CL
CL is a Carload rail service requiring shipper to meet minimum weight. It is officially the weight required for a carload rate to be applied. CL service is typically less expensive than LTL and TL service.
If you are shipping a large shipment, CL service may be the best option. Unlike LTL and TL shipments, there is no need to worry about meeting specific weight requirements with CL service. This makes it a more affordable option for larger shipments.
However, keep in mind that because CL service is less expensive than other options, it can also be less reliable. If your shipment is time-sensitive, you may want to consider another transportation option.
Often, the term carload is used to refer to the amount of cargo that fits in a rail car.
A Less-Than-Carload service also exists.
What clinical laboratory training looks like in California
California has more licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientists than any other state, and the California Department of Public Health licenses every person who works in a regulated lab setting. That single fact shapes every training decision you make here. Before you enroll anywhere, you need to understand how the state licensing system works and which programs feed into it.
This page covers how laboratory careers are structured, what training paths exist, and what to expect as you move through school and into the workforce.
The two main roles in a California clinical lab
California uses specific job titles that do not always match what other states use. Knowing the difference saves you from enrolling in the wrong program.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)
A Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs the full range of lab tests. This includes analyzing blood, urine, and tissue samples to help doctors diagnose and treat disease. In most states this role is called a Medical Laboratory Scientist. In California the legal title is CLS. You need a bachelor’s degree plus a one-year training program to sit for the California CLS licensure exam.
Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT)
A Clinical Laboratory Technician performs a more limited set of tests under the supervision of a CLS. This role requires an associate degree plus a training program, or completion of an accredited MLT program. The CLT license is the entry point for many people who plan to earn a CLS license later.
Both roles are licensed by the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services. You cannot legally perform regulated lab tests in California without one of these licenses.
How accreditation works for lab programs
Accreditation is an independent review process that confirms a program meets national education standards. For clinical laboratory programs, the main accrediting body is NAACLS, which stands for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. A program accredited by NAACLS has been evaluated on its curriculum, its faculty qualifications, and its clinical training sites.
Why does this matter to you? California requires that you complete a CDPH-approved training program to apply for licensure. Most approved programs are also NAACLS-accredited. If a program is not on the CDPH approved list, completing it will not make you eligible to apply for a California license. Check the CDPH Laboratory Field Services website directly before you pay any deposit.
Program formats you will find in California
Training programs in California run in several formats. The right one depends on your current education level and how quickly you need to work.
University-based CLS programs
Several California State University campuses run CLS training programs. These are typically one-year post-baccalaureate programs. You apply after completing a qualifying bachelor’s degree, usually in a biological science. The program includes both classroom coursework and clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals or reference labs.
Hospital-based training programs
Some large hospital systems in California run their own CDPH-approved CLS training programs. These programs often have paid or stipend positions during training. Seats are limited and competition is high. You still need a qualifying bachelor’s degree to enter.
Community college CLT programs
Community colleges across California offer associate degree programs in clinical laboratory technology. These programs typically take two years. They include general education requirements, core lab science courses, and a clinical practicum. Finishing one of these programs makes you eligible to apply for the CLT license.
Online and hybrid options
Some programs allow you to complete lecture coursework online. Clinical rotations, however, always require hands-on time in an actual lab. You cannot complete the clinical component remotely. If a program claims to be fully online with no in-person lab requirement, verify that claim with CDPH before enrolling.
What you study in a clinical laboratory program
The curriculum covers several areas of laboratory medicine. You will spend time in each of these sections during your training.
Hematology
Hematology is the study of blood and blood-forming tissues. You learn to count and identify blood cells, recognize abnormal cell shapes, and run tests related to clotting.
Clinical chemistry
In clinical chemistry you run automated tests on blood and urine to measure things like glucose, electrolytes, liver enzymes, and kidney function markers. This section involves a lot of quality control work and instrument maintenance.
Microbiology
Microbiology covers the identification of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. You grow cultures, identify organisms, and report results that help doctors choose the right treatment.
Immunohematology and blood banking
This section covers blood typing, crossmatching, and the safe management of blood products. Errors in blood banking can directly harm patients, so this section has strict competency requirements.
Immunology and molecular diagnostics
Immunology tests measure the body’s immune response. Molecular diagnostics uses techniques like PCR, which stands for polymerase chain reaction, to identify genetic material from pathogens or from a patient’s own DNA. Molecular testing is a fast-growing area of lab work.
Applying for your California lab license
Once you complete your training program, you apply to the California Department of Public Health for your license. The process has several steps and takes time, so plan accordingly.
Steps in the application process
First, your training program director submits a verification of your clinical hours and competencies directly to CDPH. You then submit your application, transcripts, and fee. CDPH reviews everything and determines whether you are eligible to sit for the licensure exam. The exam for CLS licensure is the ASCP Board of Certification examination, which is a national exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Processing times at CDPH vary. In recent years applicants have waited several months for approval to test. Do not expect to be licensed the same month you finish your program.
Continuing education requirements
California requires licensed lab professionals to complete continuing education to renew their licenses every two years. The number of hours depends on your license category. Factor this into your long-term career planning, because continuing education has a cost in both time and money.
Where laboratory professionals work in California
The largest employers of CLS and CLT professionals in California are hospital laboratories, both inpatient and outpatient. Large commercial reference labs, including national reference lab companies with major California operations, are also significant employers. Physician office labs, public health labs, and blood centers employ smaller numbers.
California’s public health lab system, run through CDPH, employs laboratory scientists for disease surveillance and outbreak response. These positions often require additional specialization and sometimes a higher license level.
Geography matters in California. The San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County have the highest concentration of lab jobs. Rural counties have fewer positions and may be harder to break into without being willing to commute or relocate.
Costs to budget for before you start
Training program tuition varies widely depending on the institution type. Community college CLT programs cost far less per unit than private or university programs. Beyond tuition, you need to budget for several other expenses.
- Lab coat and personal protective equipment, which most programs require you to purchase
- Textbooks, some of which are expensive specialty texts
- CDPH application fees
- ASCP exam registration fees
- Background check fees, required by most clinical sites
- Health clearances and immunization documentation, required before you enter clinical rotations
Add these costs up before you commit to a program. The total can be significant even at a lower-cost community college program.
Questions to ask any program before you apply
Not all programs are equal. The following questions help you compare programs clearly.
- Is this program on the current CDPH approved training program list?
- Is the program currently accredited by NAACLS?
- What is the first-attempt pass rate on the ASCP Board of Certification exam for recent graduates?
- Where are the clinical rotation sites located, and will you need to arrange your own transportation?
- How long does it typically take graduates to receive their CDPH license after finishing the program?
- Does the program have a waitlist, and if so, how long is it?
- What is the program’s completion rate over the past three years?
A program that cannot or will not answer these questions clearly is a program worth reconsidering.
Making the move from CLT to CLS
If you start as a CLT, California has a defined pathway to upgrade to a CLS license. You need to complete additional education to meet the bachelor’s degree requirement and then complete a CDPH-approved CLS training program. Some working CLTs complete the additional coursework through online university programs while continuing to work. The timeline is longer than starting fresh with a four-year degree, but many people use this route successfully.
Your CLT experience in a real lab can strengthen your application to CLS training programs, because you already understand lab workflows and instrument operation.
Next steps
The programs listed on this page have been reviewed for their California approval status and accreditation. Look through the options, note which ones match your current education level and location, and contact the program directors directly with the questions listed above. The CDPH Laboratory Field Services website publishes the current approved program list, and you should check it as part of your research. Once you have confirmed a program is approved and currently enrolling, you can start your formal application.