Meeting New York State Requirements for Clinical Laboratory Science Licensure at a Liberal Arts College

Abstract

Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) programs are most students’ sources of guidance for entry level curricular content areas and their related coverage on the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification exams. However, in states that offer Clinical Laboratory Science licensure such as New York, licensure eligibility requirements may not align with board exam eligibility requirements. The differences can include curricular expectations that may exceed the entry level curriculum, and a minimum number of hours of supervised clinical experience. This article will detail the licensure eligibility requirements for Clinical Laboratory Science programs in New York, and explore how those requirements impacted the design of the Clinical Laboratory Science program at Nazareth College. Nazareth College’s program opened in the fall of 2014 with goals of meeting students’ educational needs, preparing students for certification exams, and meeting all requirements for licensure eligibility. Utilizing a multi-faceted approach to provide comprehensive didactic, laboratory, and clinical learning, the program met these goals within its initial four years.