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Laboratory Field Services

Cytotechnologist License

Thank you for your interest in the California Cytotechnologist license. Laboratory Field Services (LFS) requires applicants to submit documentation of academic coursework, clinical training, and work experience 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 to perform examination on cytology specimens. ā€‹ā€‹

Academic requirements

  • Bachelor's degree (baccalaureate) with specific course requirements:

    • 20 semester or equivalent quarter units of biological science.

    • 8 semester or equivalent quarter units of chemistry.

    • 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of mathematics.

Non-US transcripts

All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an LFS approved evaluation service to determine if your education is equivalent to an accredited college or university education in the U.S. LFS will accept educational transcript evaluations by ā€œCurrent Membersā€ of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and ā€œEndorsed Membersā€ of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE)  if completed on or after August 15, 2016. Evaluations completed before August 15, 2016 will only be accepted if completed by AACRAO.ā€‹ 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:

If you are an applicant whose education 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 ā€“ PLS Program

850 Marina Bay Parkway

Bldg P, 1st Floor

Richmond, CA 94804

Training or Experience

  • 12-month cytotechnologist program accredited by CAAHEP or equivalent.

OR

  • Five years of full-time clinical laboratory experience in cytology.

    • Experience must be within the last ten years.

    • At least two years must be obtained after completion of the academic requirements.

    • At least two years must be under the supervision of a licensed physician who is a board-eligible pathologist.

  • Official verification of training or work experience must be on letterhead and signed by the training coordinator or laboratory director, and must show the beginning and ending dates of the training or experience. This information should cover all areas in which the rotation was completed with a description of the clinical laboratory tests or examinations performed. Document can be uploaded during the online application process

Examinations

The American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification for cytotechnologist is approved by the Department for cytotechnologist licensure.

Renewal

Once you receive your license you will need to renew it every two years. To renew, you must pay a fee and submit documentation of continuing education. For information about the renewal process please visit the LFS renewal web page.

Resources

Helpful links

Approved Cytology Training Programs (PDF)

LFS Approved Certification Examinations

Statutes and regulations

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 1061, Cytotechnologā€‹istā€‹


The requirements listed may not be comprehensive.

How to Apply

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

 
Apply Online  *You will need to pay your application fee online.  

  
Note: Transcripts must be original documents bearing the school, college, or university registrarā€™s seal, and must be sent directly to LFS from the office of the college or university registrar. Request to have your transcripts mailed to:

Laboratory Field Services ā€“ PLS Program
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Bldg P, 1st Floor
Richmond, CA 94804

*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 transcripts, including the transcript showing your baccalaureate degree.

  • NACES or AICE course-by-course evaluation.

  • Copy of Certificate of Completion of 12-month cytotechnologist program.

    OR

    Verification of five years of full-time clinical laboratory experience in cytology; offical verification of work experience must be on letterhead and signed by the laboratory director, and must show the beginning and ending dates of the experience. This information should cover all areas in which the rotation was completed with a description of the clinical laboratory tests or examinations performed.

  • Verification of certification examination.

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

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