CLS trainee license prereqs?

Does anyone from California know if two semesters of General Chemistry with labs satisfy the Quantitative Analysis prerequisite? Also would an internship at a clinical laboratory in a Primate Research Center be a good experience to have for someone applying to CLS training programs? I am thinking of applying to this internship. I'm a senior at UC Davis majoring in Biology and I am looking to apply to training programs as soon as I graduate in mid-June next year.

There are only a few internship programs in southern CA. Most make you take classes and then you do rotations. Make sure you join a program that is accredited by the state or they won't let you take the ASCP test.

If you went to UC Davis, the 2ABC chem series satisfies the requirement for analytical chemistry (quant). Isn't there a counselor/advisor you can talk to about CLS program educational requirements? Also, you need to have your hematology class...most likely you'll have to take that at CSUS. I highly recommend contacting the teaching coordinator(s) of the program(s) you intend to apply to about whether you've fulfilled all the requirements. There is always alot of confusion as to what classes are acceptable by CA and what aren't.
I was on the interviewing committee for a program in CA, and I can tell you they considered everything--GPA, work experience, recommendations, interview. An internship at the Primate Center certainly would not hurt your chances of getting into a program. Demonstrating a clear understanding of the nature of CLS work is essential. Getting into a CLS program is getting more and more competitive, so good luck :)

if anyone has knowledge about the CLS licence,, plzz guide me,i m to start with the training but couldn't understand from where to start,,whom to contact? who all provide the training?

i have my bachlor in chemistry from Iran . i would like to be an intenrship in a company and work there and get my CLS. i live in south of california in orange.please let me know how can i do that?

i got clinical chemist scientist trainee licence from lfs-cdph,california.i need to do 1 year internship in any public laboratories.I am able to see UCSF,SJSU,Quest diagnostics offering Clinical Chemist Scientist training .But when I contacted UCSF they said it is a little program, they are not offering training until 2011 September & when I contacted SJSU they said they suspended the Program & I also contacted Berkeley Heart lab, inc.they also said they discountinued the program.Quest diagnostics,they are not lifting the phone.Could any one please provide me some approved labs for Clinical chemist scientist trainining.I am really looking for help.I am in confusion.I don't know whom i need to contact.

task in Sunnyvale, California said: i got clinical chemist scientist trainee licence from lfs-cdph,california.i need to do 1 year internship in any public laboratories.I am able to see UCSF,SJSU,Quest diagnostics offering Clinical Chemist Scientist training .But when I contacted UCSF they said it is a little program, they are not offering training until 2011 September & when I contacted SJSU they said they suspended the Program & I also contacted Berkeley Heart lab, inc.they also said they discountinued the program.Quest diagnostics,they are not lifting the phone.Could any one please provide me some approved labs for Clinical chemist scientist trainining.I am really looking for help.I am in confusion.I don't know whom i need to contact.

It's because no lab uses clinical chemist CLSs. If you work in chemistry, you have a generalist CLS license because Chemistry is the easiest department and they like to rotate you to different departments. Now, if you are talking about special chemistry or immunology, which has the EIA testing and esoteric testing, and the limited Chemist license allows you to do that, then I can see where it might be a bit more helpful. Even if that is the case, most hospitals don't use these limited CLSs, and you are stuck in a large reference lab that just does specialty Chemistry tests like Quest. A limited micro license is more useful in CA because all hospital and reference labs use them and hire them for the micro department.

Nevertheless, your only chance is to try the chemist CLS program in San Juan Capistrano at the Quest. Then you are stuck working there for 2 years after you train there for one year because that is part of the contract for participating in their program.

Could you please to help me how can I obtain chemist scientist trainee licence from lfs-cdph,california?

secure.cps.ca.gov/cltreg/CLS_Trainee_business_code.pdf

Limited Technologist Trainee. Applicants shall have graduated from a college or
university maintaining standards equivalent, as determined by the department, to those
institutions accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or an
essentially equivalent accrediting agency with a baccalaureate and a major in the
specialty for which licensure is sought. If the major is not designated by the college or
university as one of those required under this chapter for limited technologist licenses in
clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, immunohematology, or toxicology, the
department may determine the essentially equivalent major.

More details in link below

secure.cps.ca.gov/cltreg/Clinical_Laboratory_Specialists.pdf

CLS48 in California said: It's because no lab uses clinical chemist CLSs. If you work in chemistry, you have a generalist CLS license because Chemistry is the easiest department and they like to rotate you to different departments. Now, if you are talking about special chemistry or immunology, which has the EIA testing and esoteric testing, and the limited Chemist license allows you to do that, then I can see where it might be a bit more helpful. Even if that is the case, most hospitals don't use these limited CLSs, and you are stuck in a large reference lab that just does specialty Chemistry tests like Quest. A limited micro license is more useful in CA because all hospital and reference labs use them and hire them for the micro department.

