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About the Program

The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the premier CLS programs in the nation. We have a strong reputation in the educational and laboratory communities, and our graduates have a strong record of professional success.

In October 2016, the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science program received full accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) for the maximum of 10 years. The next accreditation review by NAACLS is scheduled for 2026. This agency can be contacted at:

NAACLS
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119

Phone: 773-714-8880
E-mail info@naacls.org.

The CLS program prepares professionals who are competent to perform and interpret laboratory tests, and to explain the appropriate use and meaning of laboratory tests to other health care professionals and to patients. Graduates are qualified to take the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) examination from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC) and be certified as Medical Laboratory Scientists.

The CLS program consists of one year of lecture and student laboratory courses, followed by one year of clinical education courses completed in hospital and reference laboratories in North Carolina. The extensive time students spend in the clinical environment allows them to develop a high degree of technical and professional competency by the time they graduate from the program.

Program Outcomes

How do our graduates do on national certification exams?

The certification examination for graduates of the Clinical Laboratory Science program is the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) examination offered by the ASCP-Board of Certification. The pass rates in the first year after graduation for the past three classes are:

  • CLS Class of 2021: 100% Pass rate (National pass rate was 70%)
  • CLS Class of 2022: 87% Pass rate (National pass rate was 76%)
  • CLS Class of 2023: 100% Pass rate* (National pass rate was 76%)
    *This data represents students who have taken the certification exam as of March 2024. 17% of the class of 2023 (3 students) have not yet taken the exam.

How successful were our graduates in getting jobs?

  • In the CLS Class of 2021, 100% of the graduates were employed within 6 months of graduation. Most had jobs lined up before they graduated.
  • In the CLS Class of 2022, 90% of the graduates were employed within 6 months of graduation. Most had jobs lined up before they graduated. No information was available for 10% of the graduates.
  • In the CLS Class of 2023, 95% of the graduates were employed within 6 months of graduation. Most had jobs lined up before they graduated. No information was available for 5% of the graduates.

What about graduation rates?

Percent of students entering the final year of the program who completed the program and graduated.

  • CLS Class of 2021: 100%
  • CLS Class of 2022: 100%
  • CLS Class of 2023: 100%
“Getting my degree in clinical laboratory science from UNC has been the best decision of my educational career thus far, and an experience I would not trade for anything. I feel that no other degree or program would have prepared me for such a successful transition into the workplace as much as the CLS program did. The foundation of knowledge that I have now as a result of the rigorous curriculum and hands on experience during rotations has given me confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to my profession.”
– Aaron Sermons