Clinical Laboratory Bioanalyst License 

Thank you for your interest in the California Clinical Laboratory Bioanalyst license. Laboratory Field Services (LFS) requires applicants to submit documentation of academic coursework, clinical training, work experience, and verification of board certification 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 direct all specialty areas of the clinical laboratory.

Academic requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in chemistry, physics, biology, or clinical laboratory science, with specific course requirements.

• 8 semester or equivalent quarter units of general inorganic chemistry

• 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of quantitative analysis

• 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of organic chemistry

• 8 semester or equivalent quarter units of biochemistry

• 8 semester or equivalent quarter units of bacteriology

• 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of physics

• 4 semester or equivalent quarter units of biology or zoology

• 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of physiology

• 3 semester or equivalent quarter units of parasitology

• 2 semester or equivalent quarter units of hematology

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 “Current Members" of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and “Endorsed Members" 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.​ You will need both the general and the course by course evaluations. 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 your education is from a non-US college, university, or clinical laboratory, please make sure that your name is printed in English on all transcripts and supporting documents and that it matches your name on your application.

Work Experience

• Minimum of four years of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist performing clinical laboratory work embracing the various fields of clinical laboratory science in a clinical laboratory certified under CLIA.

• Official 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. Document can be uploaded during the online application process

Examinations

The American Board of Bioanalysis is approved by the Department for the bioanalyst licensure examination after October 1, 2005.

• Applicants who are certified after the above date must upload a copy of their satisfactory performance during the online application process.

• Applicants who are certified before the above date must re-take the certifying examination and upload a copy of their satisfactory performance on their online application.
  

Oral examin​​​ation:

• Most applicants will be required to take a Department-administered oral examination based on the laws and regulations pertaining to a laboratory director's responsibilities.

• Applicable laws and regulations:

• California Business and Professions Code, Division 2. Healing Arts, Chapter 3. Clinical Laboratory Technology, Sections 1206.5 and 1209
  

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 webpage.

Resources

Helpful links

LFS Approved Certification Examinations

Statutes and regulations

California Business and Professions Code, Sections 1202.5, 1203, 1209, and 1260

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 1030

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 1031.4

The requirements listed may not be comprehensive.

How to Apply

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

  
Note: Transcripts must be original documents bearing the school, college, or university registrar’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 - Laboratory Director Program

850 Marina Bay Parkway, Bldg. P 1st Floor

Richmond, CA 94804

Additional Information:

• Verification of work experience must be on letterhead and signed by the laboratory director.

• Verification of national certification examination must be uploaded during the online application process. 

• If your education or work experience is from a non-US college, university, or clinical laboratory, please make sure that your name is printed in English on all transcripts and supporting documents and that it matches your name on your application.

• A copy of your dissertation or thesis can be uploaded during the online application process.
  
  

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

Documents you may need for your application

• Official transcript.

• NACES or AICE general and course-by-course evaluation.

• Verification of on-the-job experience in a clinical laboratory certified under CLIA (signed by the laboratory director).

• Verification of national certification examination.
  

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