School of Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical laboratory science is the study and practice of clinical diagnostic laboratory medicine, which includes the analysis of body tissues, blood, stool, body fluids and other substances using complex instrumentation, sophisticated techniques and specialized knowledge.

Clinical laboratory scientists are an integral part of the healthcare team. They work primarily in hospitals, physician’s offices, government laboratories, reference laboratories and research facilities. Additionally, they provide clinicians with 70% of the critical objective test results needed for the diagnosis, treatment and preventative health care.

As healthcare demands continue to increase, so does the need to diagnose medical conditions through various laboratory test procedures. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for clinical laboratory scientists is expected to grow by 11% between 2018 and 2028. This job growth rate is significantly faster than all other occupations in the U.S. economy.

Piedmont Augusta partnered with the University of South Carolina-Aiken (USCA) to create a Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program in May 2019 to meet the high demand for Clinical Laboratory Scientists. Upon successfully completing the CLS program, students will be awarded a certificate of completion from Piedmont Augusta Laboratory that will allow them to become certified Clinical Laboratory Scientists. Additionally, undergraduate biology majors at USCA who complete the CLS program also have the opportunity to secure a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science (BSCLS).

The CLS program prepares students for entry-level employment in a clinical laboratory setting, which includes clinical hematology, hemostasis, urinalysis, immunology, chemistry, microbiology, mycology, parasitology, phlebotomy, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics and blood bank (immunohematology).

Clinical Laboratory Science Handbook

Career Opportunities

A degree in Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) opens the window to exciting career opportunities. CLS graduates find employment in:

• Hospital clinical laboratories
• Commercial and reference laboratories
• Public Health Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical and Chemical Laboratories
• Biotechnical Companies
• Forensic and law enforcement laboratories
• Veterinary clinics
• Research and teaching institutions
• Transplant and donor centers
• Cancer centers
• Andrology (fertility) clinics, cosmetic and food industries

Admissions

CLS Program Requirements for University of South Carolina – Aiken Students:

• Application to clinical component is made during the junior year (completion of 60 credit hours)
• 2.75 or higher cumulative and science GPA
• Clinical component limited to six students per year, selected in a competitive process by the CLS Admissions Committee.
• Upon successful completion of the clinical component, students are eligible to sit for certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist from a laboratory professional accreditation agency like the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

CLS Program Requirements for Post-Baccalaureate Students:

• Application to clinical component is made after a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Biology.
• Transcripts from undergraduate university with a 2.75 or higher GPA.
• Clinical component limited to six students per year, selected in a competitive process by the CLS Admissions Committee.
• Upon successful completion of the clinical component, students are eligible to sit for certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist from a laboratory professional accreditation agency like the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

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.

For further information to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences please visit University of South Carolina – Aiken’s website.

Clinical Laboratory Science Program Application

Program Accreditation

Piedmont Augusta School of CLS is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), which is committed to being the premier accreditation agency for ensuring the advancement of education in clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines provided by domestic and international programs.

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

Mission

The mission of the Piedmont Augusta Clinical Laboratory Science (PAG-CLS) program is to graduate students with exceptional education, training, 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.

Goals and Competencies

Competencies: The ultimate goal of the CLS Program at 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 confidentiality of patient results.
• Interact professionally with patients and other health care personnel.
• Apply principles of education methodology.
• Apply principles of management.

Program Goals:

• 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 provide students with a 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 professional 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 of regulatory and accrediting agencies.
• To develop clinical laboratory scientists who maintain superior professional standards, and zeal.

Benefits of the CLS program::

• Respected profession
• Low cost education
• Hands on clinical education
• Low student-teacher ratio
• Scholarship/job availability after graduation

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 active years:

(PAG-CLS Program Inactive 8/01/2022-6/01/2024)

Transcript Policy

Transcript Retention Policy
Piedmont Augusta – School of Clinical Laboratory Science
Effective Date: May 30, 2025

1. Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines for the retention, storage, and access of student transcripts for PAG-CLS to ensure compliance with NAACLS, institutional regulations and state/federal laws.

2. Retention Period

Student transcripts shall be retained indefinitely, following graduation, withdrawal, or dismissal from the program. Transcripts may be retained permanently at the discretion of the institution.

3. Storage & Security

Transcripts will be maintained in both physical and electronic formats
- Secure storage measures will be employed to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or damage.
- Electronic records will be backed up regularly and stored on secure servers.

4. Access & Requests

- Official USCA transcripts are retained at USCA and must contact USCA Registrar’s Office for official transcript for prerequisite courses. Students may request official PAG-CLS transcripts by submitting a formal request to the PAG-CLS program director for official program grades.
- Transcript requests shall be processed within 7 business days.
- Only authorized personnel may access and modify transcript records.

Piedmont Augusta School of Clinical Laboratory Science Program favors the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974” FERPA (Buckley Amendment) as it relates to student records. The Buckley Amendment remains intact unless the student signs a waiver relinquishing confidentiality to certain parties.

In compliance with the Buckley Amendment:

Accessibility to student records is allowed only to the respective student and to faculty members. Information contained with the student folder is confidential and is treated as such. Respective students are allowed to see their record if given permission by the program director or faculty. The faculty member giving permission is to obtain the student’s folder from the file cabinet, stay with the student while the content is reviewed and return and secure the folder in the cabinet. Incomplete files or files of rejected applicants are kept for a period of one year.

• Information concerning student’s records and/or student status will not be given to anyone other than the student without written permission from the specific student involved, this procedure will be followed each time information is requested by a party other than the student.
• Records are maintained on all enrolled students. These records are located in a locked filing cabinet in combination with a secure digital file.
• Student records will be summarized upon graduation and kept indefinitely in a secure digital file.
• Individual student folders contain such materials as: clinical and didactic credit evaluation forms, attainment of clinical competency forms, clinical rotation and competency evaluation forms, application materials, health report, trimester grade reports, counseling forms, conference forms.

5. Compliance & Review

This policy shall be reviewed annually to ensure alignment with accreditation requirements and state/federal regulations. Any modifications must be approved by the PAG-CLS program director.

Certification Examination and Licensure

Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science or certificate of completion from PAG-CLS qualify to sit for the national certification examination in medical laboratory science (MLS) administered by the Board of Certification (BOC) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Graduates are also eligible to take the American Medical Technologists (AMT) certification examination. Both examinations are offered year-round in major cities throughout the United States.

Contacts

Yvonne Banks, MHA, MLS (ASCP CM)
School of Clinical Laboratory Science
Program Director
Email: Yvonne.banks@piedmont.org (preferred)
Office: 706-481-7487