Clinical Laboratory Science

Be a Part of Good Health Care: Earn a Clinical Laboratory Science Degree at USCA

You can become a highly skilled healthcare professional who uses laboratory test results to help provide diagnoses and treatments necessary for good healthcare.

At USCA, our Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science program provides you with a broad understanding of how to perform, evaluate, and assess laboratory tests and information; direct and oversee resources and operations; and support other medical professionals who use this information to help their patients thrive. At USCA, you’ll learn from expert faculty members and take clinical laboratory science degree courses, while performing your clinicals in conjunction with Piedmont Augusta Laboratory.

You’ll leave USCA with a Bachelor’s in Clinical Laboratory Science degree, a certificate of completion from Piedmont Augusta Laboratory, and the knowledge and know-how to change health care for the better.

This program is part of the USCA Department of Biological, Environmental & Earth Sciences, and is offered in partnership with Piedmont Health Augusta.

Program Highlights

Our Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program is offered in collaboration with Piedmont Augusta in Augusta, Georgia, where the professional clinical component of the program is offered. The CLS program is a regional professional program for USCA students who are interested in an allied health career in a medical/clinical laboratory setting. Clinical laboratory scientists perform, develop, evaluate, correlate and assure the accuracy and validity of laboratory information, direct and supervise clinical laboratory resources and operations, and collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Upon successfully completing the CLS program, students will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences as well as a certificate of completion from Piedmont Augusta Laboratory that will allow them to become certified Clinical Laboratory Scientists. To learn more about the University of South Carolina-Aiken and Piedmont Augusta Clinical Laboratory Science Program partnership, please visit Piedmont Augusta's program page.

Clinical Laboratory Science Essential Functions

To ensure each student’s success in the Piedmont Augusta CLS clinical component, each student must possess the following essential functions for both the CLS program academic/didactic and clinical practicum settings:

Ethical Standards

• Adherence to Piedmont Augusta's patient confidentiality policy, laboratory standard of operation, and compliance standards as well as USCA and Piedmont Augusta's academic and professional code of ethics.
• Maintain an orderly, clean, and safe working environment according to state, institutional, and department safety regulations.

Visual Acuity

• Normal/corrected vision to ensure safe and accurate laboratory testing (pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical).
• Ability to recognize, discriminate, and characterize color, shading, microscopic components, specimen viscosity, reagents, and chemical reactions.
• Ability to read text, numbers, and graphs electronically and in print.

Manual Dexterity

• Good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills coordination are needed to perform venipuncture and laboratory testing sufficiently and safely.

Initiative and Responsibility

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Display suitable initiative and motivation.
• Actively participate in the learning process by displaying active engagement.
• Willingness to accept and seek instructional direction as needed.

Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities

• Ability to reason, judge, analyze, comprehend, make calculations, and report lab results under normal and stressful situations.

Effective Communication

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, write, speak, and understand English.

Attendance

Develop and maintain a valued appreciation for having compliant attendance and punctuality recorded in the academic and clinical practicum setting.

Demeanor

• Display appropriate professional decorum.
• Exhibit a cooperative, respectful, and collegial demeanor in all interactions.
• Respond to constructive criticism positively.
• Develop positive strategies for coping with stressful situations, unpredictable situations, and unexpected changes.

Stamina

• Ability to keep up with the fast-paced environment.
• Ability to stand or walk for a prolonged period.
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to reach, bend, kneel, or crouch as needed.

Admissions

Overview of Program Admission

The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program is tailored to give students a comprehensive educational experience in laboratory medicine. Enrollment into the CLS program is a two-step admission process for students who may choose  a 3+1 or a 4+1 path to complete their Bachelor of Science and certification in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Note: Enrollment requires regular admission to USC Aiken and a separate competitive admission in to the CLS Program clinical component offered by Piedmont Augusta. To start your CLS journey, visit the admissions office where the tools needed to start your USC Aiken enrollment can be found.

Note: Admission to USC Aiken does not guarantee acceptance to the CLS Program clinical component nor does it guarantee employment with Piedmont Augusta upon completion of the program. Only qualifying USC Aiken students who have fulfilled the necessary requirements may apply for the CLS Program clinical component offered through Piedmont Augusta Laboratory.

Clinical Component Admissions Requirements

Piedmont Augusta is in an equal opportunity employer, and the Piedmont Augusta-CLS program is committed to equal opportunity as well. The Piedmont Augusta-CLS program gives no regard to race, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, veteran status, or disability regarding program applicants. The Piedmont Augusta-CLS program will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. Applicants will be considered for the CLS clinical component based on overall cumulative GPA, science GPA, two recommendations, and personal interview.

The following are required to obtain admission to the CLS program clinical component:

• Completing or pursuing a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science. A bachelor’s degree in science or health-related field may be considered.
• Minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Prerequisite college coursework to include 16 semester hours of chemistry that includes organic chemistry and biochemistry.
• Prerequisite college coursework to include 16 semester hours of biology to include microbiology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology, and biostatistics.
• Prerequisite college coursework to include three hours of college-level math.
• Computer science is highly recommended but not required.
• Two recommendations from a non-family member, college professors/instructors, advisors and/or employers.
• College transcript(s).
• Applicants whose first language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on file at USC Aiken.

