INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
FOR TRAINEE APPLICANTS

The complete application to the individual programs should contain the following. Some programs may require additional material. See the individual program information. 

STANDARDIZED APPLICATION FORM 
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST TRAINEE LICENSE (see # 2) 
TRANSCRIPTS OF ALL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WORK (see # 3) 
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (see # 5)

1. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
START EARLY -- If possible start the application procedure early in the senior year. 
a. Complete the following items and send or have sent to the individual program(s). 

  • Standardized Application Form 
  • Letters of recommendation 
  • Official transcripts 
  • Form 311 that accompanies Trainee license obtained from State Dept. of Health Services (Trainee license not available until after Bachelor's degree), but application process should be started well before graduation. 
  • Any additional materials required by the individual programs. 
2. STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING 

Information concerning the requirements for California State Licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist may be obtained from the California State Department of Health Services. All candidates accepted into clinical training are required to have this trainee license. 

To obtain a trainee license, the applicant should write or telephone the office listed below requesting application forms and accompanying instructions. 

California State Department of Health Services
Laboratory Field Services
2151 Berkeley Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 873-6327 (automated response)
(510) 873-6328 (live person)

PLEASE NOTE: It is illegal to reproduce the license in any manner. When clinical training begins, you will be required to present your license to display in the laboratory in which you will be receiving your training. 

3. TRANSCRIPTS
Each student trainee applicant is required to provide official copies of transcripts for all college and/or university work completed . An official transcript is one that is signed by the Registrar where the student is/was in attendance, imprinted with the institutional seal, and is mailed directly from the Registrar to its respective destination(s) without being accessible to the student. 

Official transcripts are required for each of the following 

a. Each training program the student is applying to. 

b. California State Department of Health Services. 

4. FOREIGN STUDENT APPLICATION
Foreign students are advised to refer to the individual program listings to determine what, if any, special qualifications are required. 

5. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
All student applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation from two science instructors. Please ask the instructors to use the standardized letters of recommendation after you have completed the identifying information at the top of the forms. These letters are to be mailed directly by the instructors to each program the student is applying to. 

Some programs may require additional letters of recommendation. See the individual program information. Most programs strongly recommend requesting a letter of recommendation from a former or current employer. These individuals may use a letter rather than the standardized form. 

6. INTERVIEWS

Most schools require personal interviews prior to acceptance into clinical training. Information concerning interview requirements is contained in the program listing for each school. 

7. SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION

Some programs require additional information, i.e., additional letters of recommendation, statement of interest in the field of clinical laboratory science, etc. Refer to the individual program listings. 

8. CLINICAL SPECIALTY TRAINING PROGRAMS 

Some training programs are approved to offer clinical specialty training in Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry, Immunohematology, or Toxicology. Inquiries concerning these programs should be directed to State Dept. of Health Services, Laboratory Field Services. These programs qualify the student trainee for California licensure only in the clinical specialty for which training is offered. Admission into clinical training requires possession of the trainee license for the clinical training specialty, which is distinct from the Clinical Laboratory Scientist Trainee license. 

9. PREVIOUS EDUCATION

Students who have completed their education and received their degree in excess of seven years prior to their date of application for admission into clinical training are required to have recent coursework (including laboratory) in Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry. This requirement has generally been established by NAACLS approved programs. Applicants should contact individual programs for information concerning this requirement. 

10. HELPFUL HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS

a. Apply early - allow for delays. 

b. Please type the information required on all forms. If a typewriter is not available, then print clearly in large bold letters using black ink. 

c. Keep copies of all applications and a dated record of the application process. 

d. Read the information regarding individual programs carefully.


Due to external pressures on the programs today, changes may occur at any time without advance notice. These changes may include any aspect of any program, including stipend, school requirements, closure, etc. and therefore the information provided cannot be guaranteed in any respect, and is presented as the policies in effect at the time of developing this web site. 

THE POLICIES CITED IN THIS INFORMATION ARE THE OPERATING POLICIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND CAMLT IS IN NO WAY INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. SELECTION REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA REMAIN AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM OFFICIALS.

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