Medical Lab Technician to Clinical Lab Scientist Bridge Training Program

Advance your career
Use your California Department of Public Health Laboratory Field Services (CDPH LFS) approved MLT license as a pathway to qualify for CLS licensure and prepare for advanced clinical and supervisory roles.

Designed for working professionals
Continue working as an MLT while you complete the program. Online coursework allows you to maintain employment with no career interruption.

Accelerated 6.5-month timeline
Complete your training in a focused sequence that builds on your existing laboratory experience.

Hybrid format with hands-on training
Combine online didactic courses with in-person clinical rotations at a CDPH LFS-approved site, including your workplace if eligible.

California’s first NAACLS-accredited MLT to CLS bridge program
Train in a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and approved by the California Department of Public Health Laboratory Field Services.

Small, supportive cohort
Learn in a cohort of 4 to 5 students and receive personalized mentorship from experienced faculty and CLS preceptors.

Strong exam preparation
Join a CLS program with consistently strong MLS ASCP certification exam pass rates and preparation aligned with licensure requirements.

This program is for California licensed medical laboratory technicians who want to advance their careers and become clinical laboratory scientists. It is especially suited for working professionals who want to qualify for California CLS licensure while continuing to work in the field.

You are a strong fit if you hold a current CDPH LFS-issued MLT license, meet admission requirements and are ready to take on expanded clinical and supervisory responsibilities.

Cost: $18,600, $600 per unit for 31 units

Length: 6.5 months

When to Start: Fall

When to Apply: Tentative dates are June 15 to July 30

Certification

This program meets training requirements set by the CDPH LFS for medical laboratory technicians seeking Clinical Laboratory Scientist licensure. When you complete the program, you earn a certificate of completion from SFSU.

This certificate qualifies you to sit for the ASCP Board of Certification Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) exam. A passing score may be applied toward California Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist licensure.

Accreditation

The MLT to CLS Bridge Training Program is offered through SFSU in compliance with the California Department of Public Health Laboratory Field Services (CDPH LFS). The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and follows national standards for clinical laboratory science education.

The MLT to CLS Bridge Training Program prepares you for advanced roles as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, also known as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. As a CLS, you expand your scope of practice, technical expertise and professional responsibility beyond the MLT role.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist Roles

As a CLS, you may:

• Perform complex diagnostic testing across laboratory disciplines
• Interpret and verify test results
• Consult with physicians and healthcare teams
• Develop and validate laboratory methods
• Supervise laboratory staff and operations
• Lead quality assurance and regulatory compliance efforts

Where You May Work

You may find opportunities in:

• Hospitals and medical centers
• Reference laboratories
• State and public health laboratories
• Clinical trial laboratories
• Research and development laboratories

Advanced Career Pathways

With experience and additional education, you may pursue roles such as:

• Laboratory section supervisor
• Laboratory manager or director
• Quality assurance or quality control manager
• Laboratory operations manager
• Technical specialist in areas such as molecular diagnostics or flow cytometry
• Laboratory information systems specialist
• Clinical laboratory educator or trainer
• Laboratory consultant or compliance specialist
• Clinical research laboratory scientist

This program prepares you to step into CLS-level practice and grow into leadership, education or specialized technical roles.

In this program, you build advanced knowledge and skills in clinical laboratory science. You will:

• Strengthen your expertise in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, serology and immunohematology
• Perform and evaluate complex diagnostic testing across laboratory disciplines
• Interpret, verify and report laboratory results with accuracy and accountability
• Apply quality assurance and quality control standards in clinical settings
• Develop skills in laboratory operations and method validation
• Expand your professional practice to prepare for CLS-level responsibility
• Apply advanced concepts during supervised clinical internships in approved laboratories

By the end of the program, you are prepared to meet California requirements and sit for CLS certification and licensure.

Your graduate-level coursework and clinical training include:

• Advanced clinical microbiology
• Clinical chemistry and urinalysis
• Clinical hematology and laboratory application
• Clinical serology and immunohematology
• Contemporary issues in clinical laboratory science
• Supervised clinical laboratory internships
• A bridge to clinical practice focused on expanded CLS responsibilities

You apply advanced concepts in real laboratory settings while meeting California training requirements for CLS licensure.

Courses

You complete a combination of online didactic courses and in-person clinical rotations.

Didactic Courses Online

• Clinical microbiology
• Clinical chemistry and urinalysis
• Clinical hematology and laboratory application
• Clinical serology and immunohematology
• Contemporary clinical science issues
• Bridge to clinical practice

Clinical Rotations In Person at an Approved Site

• Clinical chemistry and urinalysis
• Microbiology
• Serology and immunohematology
• Hematology and laboratory application

The Medical Lab Technician to Clinical Lab Scientist Bridge Training Program combines online coursework with in-person clinical training.

• Online didactic courses: Complete advanced study in clinical chemistry and urinalysis, microbiology, hematology, serology and immunohematology, along with contemporary clinical science topics through interactive online classes.
• Clinical rotations: Gain supervised, hands-on experience at a CDPH LFS-approved clinical training site. You rotate through major laboratory disciplines to meet California licensure requirements.
• Flexible design: Online classes allow you to continue working as a medical laboratory technician while completing the program.

You complete your clinical training through partnerships with approved hospital laboratories across California. If you work at one of these partner sites, you may be able to complete your clinical requirements at your place of employment.

Interested in Becoming a Clinical Training Site?

If your hospital laboratory is interested in partnering with SFSU to train MLT or CLS students, we welcome your inquiry. Please contact our Program Director, Huy Le, at huyle@sfsu.edu.

Application Period: Tentative dates are June 15 to July 30

Educational Requirements

You must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited university
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.0 in your last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units

Preference is given to degrees in biological sciences, chemistry or health-related disciplines.

Professional Licensure Requirements

You must hold:

• A current CDPH LFS-issued MLT license that is valid throughout the entire program. You must submit a PDF copy with your application.
• A current CDPH LFS-issued CLS Trainee generalist license. You must obtain this before admission and maintain it throughout training from October through April. You must submit a PDF copy with your application.

Health and Safety Requirements

You may be required to complete a background check and drug screening.

Apply

Complete and submit your application through Cal State Apply. There is a $70 application fee.

Application Materials

You must submit:

• A complete Cal State Apply application
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Three letters of reference from supervisors, professors or professional colleagues submitted through the Cal State Apply portal
• A PDF copy of your current CDPH LFS-issued MLT license
• A PDF copy of your current CDPH LFS-issued CLS Trainee license
• Proof of health insurance coverage
• A personal statement
• A resume or CV
• Essential Standards
  You must review and sign the Essential Functions or Technical Standards document. Submit your signed form with your application materials. Incomplete applications will not be processed.