Clinical Lab Assistant SP.S.STC

Short-term Technical Certificate - 13 - 14 Credit Hours

Division: Health Sciences
Department: Health Technologies
Effective as of Fall 2025

What is the program about?

The Clinical Lab Assistant certificate prepares students for entry-level employment in the clinical laboratory setting performing specimen collection, quality assurance and other techniques fundamental to specimen processing. The program is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of medical terminology, lab rules and regulations, and universal precautions for a clinical laboratory. Note: For students under age 18 there may be restrictions on participating in certain Health Sciences programs. Any student under age 18 must contact the program director/department chair to discuss whether he or she may enroll.

Program Outcomes

• Describe careers available in the laboratory field, definitions of licensure, certification, registration and accreditation, as well as the major routine laboratory tests in Blood Banking, Hematology, Chemistry, Immunology, Microbiology and Urinalysis.
• Describe quality assurance procedures, components of a quality plan, controls, validation, proficiency testing and significance of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, types and sources of errors in the clinical laboratory, corrective action and preventive action.
• Describe universal precautions, hazards encountered in the clinical laboratory, biosafety, radiation safety and the compliance standards of regulatory agencies.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities exist for those who complete this certificate in hospital laboratories, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies.