California Licensure Requirements (CLS and MLT)

California CLS (MT[AAB]) Education and Training Requirements

The prerequisites for entrance into California's licensing examination shall be one (1) of the following:

(1) Graduation from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency acceptable to the California Department of Health Services (DHS), with a bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree and a major in clinical laboratory science, the last year of which shall have been primarily clinical laboratory procedures in a clinical laboratory training school;

(2) Graduation from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency acceptable to DHS, with a bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree and courses pertinent to the clinical laboratory field plus one (1) year as a clinical laboratory technologist trainee or the equivalent in a clinical laboratory; provided, however, that a bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree obtained after July 1, 1973, must include at least:

a. sixteen (16) semester or equivalent quarter hours of chemistry, including instruction in analytical and biological chemistry;

b. eighteen (18) semester or equivalent quarter hours of biological science, including instruction in immunology, hematology and medical microbiology, which may include bacteriology, mycology, virology and parasitology;

c. three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours of physics, including instruction in principles of light and electricity;

(3) A minimum of two (2) years of experience as a licensed trainee or the equivalent as determined by the DHS doing clinical laboratory work embracing the various fields of clinical laboratory activity in a clinical laboratory acceptable to the DHS and ninety (90) semester hours or equivalent quarter hours of university or college work in which are included the following courses, or essentially the equivalent, as may be determined by the DHS: general inorganic chemistry - eight (8); quantitative analysis - three (3); basic biological sciences - eight (8); bacteriology - four (4); provided, however, that university or college work completed after July 1, 1973, must include at least:

a. sixteen (16) semester or equivalent quarter hours of chemistry, including instruction in analytical and biological chemistry;

b. eighteen (18) semester or equivalent quarter hours of biological science including instruction in immunology, hematology and medical microbiology which may include bacteriology, mycology, virology and parasitology;

c. three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours of physics, including instruction in principles of light and electricity.

California MLT Education and Training Requirements

(1) Have successfully completed at least sixty (60) semester (ninety [90] quarter) units from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the California Department of Health Services (DHS). The coursework shall consist of at least thirty-six (36) semester units of physical and biological sciences with an emphasis on applied clinical science. Coursework shall include six (6) semester units of chemistry and six (6) semester units of biology appropriate for transfer to a bachelor's (baccalaureate) program in science, taken prior to, or concurrently with, training or experience;

AND

(2) Have met the following training or experience requirements by documenting one (1) of the following:

a. Graduating from a medical laboratory technician training program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS);

b. Graduating from a medical laboratory technician training program approved by the DHS;

c. Completing a minimum of three (3) years of on-the-job practical experience within the previous five (5) years in a clinical laboratory outside California as a medical laboratory technician, performing tests in the specialties of chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunology. This work experience shall include at least 480 hours in each of these specialties and shall be documented by the laboratory director(s) of the laboratory(ies) employing the applicant pursuant to Section 1031.4(b)(8) of California’s Clinical Laboratory Regulations (Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 2);

d. Completing a minimum of three (3) years of on-the-job practical experience within the previous five (5) years in a clinical laboratory outside California as a clinical laboratory scientist, performing tests in the specialties of chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunology. This clinical laboratory scientist, also called medical technologist in some states, need not be California licensed pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 1204, but shall have work experience outside California of at least 480 hours in each of these specialties as documented by the laboratory director(s) of the laboratory(ies) employing the applicant pursuant to Section 1031.4(b)(8) of California’s Clinical Laboratory Regulations (Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 2);

e. Completing a minimum of three (3) years of on-the-job practical experience within the previous five (5) years as a medical laboratory technician or clinical laboratory scientist in a California physician office laboratory or in a laboratory owned and operated by the United States of America. The applicant shall have performed tests in the specialties of chemistry, hematology, microbiology and immunology. This work experience shall include at least 480 hours in each of these specialties, and shall be documented by the physician(s) directing the laboratory(ies) employing the applicant pursuant to Section 1031.4(b)(8) of California’s Clinical Laboratory Regulations (Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 2).