Nevertheless, your only chance is to try the chemist CLS program in San Juan Capistrano at the Quest. Then you are stuck working there for 2 years after you train there for one year because that is part of the contract for participating in their program.

To cLS48
SO I hold a clinical Chemist license. I'm trying to work in departments dealing with immunoassays and toxicology. Do you know where I can get more information on my scope of practice? I believe I can work in Toxicology since I was tested on it? But immunology should fall under it too right? clinical chemist license is very limited. I can work in micro or hematology but it has to be moderate complexity (automated). I can't work with molecular diagnostics unless its dealing with microbes I think. So basically, with this license it opens the door for me to get my limited license as a molecular biologist. I just have to study and take the test to provide more depth. For those who are looking for limited license, do not choose chemistry. do molecular or micro. Molecular is a growing industry. Hospitals are always looking for micro or blood bank people.

hi cls48, what is the procedure for san juan capistrano.ihave clinical chemist trainee licence.is there any technical interview in quest?what is the procedure could you please explain?.i called quest,san juan capistrano.they said they will call me in june end or july first week for interview?what i need to prepare for interview.please help me in this issue.

ccs5 in Sunnyvale, California said: hi cls48, what is the procedure for san juan capistrano.ihave clinical chemist trainee licence.is there any technical interview in quest?what is the procedure could you please explain?.i called quest,san juan capistrano.they said they will call me in june end or july first week for interview?what i need to prepare for interview.please help me in this issue.

I wouldn't know the procedure since I haven't applied there. If you have an interview, they probably will ask you technical questions related to chemistry so be prepared for it.

The chemistry limited license is actually a little broader than is made out to be here. With the limited license, you can work in chemistry, toxicology, immunology, anything involving molecular methods (I.E. molecular diagnostics and pathology), some microscopic work (urinalysis and FISH) and flow cytometry.

By any chance, does anyone know what the salary range for a CLS (limited in chemistry) in the bay area is? I hear from my friends (generalists) that some are 34 and others are saying 37 base pay. I hear other stories that some started at 32. Isn't 32 dollars too low for a CLS in the bay area even if benefits are fully paid for? I don't think it should matter if you have a limited license or not because you're still doing the same job as a generalist can do if you work within your scope of practice.

bay in San Francisco, California said: By any chance, does anyone know what the salary range for a CLS (limited in chemistry) in the bay area is? I hear from my friends (generalists) that some are 34 and others are saying 37 base pay. I hear other stories that some started at 32. Isn't 32 dollars too low for a CLS in the bay area even if benefits are fully paid for? I don't think it should matter if you have a limited license or not because you're still doing the same job as a generalist can do if you work within your scope of practice.

You'd get paid the same as a generalist. You shouldn't be crying over starting at $32 an hr. That's not chump change and some CLSs around the country start at $19 an hr.

$19? The cost of living must be low in those areas. Bay area people do get paid more based on cost of living. So 32 dollars in SF is somewhat low compared to others in same area.

CLS in Anaheim, California said: $19? The cost of living must be low in those areas. Bay area people do get paid more based on cost of living. So 32 dollars in SF is somewhat low compared to others in same area.

I know that in some areas near Sacramento, the cost of living is cheap but the pay is equivalent to the bay area. The same goes for in southern CA. The CLSs in San Bernardino or Riverside counties get roughly the same as those in LA county, yet the cost of living is a lot more in LA county.

The cost of living argument is valid to a certant extent, but doesn't work in all instances. Other states pay their CLSs low because MLTs do the same job as CLSs and a lot of states don't require CLS licenses.

Where Exactly could I find the California CLS Trainee License Application?
I looked online where it normally is, but I think it was removed.

Please include an exact link.

Here's the link to CA CLS trainee licence application: secure.cps.ca.gov/cltreg/cls_trainee_info.asp

For some reason the link didn't come right. Just make the http in the beginning into https when you click on it

So for a Limited CLS in Chemistry, you only have to meet the unit requirements and "Analytical Chemistry" and "Instrumental" chemistry correct? The other classes that are required for a general cls license, does not apply to the limited chemist cls license correct?

I just graduated from UCLA in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics. I am hoping to enter CLS program but i realized I still have a couple prerequisites to finish. I hope someone can answer my two questions.
1. I am wondering if Analytical Chemistry class is a special class or is it just normal chemistry class that we all took? I took general chem, organic chem, biochem as everyone does. Do I meet the analytical chem requirement?
2. Can someone tell me where to take hematology class in Los Angeles or somewhere closed by?

Hi Sharon!

Congrats on graduating! I have just started my CLS internship program, and here is what I had to do regarding pre-reqs.

