CLS Application

The PCL classification does not ensure continuation into the professional program. Space limitations may prevent the program from accepting all students who apply for the final two years of academic study. Student selection for the professional program is made annually. The Professional Program can accommodate a limited number of part-time students. Applications must be submitted to the Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Program by March 1, in order to be considered for admission into the professional program the following fall semester. Application forms are available in 6175 Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue. To be considered for admission to the professional program, the UW-Madison students and transfer applicants must meet the following requirements:

Completion of a minimum of 54 credits prior to beginning the professional program.

An overall cumulative grade-point average of 2.50.

Completion of the required pre-professional courses.

(CLS 102, Chemistry 341, and Pathology 404 need not be completed before acceptance; these courses can be taken during the junior year.)

Selection for the professional program will be made annually by the CLS/MT Admissions and Retention Committee. Available spaces in the professional program will be assigned to eligible students with the best academic records as reflected by the cumulative grade-point averages. Students are continually advised by Program staff as to their progress.

The two-year professional program in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology includes professional Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology courses. These courses incorporate clinical activities in classroom instruction and the student laboratory. Additional clinical experiences, consisting of a variety of fieldwork opportunities, are at UW Hospital and Clinics, campus research laboratories, local clinics, and biotechnology companies.

Upon satisfactory completion of the required courses for the professional program and a minimum of 120 credits, the Bachelor of Science-Clinical Laboratory Science degree is awarded by UW-Madison. A certificate for completion of the professional program is issued by the Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Program.

A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation.

A minimum grade of C is required in each professional course. Professional students who earn less than a C must repeat that course for a grade of C or better to fulfill graduation requirements. Progression in the Professional Program will be determined on an individual basis.

The Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Association for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, Illinois, 60631, 312/714-8880 ). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certifying examinations administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists with certification as MT(ASCP), and the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel with certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, CLS (NCA).

CLS/MT majors are eligible for student membership in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, American Society of Clinical Pathology, the Wisconsin Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, and the Madison Area Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

National health programs have encouraged the expansion of educational opportunities in the health fields. Clinical laboratory scientists with advanced degrees in education, management, public health, or in one of several specific medical laboratory disciplines find opportunities for employment as educators, administrators, supervisors, and researchers. Many students choose to continue their study in areas such as medicine, law, business, and engineering, where a background in CLS/MT is helpful. UW-Madison's Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has developed a graduate certificate program in quality management for clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists available at www.cls.wisc.edu. In addition, UW-Madison has a well-established program for advanced study in physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, education, and administration. Consult the Graduate School Catalog for specific graduate programs and degree information at UW-Madison.