Clinical Component Admissions Process

The CLS Program clinical component admissions process is administered by the Piedmont Augusta program director. There are no regards given to race, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, veteran status, or disability during the admission process. The CLS Program clinical component admission process is as follows:

• Applications and recommendations must be submitted between the first Tuesday in February and the third Tuesday in March. 
• Application material is reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
• Selected applicants are scheduled for a personal interview with the Admission Committee by will the 1st Tuesday in April.
• Personal interviews to begin by 2nd Tuesday in April.
• Applicant selections are made by the Admissions Committee.
• The CLS program director will send acceptance notification to each applicant via email by the last Friday in May.
• Accepted applicants complete and return the acceptance form by the 1st Tuesday in June.
• Confirmed acceptance applicants complete a background check, drug screen, TB skin testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, Influenza (FLU) vaccine, and other required up-to-date immunization records.
• Complete enrollment in contingent upon a negative drug screen, TB test, completed Hepatitis B vaccination, up to date immunization records, and an acceptable background check.
• The CLS clinical schedule will follow the USC Aiken academic calendar.

Program Accreditation

The Piedmont Augusta Clinical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the following:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N, River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Telephone: 773-714-8880
Website: https://www.naacls.org/About.aspx

Program Mission

The mission of the Piedmont Augusta Clinical Laboratory Science (Piedmont Augusta-CLS) program is to provide students with exceptional education and training to prepare future clinical laboratory scientists with the knowledge, and skills necessary to become responsible, competent, entry-level clinical laboratory science professionals. Additionally, the CLS Program serves to support Piedmont Augusta’s mission to make a positive difference in every life we touch.

Career Entry-Level Competencies

The ultimate goal of the CLS Program at USC Aiken/Piedmont Augusta-CLS is to prepare students for career entry positions as clinical laboratory scientists. Therefore, specific professional competencies dictated by NAACLS are the goals for each graduate. The program strives, through its educational methods, to incorporate all facets of quality laboratory practice into the professional development of students. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates in various testing and analysis skills with the following career entry-level competencies in mind:

• Collect and safely handle biological specimens for analysis.
• Perform laboratory testing with accuracy.
• Evaluate and interpret laboratory test data.
• Identify problems and take corrective actions.
• Utilize quality assurance to monitor procedures, equipment, and technical competency.
• Operate equipment properly and perform preventive and corrective maintenance.
• Comply with established laboratory safety regulations.
• Utilize computers and laboratory software effectively.
• Evaluate the efficacy of new procedures and instrumentation for a given setting.
• Demonstrate ethical behavior and maintain the confidentiality of patient results.
• Interact professionally with patients and other healthcare personnel.
• Apply principles of education methodology.
• Apply principles of management.

Program Goals

The goals of Piedmont Augusta Clinical Laboratory Science program are as follows:

• To provide students with a quality education in accordance with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) standards for a Clinical Laboratory Science program.
• To gain and maintain a NAACLS accredited CLS program.
• To provide students with comprehensive education and clinical experience necessary to obtain national CLS certification.
• To effectively prepare graduates of the CLS program with a strong theoretical and practical foundation of clinical laboratory science, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and laboratory competencies needed to secure an entry-level position as a clinical laboratory scientist.
• To effectively prepare competent, flexible clinical laboratory scientists who accept and fulfill the roles of health care professionals in diverse clinical laboratory settings or other related vocations.
• To foster the development of positive attitudes, behavior, and a philosophy of continual professional development and education.
• To promote professional respect, interaction, and communication among fellow health care professionals.
• To develop clinical laboratory scientists who perform the highest quality laboratory services in the most optimal time frame while maintaining a safe working environment and remaining within compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies.
• To develop clinical laboratory scientists who maintain superior professional standards and zeal.

Program Outcomes

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) requires all accredited programs to openly communicate to prospective students the outcome measures below for the past three years:

C/O=Class of

* There were no graduates in 2019. Therefore, unable to assess the outcome measures.

** Not all graduates have taken the national certification exam within one (1) year of graduating. Therefore, this number is subject to change.

*** Not all graduates have taken the national certification exam for the first time or as a retake. Therefore, this number is subject to change.

**** Not all graduates have secured employment or continued their education within one (1) year of graduating. Therefore, this number is subject to change.

The outcome measures are defined as the following:

National Certification Pass Rate:  The percentage of graduates passing the national certification exam or continuing their education within one (1) year of graduation.

National Certification Overall Pass Rate:  The percentage of graduates passing the national certification exam at any time post-graduation.

Graduation Placement Rate:  The number of students who were employed in the medical laboratory science or a closely related field or pursued continuing education within one (1) year post-graduation.

Graduation Rate:  The number of students who entered the program's second half and successfully graduated.

Degree Completion

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science will complete 120 hours of coursework including.

• 8 hours of introductory biology
• 8 hours of anatomy and physiology
• 3-4 hours of genetics
• 3 hours of Biostatistics
• 4 hours of microbiology
• 3-4 hours of cellular and molecular biology
• 3 hours of immunology
• 16 hours of chemistry (including general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.)
• 26 hours of clinical didactic/clinical training
• Clinical Practicum

Program Advisement

The CLS program prepares students for clinical laboratory work, including clinical hematology, hemostasis, urinalysis, immunology, chemistry, microbiology, mycology, parasitology, phlebotomy, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, and blood bank (immunohematology). Additionally, the program provides graduates with a marketable degree and a career opportunity to help people while enjoying laboratory medicine's hands-on and investigative aspects. For further information about the BSCLS degree or the CLS program, contact Dr. William Jackson.

Dr. William Jackson
USCA CLS Program Director and Advisor
[email protected]
803-641-3601

Dr. Suchreet Mander
USCA Program Faculty Advisor
[email protected]
803-641-3371

Yvonne Banks, MHA, MLS (ASCP)
Program Director - Piedmont Augusta
[email protected]
(email preferred)
706-481-7487

For information about the advisement process, roles, and responsibilities for the CLS program, and Complete degree requirements, please visit the Center for Student Achievement's information on academic advisement.