Online Education Guide
Guide to Majors

- What is a College Major?
- Deciding to Go to College
- Assessing Your Skills
- Education vs. Experience
- Top Ten Job Trends

View College Majors

 Health & Medical

 Arts & Humanities

 Business

 Criminal Justice

 Education

 Engineering

 Science

 Social Science

 Technology

Online Education Guide

Guide to College Majors in Clinical Laboratory Science

What is Clinical Laboratory Science?

If you are looking for a career path that marries chemistry, biology, medicine, and problem solving, then a Clinical Laboratory Science degree may be a good fit for you. A degree in this field will qualify you for employment in the hospital system, as well as in clinics, as a researcher, a lab technician, and many other offshoots of the profession. Professionals who work in the clinical laboratory perform tests which result in accurate medical diagnoses.

What does a Clinical Laboratory Scientist do?

A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is skilled in the procedures and equipment involved in determining the causes and cures of diseases. These experts use reagents, chemicals, and laboratory equipment to test body fluids and tissues. This is a very versatile degree with many career opportunities and specializations. The evaluation of blood and tissue samples, and the precision and insight involved in diagnosing and analyzing medical findings are vital. Clinical Laboratory Scientists are invaluable to medicine.

A few specialties in Clinical Laboratory Science include:

• Hematology - the study of blood and blood-producing organs involving analysis of blood cells and plasma proteins for clues which may indicate disease.
• Bacteriology - the medical study of bacteria.
• Clinical chemistry (or clinical pathology) - the study of bodily fluids.
• Chemistry - analysis of chemical constituents of body fluids.
• Immunohematology - the study of antigens and antibodies associated with the transfusion of blood components.
• Immunology/Serology - study and analysis of immune responses to disease.
• Microbiology - identification and evaluation of bacteria and viruses and their properties in relation to disease.
• Urinalysis -examination of urine on the physical, chemical, and microscopic level.

The well-rounded study of Clinical Laboratory Science will begin with a solid foundation in the underlying principles of science. Aspects of basic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology lead to more specified investigation into the workings of the human body. After the fundamentals of science are understood, students will gain skills in microscopy, urinalysis, microbiology, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, and clinical chemistry.

Upon this foundation, students learn how to perform precise tests with laboratory equipment and how to analyze and interpret their findings. A degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences will also prepare students to develop skills in laboratory administration, research, and teaching.

Get your degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
	Search Type: Online    Campus Degree:  Zip: --- Select a Degree --- Associate Bachelor Master Diploma Certificate

Do you have what it takes?

Naturally, a program in Clinical Laboratory Science is strenuous and detail-oriented. Individuals seeking to enter this field should harbor an interest and aptitude in the sciences, especially chemistry and biology. The benefit of pursuing such a degree is that it provides you with the self-respect and focus which comes with such a position. Clinical Laboratory Scientists provide information, based on their tests, that is crucial to a physician's diagnosis of a patient's illness.

Some of the responsibilities of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist may include:

• performing tests of fluid, blood, and tissue samples;
• managing a lab which employs a team of specialists, managing administrative aspects of that lab;
• heading up research projects to develop new laboratory techniques
• pursuing clinical research;
• operating, maintaining and troubleshooting of clinical instruments;
• operating computer systems for data input, retrieval and analysis of information
• maintaining and improving laboratory practices and quality control;
• managing inventory for the laboratory;
• teaching students and health care personnel proper laboratory practices.

As you embark upon a degree path that is as specialized as Clinical Laboratory Science, it is a good idea to consider whether your personal qualities are suited for this work. Some important questions to ask are:

• Am I interested in how bodies work and why?
• Am I a natural problem solver?
• Do I work well with others in a collaborative manner for a single purpose?
• Do the mysteries of the physical and chemical world intrigue me?
• Am I cut out for a demanding job which potentially requires long working hours?
• Do I enjoy taking fragments of information and interpreting them to find a coherent answer?
• Am I willing and able to embark on a specialized field of study?
• Do I enjoy employing instruments and procedures to discover solutions to problems?

If you answered yes to the above questions, your personality may be suitable for a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Career Education in Clinical Laboratory Science

Undergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programs

As with all professions, a student must follow a specific trajectory to become a qualified Clinical Laboratory Scientists, and below is a list of the on-campus and distance learning degree programs that are available.

