Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Hold a valid Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Trainee License issued by the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (LFS). Those with license applications still pending are not eligible to apply.
  • Hold a conferred bachelor's degree in the biological sciences or a related field.
  • Complete at least 16 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of biological sciences coursework, including:
    • Hematology
    • Immunology
    • Medical Microbiology
  • Complete at least 16 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of chemistry coursework, including:
    • Quantitative Analysis or Analytical Chemistry; and
    • Clinical Chemistry or Biochemistry.
  • Complete at least 3 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of physics, mathematics, or statistics.
  • Earn a grade of B or better in Hematology, Immunology, and Medical Microbiology. These courses must have been completed within five years of the application deadline.
  • Overall GPA of 2.8 or higher from university granting Bachelor or Masters degree
    • See below for more information regarding GPA remediation
  • 12 semester units of upper-division science coursework at a United States university
  • Have the legal right to work in the United States.
  • Meet all admission requirements established by San José State University.
  • Be able to successfully complete required health screening, drug testing, and background check requirements.
  • Provide proof of immunity through serological testing to Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella and other infectious diseases as required by participating clinical affiliates.
  • Review and attest to the program's Technical Standards and Essential Functions prior to applying. These standards define the essential non-academic abilities required for safe participation in clinical training.
  • Be accepted by both the SJSU CLS Program Selection Committee and a participating clinical affiliate.

GPA Remediation

Applicants whose overall GPA falls below the 2.8 minimum may complete additional coursework to improve their academic record. Coursework used for GPA remediation must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be completed at a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Be taken at the undergraduate, graduate, or post-baccalaureate level.
  • Consist of upper-division coursework relevant to the Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist (CGMBS) professions, such as advanced biology, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, or related laboratory sciences. General education/non-science courses will not be counted toward GPA remediation.
  • Be completed for a letter grade.
  • Continuing education, extension, professional development, certificate, and non-credit courses will not be accepted for GPA remediation purposes.
  • The Admissions Committee reserves the right to determine whether coursework is appropriate for GPA remediation and sufficiently relevant to clinical laboratory science, molecular diagnostics, or related biomedical sciences.

Additional Important Information

  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed and grades posted by the application deadline.
  • The SJSU CLS Program admission requirements complement the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (LFS) requirements for obtaining a CLS Trainee License.
  • Applicants should review the university's Academic Probation and Disqualification Policy.
  • Coursework in Genetics and Human (or Mammalian) Physiology is strongly recommended but not required.

Applicants with Degrees from Foreign Institutions

Applicants who earned a degree or completed prerequisite coursework outside the United States must obtain a course-by-course transcript evaluation from one of the following approved agencies:

Note: If accepted into the program, your bachelor's degree, TOEFL score, and official foreign transcripts must also be deemed acceptable by San José State University Admissions Department.