered admission each cycle due to lack of internship availability. Currently, San Jose State University and San Francisco State University offer the only basic CLS training programs in the Bay Area. UCSF offers a CLS specialist training program for CLSs interested in specializing in a particular area of the clinical laboratory. Currently, CLS programs are not on the ETPL in California. Licensure California CLS licensure is required for employment as a CLS in the State of California; national certification is optional, though the majority of CLSs hold national certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology. The licensure process for CLSs in California was revised in March 2007--a memo outlining the new process is available here. After an individual completes CLS training from a State-approved institution, s/he applies for eligibility for licensure through the California Department of Health and Human Services-Laboratory Field Services Branch. The individual's licensure application is reviewed and the individual is notified regarding status. S/he then has the option of taking the California State licensing exam, or instead taking certifying exams through California State approved credentialing agencies which include the ASCP or the American Association of Bioanalysts. Upon successful completion of the test, the individual is eligible for California licensure. CLSs must complete 12 continuing education units per year to maintain his or her California license. Career Ladder Click here to view a clinical laboratory sciences career ladder diagram designed by the Healthcare Navigator. CLSs with extensive experience may become supervisors or laboratory managers. CLSs may also choose to become experts in a particular type of testing (i.e. hematology, histology, genetics, etc.) and may pursue advanced training in a specialty area. Salaries are higher for individuals in laboratory administration and for CLSs who specialize. Some
CLSs may decide not to work in the laboratory full time and may instead
work in education, pharmaceuticals, or as consultants for laboratory equipment
companies. CLSs interested in public sector employment may work in public
health departments or for regulatory and quality assurance agencies. CLS Employers Visit the Employers page for a comprehensive list of hospitals Aureus Medical Laboratory Staffing CLS Training Providers San Jose State University CLS Program San Francisco State University CLS Program UCSF Advanced Clinical Training Program Resources Additional Information State of California-Division of Laboratory Science Laboratory Field Services Branch UCSF Report on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce US Department of Health and Human Services-Bureau of Health Professions Report on CLS Workforce ADVANCE Magazine for Medical Laboratory Professionals Professional Associations American Society for Clinical Pathology American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science American Medical Technologists California Association for Medical Laboratory Technology Phillipines Association of Medical Technologists Accrediting Agencies National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs |