Clinical Laboratory Scientist Program

Train for your CLS licensure at Scripps in San Diego

Two Scripps lab scientists in white coats review notes together.

Train for your CLS licensure at Scripps in San Diego

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Training Program at Scripps Health in San Diego offers an intensive, full-time, 12-month educational program for Clinical Laboratory Scientists, providing didactic and practical instruction in all major discipline sections of a large health system clinical lab. Training encompasses performance and evaluation of routine lab tests as well as high-complexity laboratory procedures. The Scripps program is approved by the California Department of Public Health - Laboratory Field Services and has been awarded full accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). NAACLS can be contacted at 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL, 60018-5119, by phone at 773-714-8880 or by email at info@naacls.org.


Completion of the Scripps CLS Training Program and receipt of a passing score on the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) MLS generalist exam, or other qualifying certification exam, meets CLS licensing requirements in California as well as confers a national MLS certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Refer to the Clinical Laboratory Scientist License (CLS) (Examinations section).


Our program produces highly qualified graduates who are ready to immediately enter the clinical laboratory profession. Our staff includes clinical instructors who are knowledgeable and experienced clinical laboratory scientists, as well as physicians, leaders and other professionals who embrace the role of educator. In keeping with the Scripps mission, we educate trainees in a caring environment and mentor them to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.


Currently, our CLS program does not charge a tuition. Just as Scripps believes all patients should have access to affordable and quality health care, we believe future scientists should have access to affordable and quality education. Please note that students are responsible for costs associated with housing, transportation, textbooks, licensing/certification exam fees, immunizations required for health clearance and medical insurance. A stipend is not offered at this time.

What is a clinical laboratory scientist?

A clinical laboratory scientist is a health care professional who performs a variety of chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids, such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, synovial fluid and other specimens. 


A CLS uses sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology. The role requires a blend of manual dexterity and reasoned judgement to provide accurate laboratory results that form the basis of approximately 70-80% of all medical decisions. 


Clinical lab scientists are qualified to pursue laboratory and leadership careers in many environments, including hospitals and clinics, reference and forensic institutions, industry (such as biotech and research), and public health. This role is also referred to as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS) or medical technologist (MT).

CLS careers at Scripps Health

You might be asking yourself, “Is a clinical laboratory scientist a good career for me?” A clinical laboratory scientist is a good career for people who enjoy the intrigue and challenge of science and medicine while making a difference behind the scenes by contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. 


Why seek CLS training opportunities at Scripps Health over the many CLS programs in California? As a legacy organization in San Diego, Scripps is consistently honored for clinical innovation, quality care and leadership.


In recent years, Scripps has been recognized by:


  • Newsweek named Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla as one of the World's Best Hospitals for 2024.
  • Fortune Magazine ranked Scripps Health No. 8 on its Best Workplaces in Health Care annual list for large health care companies (2024).
  • U.S. News & World Report ranked the combined programs of Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla among the best in the nation in six specialties — Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery (No. 23), Orthopedics (No. 28), Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (No. 34), Diabetes and Endocrinology (No. 38), Geriatrics (No. 39) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (No. 41) — in their annual Best Hospitals list. 
  • U.S. News & World Report ranked Scripps Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center - Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Encinitas Surgery Center as high performing on their list of Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
  • Newsweek named Scripps Health as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 and America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024 for large companies.


One hundred percent (100%) of the graduates of the Scripps Health CLS program have found employment in the clinical laboratory professional field. Most are employed in a hospital setting, where their skills have led to positions as a generalist CLS, who is competent in many areas of the lab. Others have moved directly into specialty areas, such as microbiology, molecular diagnostics and immunology. 


Overall, Scripps is invested in professional growth and training, with specialty nursing programs and fellowships and residencies in medicine to name a few. Our commitment to professional education and advancement is highlighted on the For Health Care Professionals webpage. You can search current job openings on our careers portal.

Pass rates

Scripps has a long history of teaching clinical laboratory professionals and had hosted its own CLS program in the past. Since 2009, the Scripps Lab has provided practical training experiences for medical laboratory technicians and phlebotomists. After revitalizing full lab practical training for clinical laboratory scientists in 2016 under a program partnership with the San Diego CLS Training Program Consortium, Scripps program then became fully autonomous in 2020. 


Since 2016, Scripps Health CLS program trainees have achieved a 100% pass rate on a California qualifying certification exam.

Program Outcome Measures

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2023-24

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2021-22

2020-21

2019-20

2018-19

2017-18

2016-17

Number of trainees accepted

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4

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3

2

Program graduation rate

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100%

100%

100%

100%

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Pass rate, 1st attempt*

TBD

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

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Employed as a CLS within 3 months**

TBD

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

*California licensure qualifying certification exam

**In a clinical laboratory or related field after graduation

CLS program curriculum

Scripps clinical facilities involved in practical training include one core lab and five hospital labs located throughout San Diego County — from Chula Vista in the south to Encinitas in the north. During the training year, each trainee typically is tracked to complete practical rotations at the main core lab and at approximately three of the five hospital labs. All didactic lectures are held approximately once per week using a hybrid format (combination of online and face-to-face presentations).


The Scripps Health Clinical Laboratory Scientist Training Program curriculum includes complementary theoretical, technical and hands-on training, accomplished by both didactic instruction and practical “bench” rotations. 


At the completion of our program graduates will have gained competencies in the following discipline areas:


  • Chemistry; Automated, Manual, Special, Point of Care
  • Phlebotomy and Processing 
  • Urinalysis 
  • Hematology/Coagulation 
  • Microbiology/Parasitology; Processing, Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology, Parasitology, Automation 
  • Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank)
  • Immunology/Serology 
  • Lab Operations
  • Advanced Topics: Molecular Diagnostics and Flow Cytometry


The names and titles of the program director and faculty, course descriptions/course curriculum, academic calendar, program policies and procedure/rules and regulations are available upon request.

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Practicum training is provided by experienced preceptors using actual clinical specimens.

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Our CLS program fosters a high level of cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills.

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Our success is due to collaboration between lab leadership and Scripps administration.

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Our labs use state-of-the-art advanced technology.

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Our CLS student interns receive one-on-one practicum training in real medical laboratories.


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These recent graduates are now contributing members of Scripps Medical Laboratory Services in satisfying and rewarding careers.

How to apply

To learn how to qualify for the Scripps Clinical Laboratory Science Training Program, please expand and read the subsections below. 

FAQs