Join an online advising session to learn more about the Medical Lab Technician to Clinical Lab Scientist Bridge Training Program. The advising session is open to anyone interested in applying. You’ll get details about the application process, program structure and admission requirements.
Email us at clsbridge@sfsu.edu if you have questions about advising, enrollment or admission.
Join an online advising session to learn more about the Medical Lab Technician to Clinical Lab Scientist Bridge Training Program. The advising session is open to anyone interested in applying. You’ll get details about the application process, program structure and admission requirements.
Email us at clsbridge@sfsu.edu if you have questions about advising, enrollment or admission.
San Francisco State University is launching a new Medical Lab Technician to Clinical Lab Scientist Bridge Training Program beginning in October. This graduate certificate program is designed to help you advance from Medical Laboratory Technician to Clinical Laboratory Scientist while continuing to work in the field.
The 6.5-month program runs from October through early April and combines online coursework with in-person clinical training. You complete didactic courses online and gain supervised, hands-on experience at a CDPH LFS-approved clinical training site. If you work at an approved affiliate, you may be able to complete your clinical rotations at your place of employment.
This program is designed for licensed medical laboratory technicians who hold a current CDPH LFS-issued MLT license and want to qualify for California Clinical Laboratory Scientist licensure. You build advanced knowledge in clinical chemistry and urinalysis, microbiology, hematology, serology and immunohematology. Through clinical internships, you strengthen your ability to perform complex diagnostic testing, interpret results and take on expanded CLS-level responsibilities.
The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and approved by the California Department of Public Health Laboratory Field Services. When you complete the program, you meet California training requirements to apply for CLS licensure.
The MLT to CLS Bridge Training Program is currently under review by the SFSU Academic Senate.
You can now apply to the Specialist in Blood Bank Technology (SBB) Graduate Certificate at San Francisco State University. This graduate certificate is designed for clinical laboratory professionals who want advanced training in transfusion medicine and blood bank leadership. The program responds to the ongoing shortage of blood bank specialists in California and the Western region.
You complete the program fully online through a mix of live instruction and asynchronous coursework. This format allows you to continue working while advancing your skills.
You also complete clinical rotations at transfusion services or program-approved blood banks, including your current workplace if approved. This approach lets you apply what you learn in real time while supporting your local community.
The curriculum aligns with national standards and prepares you for the Specialist in Blood Bank certification exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. This credential supports career growth in transfusion medicine, hospital laboratories and blood centers.
As the program launches, SFSU is preparing to seek accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The program is not yet accredited.
Applications are open now. Apply by June 30 to be considered for the upcoming cohort.
San Francisco State University is launching the Specialist in Blood Bank Technology (SBB) Graduate Certificate to address the critical shortage of blood bank specialists in California and the Western United States.
Please note: SFSU is preparing to seek accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as the program launches. The program is not yet accredited.
The program is delivered fully online, combining live instruction with asynchronous coursework. This flexible format allows working healthcare professionals across California and the Western region to gain advanced training without relocating or leaving their current positions.
Students also complete clinical rotations at transfusion services or program-approved blood banks of their choice, including their own workplaces. This structure lets students apply what they learn in real time while supporting the needs of their local communities.
Aligned with national standards, the program prepares graduates for the Specialist in Blood Bank (SBB) certification exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). With this credential, professionals are equipped for leadership roles in transfusion medicine, hospital laboratories and blood centers.
Find out more about this new program and get ready to apply. Applications will open as soon as possible. Tentative dates are March 15 to June 1, 2026.