Clinical Laboratory Science Admission Requirements

The successful applicant for admission to the clinical laboratory science certificate program must meet the general college requirements for admission to Mercy College and the criteria listed below. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a professional program.

Education Requirements

1. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale in college-level coursework overall as well as in the sciences.

2. Earned a grade of "C" (not "C-") or higher in all required courses listed below prior to enrollment:

   1. Sixteen (16) semester hours of Chemistry, including Biochemistry and/or Organic Chemistry that are part of a science major curriculum.
   2. Sixteen (16) semester hours of Biology, including Immunology and Microbiology that are part of a science major curriculum.

   3. Three (3) semester hours of college level mathematics at the algebra level or above.

3. The following courses although recommended are not required and will not exclude the student from consideration for acceptance into the program. Applicants may consider taking them in preparation for the CLS program. 

   1. Parasitology
   2. Genetics
   3. Physiology
   4. Hematology
   5. Immunohematology
   6. Quantitative Analysis
   7. Analytical Chemistry
   8. Statistics
   9. Computer Science
   10. Management and Human Relations
   11. Instrumentation

Note: Coursework that allows the student to meet the biology and chemistry requirements completed seven or more years before application may require updating. This is determined by the Program Chair with assistance from the certifying agencies.

Application Process

The CLS application process consists of five components. An explanation of each component is provided below.

1. Click here to download the CLS application. Complete and mail your application including a list of current and planned (if applicable) course schedules with the $30 non-refundable application fee to the Admissions Office. (The fee is waved if you visit campus.)
   
   
2. Send your Official transcripts from all college and universities attended to the Admissions Office.
    
3. Submit three letters of recommendation. Click here to download the applicant reference form. Please provide your evaluators with the reference form. Two of the references must be from professors, laboratory instructors, or teaching assistants, and one may be from an employer or an additional professor, lab instructor or teaching assistant. References from relatives are not acceptable.
   1. Evaluators will place the reference form in an envelope, sign the seal and return to the applicant. At affiliated universities where the application process is coordinated by the academic advisor, the evaluators may return the references directly back to the academic advisor.
       

4. Submit a one page essay of career goals and explain why you are choosing a career in clinical laboratory science.

5. Sign and submit all background check forms* which includes the following forms: Iowa Health Care Facility (135) Record Check, Request for Child Abuse Information and Request for Dependent Adult Abuse Registry Information to the Admissions Office.
   All applicants for admission will be checked in Iowa and on a random basis may be checked in other states.

6. Complete an interview with the Program Chair by December 1. This interview is scheduled by the Program Chair after all other documents have been received.

The application deadline is November 1. All application materials must be received in the Mercy College Admissions Office by November 1 to be considered for admission. All interviews must be completed before December 1.

Admission into this program is on a competitive basis. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission into this program. Admission into Mercy College does not guarantee admission into this program.

Note – Eligibility for licensure following certificate or degree completion may be restricted if a person has been convicted of a felony or has an abuse record. Students should contact the Admissions Department prior to admission if their eligibility is in question.

*To ensure the safety of all clients served by Mercy College students, a Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and a Department of Human Services (DHS) child and dependent adult abuse check will be conducted on each student admitted to the College. Students will be asked to sign forms granting permission to conduct these checks. Students who choose not to sign will be unable to continue the enrollment process. Students who have a DCI record may be denied admission to Mercy College. Students who have a founded child or dependent adult abuse registry listing will be notified in writing by the Department of Student Services that they will be considered on a case by case basis for enrollment at Mercy College.