Clinical Cytogeneticist Scientist Program

The UCLA Center for the Health Sciences was established in 1954 as an adjunct to the then newly formed UCLA School of Medicine. The Hospital has grown to become a large complex of facilities that includes the 500-bed University Hospital and its outpatient clinics, Neuropsychiatric Institute, Jules Stein Eye Institute, Marion Davies Children's Center, the Brain Research Institute, the Gonda Center among others, a 24-hour, 7-day a week Emergency Room Level I Trauma Service and a 250-bed community based facility at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital.  The Westwood Hospital complex is located on the south border of the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles and is adjacent to the community of Westwood. The Santa Monica Hospital complex is located off Wilshire Boulevard, in Santa Monica. The Clinical Laboratories serve the entire health center complex and perform an average of 8 million procedures yearly. The Clinical Laboratories are abundantly equipped for both automated and manual methodologies. The Clinical Cytogenetics laboratory is an off-site licensed laboratory.

Training Program

The Limited License Training Programs are under the jurisdiction of the Clinical Laboratories and are part of the Allied Health Training Programs of UCLA Health. The content and educational emphasis of the program are directed by the section Faculty. The training programs are approved by the California Department of Health Services, and include practical laboratory experience and didactic lectures given by directors of laboratory sections, consultants, and experienced technologists.

The primary goal of this program is to train qualified individuals for eligibility and licensure as Clinical Cytogeneticist Scientists by the state of California. Qualified individuals who successfully complete this program will be prepared for written examination in the limited license specialty as administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology [ASCP website] and eligible for limited licensure as a Clinical Scientist by the State of California under Article 1, section 1031.2 of the Emergency Regulations regarding Clinical laboratory Personnel Licensing Standards, R-35-01E, dated March 13, 2003.

We provide scientific background, individual training and supervised performance of laboratory tests. Interpretation and troubleshooting skills are emphasized, followed by competency evaluation and documentation. The laboratory experience is supplemented by self-instructional materials. Laboratory training involves rotation through the following departments:

A teaching coordinator in each sectional rotation will evaluate the student's performance and capabilities. Both written and practical examinations will be given at regular intervals to test laboratory performance and didactic knowledge. Failure to maintain an acceptable standard of performance of 80% may result in dismissal.

Limited License trainees are employed by UCLA Health as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist Apprentice and are provided all employee benefits. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, without discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, politics, sexual orientation, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.

Application

1. Complete and submit an application before the deadline listed on the form [Application].
2. Documentation of baccalaureate or higher degree biology, chemistry or clinical laboratory science and have completed 25 semester hours (38 quarter hours) in biology, chemistry or clinical laboratory science.  
3. A letter of intent, including a statement of your reasons for applying and long-term career goals.
4. A current resume / CV listing education, previous employment and references.
5. Address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address for future correspondence.
6. A valid Clinical Cytogeneticist Scientist Trainee License issued by California Department of Health Services, Laboratory Field Services prior to the start of the program.  [DHSLFS website]
7. Commit to training for 40 hours per week for 52 weeks as outlined in the training schedule.

As of August 15, 2016, AACRAO discontinued its educational transcript evaluation services. Until further notice, LFS will accept educational transcript evaluations completed by "Current Members" of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and "Endorsed Members" of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations completed before August 15, 2016 will only be accepted if completed by AACRAO. Please use the links to view the "Current" and "Endorsed" members of NACES and AICE.

The above material should be mailed to the contact below.  We will notify you whether we will continue the application process with an interview.  

Contacts

Maloney Chester, MS,CCS,CG(ASCP),DLM(ASCP)
Manager-Cytogenetics & FISH
UCLA Health System
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
West Medical Blg, Rm 2216
1010 Veteran Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025
P 310.206.7559 | F 310.794.5099
[email protected]