About the CLS Training Program

The CLS training program is a 12 month course of study that prepares students for the California State licensing exam. During 38 weeks of the year, students will work in a hospital 4 days a week (8 hours per day) and will attend classes at San Jose State University for 8 hours on Fridays. The remaining 14 weeks, the student will train full time (5 days / 40 hours) at the hospital.

Applying to the SJSU CLS Training Program

Download the Application Form

When does the program begin?

Early September and Mid-March

What is the application deadline?

The deadline for the September class is the preceding December (due by Dec. 1).
The deadline for the March class is the preceding July (application due July 1).

What are the prerequisite courses for the SJSU CLS Training Program?

	A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. university or the equivalent (as determined by San Jose State University and the foreign transcript evaluation service American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
	18 semester units of biology classes including a course in immunology, hematology, and medical microbiology.
	16 semester units of chemistry classes including instruction in quantitative analysis and biochemistry. Clinical chemistry can substitute for quantitative analysis and biochemistry if needed.
	One semester of physics that includes instruction in optics and electricity.

We recommend that students also take a course in upper division English and statistics but this is not required.

In addition, if your degree is from a foreign university, you need to have 12 upper-division units in Biology or Chemistry from an accredited American university

What are the San Jose State University admissions requirements?

	Completion of a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. An applicant with a GPA of less than 2.5 may be considered but only under extenuating circumstances.
	The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are required only of all applicants whose language of instruction in college was not English.
	Completion of the application including resume and personal statement as well as three letters of recommendation from past instructors or employers.
	Completion of required prerequisite coursework.

Accreditation

The SJSU CLS Training Program is approved by Laboratory Field Services, a division of the California State Health and Human Services Department. We can prepare students to take the state licensing exam.

The program is accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), thus our students can take the national certification exams from ASCP and NCA.

For more information, you can contact NAACLS directly at: 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 or by calling (773)714-8880. You can also reach them on the web by e-mailing info@naacls.org or by visiting www.naacls.org.

Other California Programs

New training programs are opening in different parts of the state. Call the Department of Laboratory Field Services for the most updated information about CLS training programs in California. See also the California Department of Public Health's list of Approved CLS Training Schools.