Requirements for Application

I.The applicant must complete a baccalaureate degree prior to beginning the program or be eligible for a baccalaureate degree at the end of the clinical program.
A.	A non-degreed (3+1) applicant must be enrolled in the CLS/MT curriculum at an affiliated university. The student from an affiliated university receives academic credit for the program year and is awarded a baccalaureate degree from his or her respective university upon successful completion of the program.  The CLS program is affiliated with: Maryville University – St. Louis, MO Quincy University – Quincy, IL Southeast Missouri State University – Cape Girardeau, MO Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, IL University of Central Missouri – Warrensburg, MO University of Missouri - Columbia, MO
B.	A non-degreed, non-affiliated applicant may be considered if space is available and the respective college or university agrees to certain terms of cooperation.  The program director can provide further details.
C.	A degreed (4+1) applicant must complete the degree prior to the start of the clinical year.
II. The applicant must live in the local area (Missouri and Southern Illinois), attend a college or university in the local area or be moving to the local area.
III. A non-United States citizen must possess the appropriate status and form(s) which will allow him or her to study in and complete the CLS program.  The medical center will not assume sponsorship.  The non-U.S citizen who is in the process of completing a baccalaureate degree must fulfill a minimum of 60 semester hours of clinical laboratory science coursework in the United States.
IV. All applicants must complete the following prerequisite coursework:
A.	A minimum of 16 semester hours Chemistry to include:
	1.	Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry
	2.	Three courses must include laboratory experience
B.	A minimum of 16 semester hours Biology to include:
	1.	Microbiology with laboratory experience
	2.	Immunology
	3.	The content area of Physiology. It may be taken as an individual course or be taught within another course.
	4.	Genetics or Molecular Biology
	5.	One course, in addition to Microbiology, must include laboratory experience
C.	Mathematics
	1.	One college level math course
	2.	Statistics

The content of the chemistry and biological science courses must be considered applicable toward a major in those fields or in clinical laboratory science/medical technology.

The program director may waive a CLS program required course provided minimum content is included in another course.  A university catalog, course syllabus, textbook or other resources may be required to document the content within a course.

Recommended courses include quantitative analysis, pathogenic or medical microbiology, parasitology, medical terminology, computer science, cell biology, human anatomy and physics.

V.	All applicants must have a science and math G.P.A. of 2.5 or better based on a 4.0 scale.
VI.	An applicant who has completed a baccalaureate degree and prerequisite coursework more than seven years prior to application must demonstrate current knowledge in Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology and Statistics.  Contact the program director for further details.
VII.	An applicant with a degree obtained outside the United States, in addition to the items listed above, must also satisfy the following requirements prior to application:
	A.		Attain a minimum score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer) on the Test for English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
	B.		Successfully complete, with a grade of C or better, two courses in the Life Sciences in a U.S. college or university applicable toward a major in chemistry, biology or clinical laboratory science/medical technology.
	C.		Provide a transcript evaluation from an approved agency prior to application.  Contact the program director for a list of approved agencies.
	D.		Meet one of the following options:
			1.	Possess a baccalaureate degree in Chemistry or Biology
			2.	Possess a baccalaureate degree in General Studies (Math, English, History, etc.) or in a professional area (Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory Science, Dentistry, etc.). This degree must include a total of 80 semester hours or equivalent that are exclusive of any practical clinical component. It also must include the minimum prerequisite coursework listed in item IV.
			3.	Admission to an accredited U.S. graduate program where the college or university has accepted the non-U.S. degree regardless of the declared major.
VIII.	Applicants must meet the Essential Functions of the program. These represent the essential non-academic requirements which must be mastered to successfully participate in the program and the profession.

Essential Functions

1.	Vision
	a.	Read microscopic materials
	b.	Discriminate colors
	c.	Read charts, graphs and instrument scales
	d.	Complete reports accurately
2.	Speech and Hearing
	a.	Communicate effectively with patients and other medical staff
3.	Physical Strength and Mobility
	a.	Sit, stand and walk
	b.	Lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds
	c.	Bend, squat, reach forward, reach overhead, lift floor to waist and lift waist to overhead
	d.	Push or pull objects with one or both hands
4.	Fine Motor Ability (Hand-Eye Coordination and Finger Dexterity)
	a.	Perform all laboratory procedures (i.e. pipette, operate instruments, collect blood samples, plate bacterial samples)
5.	Physiological Stability
	a.	Recognize emergency situations and take appropriate action

Other Student Requirements

Students accepted in the CLS program must successfully complete a criminal background check, physical examination and drug screen.  They are also required to purchase and maintain health insurance and a general professional liability insurance policy (a minimum of one million per occurrence and three million per annual aggregate) during the program year.