To be employable as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, a student must pass a national certification exam. Associate, Bachelor, and Master programs give students the skills to become certified and employed in most aspects of this varied profession.

Associate of Applied Science
This two-year program prepares individuals to conduct complex medical tests that help physicians to diagnose the cause and spread of disease. The Associate degree is an integrated study curriculum which provides background knowledge in the fundamentals of medical science and the functions of clinical laboratories. Emphasis is on research experiments, clinical trials, and research experiments. In addition to specific scientific procedures, students will be trained in broad practical skills of laboratory management, personnel supervision, medical informatics, clinical waste management, professional standards, and regulations.

Associate programs include:

• instruction in the theory and practice of hematology;
• clinical chemistry;
• microbiology;
• immunology;
• immunohematology;
• physiological relationships to test results;
• laboratory procedures and quality assurance controls;
• test and research design and implementation;
• analytic techniques;
• laboratory management and personnel supervision;
• data development and reporting;
• medical informatics; and
• professional standards and regulations.

Often, the practical clinical experience is obtained in an off-campus clinical laboratory. Associate degrees provide a general education that prepares students for entry level career opportunities.

Generally, colleges will require for admission:

• High school diploma with minimum grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better or the equivalent of a high school diploma with an average score of 50 or better.
• Achievement of a minimum ACT composite score of 20.

If the applicant has already received college credit, then the cumulative grade point average must usually be 2.0 or more for all attempted college courses. As well, student must satisfy all health requirements of the College, the School of Health Sciences and the CLLS Department.

Bachelor of Science
Generally, a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science program includes three years of undergraduate course work followed by twelve months in a clinical laboratory setting. In this fourth year, students gain first-hand experience in a lab that is accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education through the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science degree, students will be able to take the national certification examination.

Admissions requirements vary according to the institution, but generally match those of an Associate Degree program.

Online Bachelor of Science
More and more distance learning programs are available in nearly every conceivable field. For students who do not live near a college or university offering a desired degree program, or for busy professionals and parents who cannot attend the on-campus program, the online degree program offers compelling opportunities for personal development.

Accredited internet-based programs are just as thorough as their on-campus equivalents. The online curriculum includes the fundamental courses of chemistry and biology as well as hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, instrumentation, serology, urinalysis, mycology, and parasitology. Online students can fulfill their laboratory requirements by attending a compressed, on-campus residency, or by participating in lab sessions held at nearby schools with reciprocal agreements.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science
The Post-Baccalaureate (or Graduate) Certificate Program provides students who already possess a baccalaureate degree in Clinical Laboratory Science with a more advanced study of the subject, including a curriculum of clinical training and coursework. Graduates of this program receive a certificate from the educational institution which then qualifies them to take the national certification examination.

Many clinical laboratories will hire graduates of certificate programs who have yet to take the national certification exam (called "registry-eligible" graduates) with the understanding that the exam will be taken and passed within a predetermined time frame. Program admission guidelines generally require that applicants have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better in all relevant courses.

The Graduate Certificate program may be a feasible option for individuals who are interested in taking the study of Clinical Laboratory Science a step further than the Bachelor of Science degree, but without the intense level of commitment that is required for a Master of Science degree.

Master of Science in Clinical Science
To receive a Master's Degree in Clinical Science, students must usually complete thirty credit hours in a specified field beyond the Bachelor's level. In Clinical Laboratory Science, there are two different tracks of Master of Science programs, one is research oriented and one is project oriented. Both degree tracks involve a core curriculum of course work as well as elective courses that are suited to the interests of the individual.

A research-based Master of Science program will emphasize scientific research, culminating in a written thesis and a defense of this thesis judged by members of the department.

A project-based Master of Science program will involve more hands-on laboratory work resulting in presentation of a written summary of findings and a defense.

Requirements for admission into a Master of Science program usually include:

• baccalaureate degree in medical technology, biology, chemistry, or a related major from an accredited college or university
• undergraduate grade point average of 3.0

A Master of Science curriculum will usually include:

• general education - approximately 9 credit hours
• research - approximately 9 credit hours
• advanced course work - approximately 9 credit hours
• electives - for completion of the full Master's credit

Online Master of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science
Many working professionals who want to pursue opportunities for promotion or advancement can participate in online graduate programs in clinical laboratory science. A growing number of employers provide tuition reimbursement and allow their staff members to conduct required lab work in company facilities. These professional development opportunities help companies retain their best workers, while affording students the chance to pursue a degree without sacrificing their salaries.

