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Online Education Guide - What is a College Major? View College Majors - Alternative Medicine - Clinical Laboratory Science - Communication Disorders - Counseling - Dental Hygiene - EMT & Paramedic - Forensic Medicine - Gerontology - Health IT - Healthcare Administration - Healthcare Management - Health Promotion - Health Services - Life Care Planning - Long Term Care - Medical Informatics - Nursing - Nutrition & Food Science - Occupational Safety - Occupational Therapy - Pharmacy - Physical Therapy - Physician Assistant - Psychology - Public Health - Radiologic Science - Respiratory Therapy - RN to BSN - Sports Science |
Home | Career Pathways | Online Education Guide | Health & Medical Majors | Clinical Laboratory Science Online Education GuideGuide to College Majors in Clinical Laboratory ScienceWhat 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:
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. 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:
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:
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 ScienceUndergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programsAs 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 Associate programs include:
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:
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 Admissions requirements vary according to the institution, but generally match those of an Associate Degree program. Online Bachelor of Science 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 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 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:
A Master of Science curriculum will usually include:
Online Master of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science Universities offering clinical laboratory science degree programs:
University of Cincinnati - Online Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science Degree What can you do with a College Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science?Career specializations for aspiring clinical laboratory scientists, technologists and techniciansClinical 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 PositionOf 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 PathsConsulting
Marketing
Laboratory Information Systems
Research and Product Development
Forensic Biological Sciences
Certification and LicensureTo 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
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