Clinical Microbiologist Scientist Trainee License

Please be aware that you must request your school to postal mail your official transcript directly to LFS.  If you have a non-US transcript, additionally, you must also have a course-by-course evaluation mailed by the evaluation service directly to LFS.   These steps should be completed prior to submitting your trainee license application to avoid delay and the possibility of your application being considered abandoned if the documents are not received by LFS within 60 days of your application submission date.  Please see further details and instructions near the end of this page under Academic Requirements.

Thank you for your interest in the California Clinical Microbiologist Scientist Trainee license. Laboratory Field Services (LFS) requires applicants to submit documentation of academic coursework to qualify for licensure. 

Work experience in California as an unlicensed laboratory staff person will not be accepted as qualification toward any clinical laboratory license.  Please note that biotech/pharmaceutical, forensic, academic, veterinary, research, and student laboratory experience cannot count as work experience or training for any clinical license.

Scope of practice

This license:

• Permits you only to train, not work, as a licensed Clinical Microbiologist Scientist.

• Permits you to train in all areas of the specialty of clinical microbiology in Department-approved CLS training programs.
  

Academic requirements

Bachelor’s degree (baccalaureate) in microbiology or equivalent major.

• Official transcripts must verify the completion of 25 semester or equivalent quarter units of microbiology courses, which must include medical microbiology.

• Examples of microbiology courses include, but are not limited to, parasitology, virology, mycology, mycobacteriology, serology, molecular techniques, immunology, and basic microbiology.

Non-US transcripts

All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by "Current Members" of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or "Endorsed Members" of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). This allows LFS to determine if your education is equivalent to a U.S. college or university education. Official transcript from the university  is required in addition to the evaluation. The evaluation service will send an evaluation of your educational institution and academic courses directly to LFS.

To obtain an application, instructions, and information, visit them on the web:

• National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)

• Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE)
  

If you are an applicant whose education and training/experience is from a non-U.S. school, college, university, or clinical laboratory, please make sure that your name is printed in English on all your transcripts and supporting documents and that it matches your name on the application.

Laboratory Field Services Personnel Licensing Section requires you to provide your official transcript from an accredited institution in order to review and determine your education and course qualifications. To be considered official, transcripts must be signed by the school registrar, indicate date of graduation and degree awarded, and postal mailed to LFS in a sealed envelope directly from the source.  We do not accept scanned or photocopies of transcripts uploaded or emailed by the applicant for authentication purposes.  If your transcript is under a different last name, you must upload legal proof of name change to associate the name discrepancy.

 

Mail the official transcripts to:

Laboratory Field Services – PLS Program

850 Marina Bay Parkway

Bldg P, 1st Floor

Richmond, CA 94804

Resources

Helpful links

CLS Training Programs

LFS Approved Certification Examinations

Statutes and regulations

California Business and Professions Code, Clinical Laboratory Technology, Licensing

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 1031, Clinical Laboratory Specialists  

The requirements listed may not be comprehensive.

 How to Apply

Visit the LFS online application website to create an account and submit an application.

*Incomplete application packages may be abandoned. All applicants whose applications have been abandoned who wish to re-apply must pay a new non-refundable application fee.

Documents you may need for your application

• Official transcript showing your baccalaureate degree.

• NACES or AICE course-by-course evaluation.
  

For additional information you may contact LFSscientist@cdph.ca.gov.