Program Requirements

Requirements for Graduation:

1. Successful completion of the curriculum and all applicable prerequisites and general college requirements.
2. Adherence to the Code of Ethics and acceptable professional standards.
3. Completion of required documentation.
4. Adherence to rules and regulations.

Each student is responsible for observing the procedures, regulations, and requirements of the University, the School of Medicine, the Department of Allied Health Sciences, and the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science as they are announced here and in other official University and School of Medicine sources. It must be emphasized that the staff of the University and the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science will gladly assist any student with details of their program or other academic problems, but that such assistance does not relieve any student of their individual responsibility for meeting the requirements and observing the regulations of the University, School of Medicine, Department of Allied Health Sciences, and the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science.

The following may affect your ability to meet these requirements:

Immunization Policy

The Division of CLS requires documentation of the following immunizations: Diptheria, Tetanus, Rubella, Measles, Mumps, Hepatitis B, and Varicella (chicken pox). The Division also requires documentation of Hepatitis B immunity (Anti-HBs titer of 10 mlU/mL or higher), ideally within two months of completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series. Students must also have a two-step tuberculin skin test (PPD) prior to beginning clinical rotations. Because the PPD documentation must be in effect throughout a student's clinical rotations, it is advisable to make the appointments for PPD testing 2 months before the start of the clinical rotation. If a student has a positive skin test (or has had one in the past), he/she should contact his/her health care provider for further evaluation.  The health care provider must fill out a form called "Evaluation of a Reactive Tuberculin Skin Test". The student should bring a copy of this form to the CLS office.
Failure to complete the immunization documentation will prevent students from entering the clinical laboratory rotations required for program completion.

Insurance

Students are responsible for health-care costs, whether incidental or incurred as a result of course-related activities.  CLS students should be aware that not all Campus Health services are covered by the student health fee.  University of North Carolina Hospitals services also are not covered by the student health fee. Personal or a parent's insurance may cover these charges.

During  clinical rotations, you may not be within driving distance of Campus Health Services. Therefore you are required, as a condition of matriculation, to document major medical insurance coverage before clinical courses begin.

The Student Health Service offers supplemental insurance that you may wish to consider purchasing. If you are interested in information on this policy, which is tailored to be a supplement to Student Health coverage (provided by Blue Cross & Blue Shield and offered through the Hill-Chesson Co.), an insurance representative is available in Room 213 of Student Health on weekdays from 2:00 - 4:30 pm.  The student is responsible for evaluating his/her health care coverage to determine adequacy. We strongly recommend that students maintain adequate medical insurance throughout the program.

Criminal Background Checks

In response to Joint Commission mandates, the Division of CLS will be conducting criminal background checks on all students before they begin clinical rotations. Results of the checks will be shared with applicable clinical sites so that they may make a determination about a student's eligibility. A conviction may affect a student's eligibility for participation in clinical rotations and program completion. Please note that participation in clinical rotations is mandatory for degree confirmation. If you have any questions about this, please contact the CLS program director.

Health Status

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a policy concerning students who are involved in patient-care activities and are HIV infected and/or HBV infected. All CLS students are encouraged to know their HIV and hepatitis status. Any student who knows or believes that he/she is infected with HIV or hepatitis is obligated to disclose this information (on a confidential basis) so that appropriate action may be taken to protect patients and the student's own health. For any student who is identified as a carrier, this will include an appointment at Campus Health Services with either Dr. Patel or Dr. Chai for counseling, follow-up, and guidance for clinical practice. If you have any questions about this, please contact the CLS program director.  The full policy is located at http://www.unc.edu/campus/policies/hiv_hbv.html

MMDS Program Time Limits

All courses of study must be completed within 4 years of enrolling in the MMDS program.  If a student can not complete the MMDS program in 18 months, the student must submit a request for an extension in writing.  The request should include the student’s plan for program completion. 

On-campus and Clinical Rotation Requirements

The MMDS program includes required on-campus courses and class meetings.  The cost of travel to Chapel Hill, lodging, and meals for attending week-long sessions will be the student’s responsibility. 

Completion of the MMDS program includes a six-month clinical rotation in a molecular diagnostics laboratory.  Living expenses and costs of re-locating to attend the 6-month clinical rotation will be borne by the student.

The following will NOT affect your ability to complete graduation requirements:

Guarantee of Clinical Experience

Students will be scheduled for clinical rotations at one or more of the program's current clinical sites. If a student's scheduled clinical rotation is cancelled by the clinical site, the CLS clinical education coordinator will attempt to reschedule that rotation at another clinical site. In the unlikely event that the clinical rotation can not be scheduled at one of the current clinical sites, the coordinator will either re-schedule the rotation for a subsequent semester at an existing clinical site, or establish a new clinical site. An unexpected change in clinical site availability may affect the date that a student can finish the program, but will not affect the student's ability to complete all the required clinical rotations.

Certification Exams

At the completion of the CLS or MMDS program, students are well prepared to take entry-level, generalist certification examinations or the specialist certification examinations in molecular diagnostic science, respectively.. However, successful completion of the curriculum does not guarantee passing performance on certification exams. Students are strongly encouraged to take a national certification examination as soon as possible after graduation. The Division of Clinical Laboratory Science will provide certification applications and information for UNC students, however certification is an individual, voluntary process. The baccalaureate degree in CLS and the Master’s degree in MDS from the University of North Carolina and the certificate of program completion from the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science are not contingent on a student's passing any external certification or licensing examination.

Service Work

Working in a clinical laboratory outside of regular academic hours is noncompulsory for students. Laboratory employers may ask students if they are interested in working on evenings or on weekends. These opportunities are optional and students are considered employees of the institution during these hours.

Students with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires UNC-CH to provide "reasonable accommodation" to any individual who advises the University of a physical or mental disability. Any student with a disability requiring accommodations must inform faculty at his/ her earliest convenience so that appropriate measures may be taken.

Malpractice Liability Insurance

Students in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, enrolled in the School of Medicine, are covered under the University's self-insurance plan for malpractice insurance. Under this plan, there will be no cost to the students. This coverage is for incidents resulting only from University-related activities. There is no coverage for outside activities, either paid or volunteer.

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