CLS Program Application Process
Admission requirements are based on standards set by the California Department of Public Health. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents in the United States or DACA recipients.
A baccalaureate degree is required (biological sciences, biochemistry or microbiology recommended). Prerequisite undergraduate coursework includes:
- 18 semester units (27 quarter units) in biological sciences – must include separate courses in immunology, hematology and medical microbiology. (Other recommended courses include mycology, virology and parasitology.)
- 16 semester units (24 quarter units) in chemistry – must include biochemistry and analytical or clinical chemistry.
- Three semester units (4.5 quarter units) in physics – must include principles of light and electricity.
- Courses in anatomy, physiology, genetics, molecular biology and statistics are also highly recommended.
All required courses must have been taken for a letter grade and a minimum grade of “C” achieved. These courses must be completed by the end of May, prior to the start of training.
If advanced beyond the primary application, proof of enrollment in or completion of medical microbiology, hematology, immunology, biochemistry and analytical chemistry must be received no later than May 1 of the application cycle.
Successful applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA in sciences of 2.7. In addition, they will have no record of academic probation within the last three years of schooling.
Candidates with foreign degrees must have a course-by-course credential evaluation from an acceptable agency and have 30 semester units (45 quarter units) in upper division science courses from a United States college/university. For more information concerning coursework evaluation from foreign institutions, please refer to information published by Laboratory Field Services.
Applications will only be accepted between September 1 and November 1. The due date for the initial application is November 1.
A completed application form should be sent by email to cls-training-program@uci.edu. The application is a fillable PDF form. Only this format filled and submitted electronically will be accepted. (Download the form to a local hard drive and use the latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader for best results.) If you require the application form in an alternate format, please email cls-training-program@uci.edu.
At this stage of the application process, applicants should only submit the primary application. Transcript, letters of recommendation and other documentation should not be submitted unless requested.
Re-applicants need to submit a new application form.
By December 15, all applicants will be notified about whether they are being advanced to the second stage of the application process.
Applicants advanced in the process will be asked to provide the following:
Official University Transcript(s)
Applicants selected for this stage of the process will be asked to submit transcripts from the institution(s) where they obtained their bachelor’s degree and attended to fulfill any prerequisites.
NOTE: Applicants should only request transcripts be sent on their behalf if notified they are being advanced to the next stage of the application process.
Transcripts must be sent directly from the school registrar on behalf of the applicant.
If the college/university offers an electronic transcript option, this is the preferred transmission method rather than having transcripts sent by postal mail. Have transcripts sent to cls-training-program@uci.edu. If electronic transmission is not offered by a registrar, then transcripts should be mailed to:
CLS Training Program
UC Irvine Medical Center
101 The City Drive South
Bldg. 54, Room 4700
Orange, CA 92868
NOTE: An official transcript is one that is signed by the registrar of the college/university attended, imprinted with the institutional seal, and emailed (preferred) or mailed directly from the registrar to the CLS program, without being accessible to the trainee.
Foreign degree transcript evaluations:
Please refer to the information published by Laboratory Field Services as to approved transcript evaluation services.
Three letters of recommendation are required.
NOTE: Applicants should only request letters of recommendation be sent on their behalf if they are notified they are being advanced to the next stage of the application process.
Only the UCI-CLS program Recommendation Form, which is a fillable PDF, will be accepted. (Download the form to a local hard drive and use the latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader for best results.) Applicants should electronically fill out the top of the form and indicate that they waive all rights to read the letter of recommendation. Subsequently, this form should be emailed to their recommenders to complete. Recommenders should be instructed to email this form to cls-training-program@uci.edu. Should a recommender also want to send a letter on letterhead, that is acceptable, but the recommendation form, where the applicant has waived their right to review the recommendation, needs to accompany the letter.
If you require the recommendation form in an alternate format, please email cls-training-program@uci.edu.
Trainee License
All candidates ultimately accepted into the CLS training program are required to have a clinical laboratory scientist trainee license from the California Department of Public Health (LFS). The trainee license will not be issued until after the bachelor’s degree has been awarded (or prerequisite requirements have been met), but the application process should start well in advance of the program start date. Applicants who advance in the application process should initiate their trainee license application or be in a position to do so should they be accepted.
For additional information, contact Laboratory Field Services.
Applicants selected to be interviewed will be contacted by early February. Interviews will be scheduled in February/March.
Applicants will be interviewed by members of the CLS program admissions committee.
The following are taken into consideration when selecting candidates to be admitted to the program:
- Academics
- Clinical laboratory work experience
- Letters of recommendation
- Motivation
- Professionalism
- Communication skills
- Clinical laboratory work experience
- Extracurricular activities
Individuals selected for the training program will be notified in writing with a written response of acceptance requested. Individuals who do not advance through the application process will be notified.
University of California Nondiscrimination Statement
The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy1, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or service in the uniformed services2. The University also prohibits sexual harassment. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.
1Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.
2Service in the uniformed services includes membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service or obligation for service in the uniformed services.