Universities offering clinical laboratory science degree programs:

University of Cincinnati - Online Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science Degree
Touro University International - Online BS in Health Sciences / Laboratory Sciences Professional Degree Completion

What can you do with a College Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science?

Career specializations for aspiring clinical laboratory scientists, technologists and technicians

Clinical Laboratory Science is a positive choice for students who want a career with solid growth potential. As Americans live longer, we will require more trained specialists to assist in our advanced medical care.

A clinical laboratory scientist is a professional for whom laboratory diagnostic analyses serve as the primary responsibility. An estimated seventy to eighty percent of all information used by physicians in patient diagnosis is derived in clinical laboratories. Today in the United States, the unfilled job opportunities in this field far outstrip the qualified practitioners.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about 297,000 jobs in 2002. Most of these positions were in hospitals, while others were in smaller clinics and laboratories.

Based on the current rate of growth within the field, some experts estimate that 12,000 new jobs will become available each year through 2012, with only 5,000 new graduates per year to take them. Recent graduates are expected to have a fairly easy time finding employment in a chosen area of the profession. Entry level salary for jobs in the clinical laboratory environment range from $32,000 to $40,000.

What is the Difference between a Clinical Laboratory Technician and a Clinical Laboratory Technologist?

As you begin your search of the employment opportunities for qualified laboratory scientists, you may be confused by the difference between a "technician" and a "technologist".

Clinical laboratory technologists are professionals who have received a Bachelor of Science or higher and passed the national certification. Laboratory technologists specialize in the actual laboratory processes required to test and microscopically analyze body fluids and tissues. They perform complex chemical and biological tests with an emphasis on determining the presence and function of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other microorganisms. In larger laboratories, technologists will specialize in the tests that they perform, whereas in smaller institutions the tests will be more general.

The clinical laboratory technologist's job description includes evaluating test results, developing and modifying laboratory procedures, monitoring programs for efficiency and accuracy. A technologist will often be called upon to supervise clinical laboratory technicians and other personnel.

The clinical laboratory technician serves a different function in the laboratory. Becoming a technician does not require the same level of formal education and training in the biological and chemical sciences. The tests that a technician performs are not as complex as those of the technologist. Technicians may prepare specimens and operate laboratory equipment under the supervision of a technologist, but will not be expected to have the same level of analytical training as a technologist.

Qualities of a Clinical Laboratory Position

Of course, the working environment and working hours will depend on what aspect of the field in which the individual chooses to work. In large hospitals and laboratories that operate continuously, shifts are usually divided into day, evening, and night shifts. Personnel may be required to work weekends or holidays.

Obviously, the work necessitates working with infectious specimens. However, anyone employed in a clinical laboratory would have been trained in the proper handling methods of such substances. When the proper procedures are followed, little risk exists for laboratory personnel.

Possible Career Paths

Consulting

• Internal consultants provide expertise within an institution

Marketing

• New product development
• Promotion and sales
• Providing technical assistance for new product developers

Laboratory Information Systems

• Develop, sell, select, install and support software and hardware for laboratory information systems
• Work with LIS databases in hospitals, commercial clinical laboratories, multi-site health care institutions, or research facilities

Research and Product Development

• Develop new laboratory instruments and working methods
• Analyze data for acceptability

Forensic Biological Sciences

• Test and analyze tissue, blood, and other physiological specimens collected for the purposes of criminal investigations
• Utilize immunological, biochemical, and microscopic methods
• DNA analysis

Certification and Licensure

To be certified as a licensed, professional Clinical Laboratory Scientist, individuals must complete at least three years of formal study, receive a Bachelor of Science, and attend twelve months of clinical training in an accredited school of clinical laboratory science.

At this point, the individual is eligible to apply for certification examinations of the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel and the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. When this exam is passed, individuals are then qualified for any entry level position in the field.

Explore Related Degree Programs

- Online Degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Online Degrees in Forensic Medicine
- Online Degrees in Health Information Technology
- Online Degrees in Radiologic Science

Copyright 2005 World Wide Learn