Clinical Chemistry :
Minors and Certificates
Why study Clinical Chemistry : ?
The University of Cincinnati Clinical Chemistry certificate is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a science discipline or who will complete one before starting the program who are interested in becoming a Scientist in Chemistry - C(ASCP). The program consists of chemistry courses and clinical rotations required for NAACLS-accredited* Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programs.
Graduates are prepared for the certification exam sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the Scientist in Chemistry, C(ASCP) credential through route 3.
Chemistry scientists are allied health professionals who participate in patient care by performing laboratory procedures that assist in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. They perform manual and automated procedures and utilize laboratory information computer systems to analyze and transmit patient data. The analysis performed by chemistry scientists requires theoretical and practical knowledge of general chemistry, proteins and enzymes, acid-base, blood gases, electrolytes, and special chemistry. Technical proficiency in testing methods, operation of laboratory equipment, safety, quality assurance, and quality control procedures, and knowledge of laboratory operations is required.
The Clinical Chemistry certificate admits a new cohort of students on a rotating basis every other semester. Students can complete the program in three consecutive part-time semesters - there is no option to enroll full-time.
- Refer to the program webpage for start dates.
- Prospective students should apply in the semester preceding their intended starting term.
Students complete didactic coursework delivered in an asynchronous online format and will participate in corresponding practicum rotations in clinical laboratories to gain hands-on technical proficiency and professional experience (locations and schedules vary).
Students arrange their own clinical placements, usually at laboratories where they are working, within their workplace's network, or at laboratories within their community. Students may also apply for life experience credit to reduce or eliminate clinical rotation hours. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor for more information.
The most recent program outcomes can be found on the Program Outcomes page.
State Authorization
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
Admission Requirements
The Clinical Chemistry certificate admits a new cohort of students on a rotating basis every other semester. Students can complete the program in three consecutive part-time semesters—there is no option to enroll full-time.
- Refer to the program webpage for start dates.
- Prospective students should apply in the semester preceding their intended starting term.
Admission is open to students with a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college/university with
- a major in biological science or chemistry
- OR a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours in biology and chemistry, which may be obtained within, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree.
The baccalaureate degree and courses must be completed to be admitted.*
Prior coursework should provide a strong foundation in biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biochemistry or organic chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and molecular diagnostics.
Students may be required to take prerequisite coursework as a condition of their admission.
A college-level statistics course is a required prerequisite course for admissions.*
* We do not accept courses from online course providers—such as Coursera, Sophia Learning, Portage Learning, Straighterline, Study.com, etc.—for college transfer credit.
Two professional references are required; one must be from a current lab supervisor in Chemistry. Reference forms are submitted through the application system.
A 2.5 cumulative GPA is recommended for admission into the certificate program; however, students with lower averages may apply and will be considered for admission on a competitive basis.
ASCP requirements for certification exam eligibility are separate from UC admission requirements. Admission to the UC certificate program does not guarantee that ASCP will accept all prior coursework for certification eligibility. ASCP independently reviews each applicant’s official transcripts and determines whether biology, chemistry, and other academic coursework meet its requirements. Students should review the current ASCP eligibility criteria and verify the applicability of their coursework before enrolling and again before applying for the certification examination. Information about these requirements can be found at the ASCP’s website.
To learn more about our admission requirements, please visit UC Online's MLS Admission Requirements page. Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any questions you may have and help determine your eligibility. To confirm you qualify for this program, please contact our enrollment team at onlineenrollment@uc.edu or (833) 556-8611 for assistance.
Ranked in the "Top 20 Best Jobs" in the Jobs Rated Almanac, medical laboratory scientists have expanded career options. Hospitals, reference and research labs, industry and public health facilities all currently have open positions for qualified applicants.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.-
The University of Cincinnati has online enrollment services advisors (ESAs) available to help learners complete their application and get started in the Online Certificate of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program. If you have not already, please use the request information form to be connected to an ESA today!
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Upon starting the program, a dedicated student success coordinator (SSC) will be assigned to all students to help them achieve their academic goals. You will be introduced to your SSC as your first semester approaches, and they will be your primary liaison to the university all the way through program completion.
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To apply to this program, you must submit an application and have official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions you've attended.
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To request these transcripts, please contact your previous institution’s registrar and ask them to send the official transcript to the University of Cincinnati via an approved electronic method such as Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or similar services. This is the preferred method. If electronic submission isn’t available, transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any questions you may have and help determine your eligibility. To confirm you qualify for this program, please contact our enrollment team at onlineenrollment@uc.edu or (833) 556-8611 for assistance.
To learn more about our admission requirements, please visit UC Online's MLS Admission Requirements page.
This is an online program and does not meet federal requirements for international students planning to attend on a visa. International students with questions should contact UC's International Services at 513-556-4278.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Clinical and Health Information Sciences
Application Deadlines
Deadlines can be found on UC Online's MLS Academic Calendar page.
This program is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018; Phone 773-714-8880; Fax 773-714-8886; info@naacls.org.
Contact Information
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0394
(833) 556-8611
onlinerecruitment@uc.edu
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Program Code: 35CRT-CCHE-C2-.CCHE-DL