1. I am a UC RIVERSIDE grad, and took the same gen, org, and biochem classes you took. And NO, ANALYTICAL or QUANT CHEM is different and most if not all programs want you to take that specific course. I believe it is also needed to get your CLS TRAINING LICENSE, but I forget, so do not quote me on that. BUT yes, go take a QUANT/ANALYTICAL CHEM class.

2. Yes. Hematology is hard to come by. CSUDH is where I took mine. But they have their own CLS students who are post-baccs and BSMT students all fighting to get into their own CLS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM so they are fighting over seats in CSUDH Hematology class. If you have all your prereqs done and you are ready to apply to the CLS program at Dominguez Hills for that application year, and you are nice to their director, you will be placed in priority to have a seat at the hematology class.

HOWEVER, I know of a lot of people who could not get in. So, as many have done, you can take the hematology course online. I believe it is some university in utah. But yes, I know at least 3 people in my internship program now who did just that.

I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Sharon in Los Angeles, California said: I just graduated from UCLA in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics. I am hoping to enter CLS program but i realized I still have a couple prerequisites to finish. I hope someone can answer my two questions.
1. I am wondering if Analytical Chemistry class is a special class or is it just normal chemistry class that we all took? I took general chem, organic chem, biochem as everyone does. Do I meet the analytical chem requirement?
2. Can someone tell me where to take hematology class in Los Angeles or somewhere closed by?

Alternatively, since you have a BS degree already, you can just go to Loma Linda's 2 year program where you probably satisify most of the prereqs and take Chem and Hematology the 1st year, which is what I did.

Dear Sarah,
Please provide me the links of online course such as :hematology, quantitive analysis of UTAH University, I tried to register class at CSUDH many times , but I fail.
Sincerely yours,
Nguyen-Thao Luong.

It is called Weber State University in Utah. Check it out

CLS48 in California said: Alternatively, since you have a BS degree already, you can just go to Loma Linda's 2 year program where you probably satisify most of the prereqs and take Chem and Hematology the 1st year, which is what I did.

Hi CLS48,

Can you give me more information about Loma Linda? How much are you paying for the two classes for the 1st year? I think somewhere from the website says all students need to complete all 2 years.
After you finished LLU, do you recieve your 2nd degree? After that, you will need to take the ASCP test, am I right?
Do you still need to get a trainee license for that program?

How competitive is it to get into the quest program?

Sharon in Los Angeles, California said: Hi CLS48,

Can you give me more information about Loma Linda? How much are you paying for the two classes for the 1st year? I think somewhere from the website says all students need to complete all 2 years.
After you finished LLU, do you recieve your 2nd degree? After that, you will need to take the ASCP test, am I right?
Do you still need to get a trainee license for that program?

The total is about 60k for 2 years. Yes you have to complete all 2 years and you get a BS degree in CLS at the end of it. Half the students have degrees already and half don't. Yes you take the ASCP after the program. At the end of the 1st year, they will guide you how to apply for your trainee's license so all students have the trainee's license before the 2nd year of your rotations. The 1st year is all classes and is kind of intense. The 2nd year is all rotations with a few classes on one of the days of the week.

CLSseeker in Ceres, California said: How competitive is it to get into the quest program?

The limited program is competitive. I heard they accept a lot of their lab aides first and give preference to them. I also heard for the specialist in Chemistry, Quest did not even take any students this year.

Thank for your information. I checked out Weber University website already. However, they request that it must have clinicla laboratory sponsor while we attend CLS Trainee program.
DO you know if there is any clinical laboratory in South California accept as sponsor. How can we apply? Are there any requirements to ask that lab spouse for us?

Sincerely yours,

Nguyen

I applied for my training license late September. Does CPS send an email or mail any information regarding the status of my application? On the website my evaluation status says to be reviewed. Do they notify you when they have received all transcripts?

So I just applied for the CA CLS Trainee License. Is there supposed to be an attestation page at the end of the application that I am supposed to sign and mail to LFS? I didn't see anything that I am supposed to sign. At the end is a page that says "YOUR REGISTRATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED" with the summary of payment. I'm worried I missed the attestation page because on the instructions page it says "Applications will not be processed without signed attestation." Let me know if any of you had to mail a signed attestation page for California CLS Trainee License Application. Thanks.

rjzm, you will get an email within a week or so for the page you need to sign and mail back to LFS.

Thanks Shouna.

Hi, I have been accepted into Quest Diagnostics to do my CLS training program. I was wondering if anyone here has done their CLS training at Quest and could please tell me more about what it is like? The environment, the people, the pros/cons and most importantly, how well did you feel or do you feel like the training have helped you prepare for the board exam? Please let me know if possible, thank you so much!

My background:
Graduate of an accredited CLS program in categorical Micro in another state.
ASCP certified in categorical Micro.
Licensed in the state I graduated from.
Work experience as CLS is only 5 months.

Now, I am in CA. CA would not grant me CLS specialty license soley because of my work experience being less than 1 year.

