<p>I graduated with a biochemistry degree last year and seem to be going nowhere career-wise. I plan on going back to school to become a clinical lab scientist, but it seems like the schools in southern California are very competitive. </p>
<p>Cal State Dominguez Hills offers a bachelor in clinical science, but will my credit transfer over so I don't have to spend so much time re-taking courses? </p>
<p>I don't meet their requirements for the post-bac program because I had a low GPA as an undergrad. </p>
<p>I thought to be a CLS you can have a BSC in any related science and then do a year of rotations and once you pass your certifications you are all set.</p>
<p>OTOH I have not heard good things about CLS. The pay is mediocre but at least it is better than the crap private companies pay their lab staff. There is a lot of holiday and shift work. It is a dead end job and not much of a career. The doctors and nurses can treat the CLS’s poorly. A lot of Hospitals make cuts in the lab where patients don’t see it and in states without licensing requirements the hospitals hire more technicians because they are much cheaper. </p>
<p>I’d go to a professional program like MD, PT, PA, OT, pharm etc.</p>
<p>I am currently a CLS and yes you have to work weekends and holidays, but if you go into Nursing, PA, OT and work in a hospital that will always be the case. I have not found my job a dead end. I have been able to move into a management position very easily. The laboratory is vital to patient care and where I work, we are respected by doctors and nurses. You will always find people that will put others down regardless.
It is a very good time to get into the field. Over the past decade, many of the programs have shutdown so there is a real need for qualified CLS’s. When there is demand, higher pay will follow.
I would contact Dominguez Hills directly about your questions. Since you have your BS, it looks like you can apply to the PB certificate and then apply to the Clinical Rotation program.
<a href=“Our apologies”>http://www4.csudh.edu/health-science/clinical-science/admission/index</a>
Good Luck and hope to see you in the lab.</p>