Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST (CLS)?
- The CLS is responsible for the development, performance and evaluation of laboratory testing needed in patient medical care and clinical research.
- They analyze samples of blood, tissue, and body fluids using cutting-edge technology and a variety of analytical techniques.
- A Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science will give graduates the ability to work in many different environments and several areas of expertise.
- HOSPITALS
- REFERENCE LABS
- FORENSIC LABS
- RESEARCH
- INDUSTRY
- PUBLIC HEALTH
- PHARMACEUTICAL LABS
- VETERINARY CLINICS
- Washburn University partners with the University of Nebraska Medical Center http://www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/cls.htm to offer the CLS program. It is 11.5 months in length with 11 weeks in the summer at the UNMC Omaha campus, then the remaining clinical/didactic coursework at Topeka area hospitals.
- Students must meet the prerequisite requirements of 77 credit hours with specific courses in biology and chemistry prior to acceptance into the program.
- Washburn offers a pre CLS track totaling 77 undergraduate hours. The remaining 43 hours are completed in the clinic setting. Please see the list of prerequisites.
- For students with an undergraduate degree, UNMC has specific course requirements in Biology and Chemistry. Please see the list of prerequisites for degreed students.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. An increase in the aging population is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures.