Trying to look into the CLS trainee license for Micro. All the links regarding the info from the state are broken and don't work. Can someone give me a summary of the requirements and how that works? I work in a clinical Micro lab in a hospital. Is the CLS trainee license something I can get and then work and be "trained" at my hospital so that I can then get the CLS Micro Specialist license?? Really trying to find out another avenue other than going through another CLS program in CA just so I can get my CA License....bc I just graduated!! And that would just be craziness to have to go through another one! :0

Any info would help! Thanks!

I really hope someone that got the limited chemistry cls trainee license can help me....

The course requirement says i need "Analytical chemistry and instrumentation". I took "Theory of quantitative analysis" and Cal State Fullerton which does cover some instrumentation. So would this cover the entire requirement or was there another instrumentation chemistry class that you guys took?

Thanks so much!!!

That course is fullfill pre-requisites.

Hi,

I just came across this site by chance and it has been super helpful.
I was wndering if there is anyone here from Northern California. I am interested in the UCSF CLS Training program. I graduated a few years ago with a BS in Biology from UCLA. I understand I'll have to take the analytical Chemistry and Hematology classes as pre-reqs for the CLS trainee license. Do you guys know where I can take these classes in the bay area?

Thanks in advance.

Hi you can take these classes at CSU EAST BAY in Hayward. The hematology class was easy.

In general, how competitive are CLS training programs in California?

I am having a difficult time finding stats on how many people apply, what their educational backgrounds are like, etc.

I am thinking of pursuing CLS, but I would need to take several prereqs. But I don't want to take all the prereqs and then find out that it's nearly impossible to get in.

Last year, I applied to medical school and was rejected. My GPA is 3.9 and I have been working in hospitals/healthcare for several years. In terms of CLS, what do you think my chances are?

Hi I was actually in the same boat as you last year and was rejected from pharmacy school. I am now in the CLS program at CSU Dominguez Hills. Right now Im finishing all the pre-reqs I had to take and Im applying to clinicals this october and I heard they take about 43 students, which is alot more than other schools in california.

Hi akjh,

Thank you so much for the info! I am going to research CSUDH right now. When you say you're finishing your prereqs, do you mean courses like Hematology, Immunology, etc.?

-kmmc

Yes I had to take quantitative chem, hematology, immunology, clinical chem and all those courses that were not required as a bio major. Its taking me 3 semesters to finish them.

Yeah, I need to take those classes as well. They are all so impacted with students; it's hard to secure a seat in those courses. Thanks again for the info. I appreciate it a lot.

I just got the Molecular CLS trainee license from LFS after 4 years of begging and convincing. My cost fro different applications exceed $600 up to now. I am looking for a trainee program around LA. I already has my ASCP(MB) license from 2007. Just need to attend a clinical trainee program for 12 months to get CA license. I have worked in CLIA labs for the past 10 years in LA. That does not count. Can some one help me to find a trainee lab?
Can I work as a CLS limited license? Ps help! Thanks.

Sharon in Los Angeles, California said: I just graduated from UCLA in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics. I am hoping to enter CLS program but i realized I still have a couple prerequisites to finish. I hope someone can answer my two questions.
1. I am wondering if Analytical Chemistry class is a special class or is it just normal chemistry class that we all took? I took general chem, organic chem, biochem as everyone does. Do I meet the analytical chem requirement?
2. Can someone tell me where to take hematology class in Los Angeles or somewhere closed by?

Sharon, I have the same exact degree from UCLA and I am in the same position you were when you posted this. Could you possibly let me know what you ended up doing (Loma Linda versus taking Hema and Quan Analysis on your own)? Any help you could give me on this would be SO GREATLY appreciated!

CLS48 in California said: The total is about 60k for 2 years. Yes you have to complete all 2 years and you get a BS degree in CLS at the end of it. Half the students have degrees already and half don't. Yes you take the ASCP after the program. At the end of the 1st year, they will guide you how to apply for your trainee's license so all students have the trainee's license before the 2nd year of your rotations. The 1st year is all classes and is kind of intense. The 2nd year is all rotations with a few classes on one of the days of the week.

CLS48, since I am a Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics major like Sharon (above) I do not have many of Loma Linda's humanities prereqs. Were you in the same position? If so, were you able to take these the first year at Loma Linda, or did you need to take them before even applying in the first place?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Dani in Oxnard, California said: CLS48, since I am a Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics major like Sharon (above) I do not have many of Loma Linda's humanities prereqs. Were you in the same position? If so, were you able to take these the first year at Loma Linda, or did you need to take them before even applying in the first place?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Hi Dani,

I am going to do CSUDH program now. CSUDH requires 2 years residence before applying for 1year clinical. I am trying to contract the person in CSUDH but she hasn't reply my email yet. I am hoping I only need to take hematology and analytical chem instead of repeating all the required classes that I already have.