Medical Laboratory Sciences Program Clinicals

Whether you enroll in the undergraduate major or in the post-baccalaureate certificate program, you will complete a semester-long clinical rotation at a licensed clinical laboratory in Connecticut working under the supervision of a licensed technologist. Placement at clinical rotation sites is competitive, so you may not be placed at your first choice. However, all students are guaranteed placement at a site as long as they meet all academic standards, background and drug screening requirements, and health/immunization compliance requirements.

MLS Clinical Requirements

As a student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program , you must complete all required clinical experiences. If you are unable to complete all required clinical experiences, you will not graduate from the Program.

All external clinical experiences must be completed at a Program-approved facility. The Program will assist you in finding such clinical placements. Each facility has its own requirements that must be met before accepting a student for a clinical placement. You are responsible for meeting the facility’s requirements. The Program is not responsible for securing clinical placements for students who are unable to meet a clinical facility’s placement requirements.

Common clinical facility requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

  1. Successfully completing a background screening. Background screenings may include checking state and federal criminal records and sex offender registries.  If your background screening shows that you have a criminal record or are listed as a sex offender, you may not be able to secure a clinical placement.
  2. Successfully passing drug screenings. Drug screenings may occur at one or more times during the program. If you test positive for drug use, you may not be able to secure a clinical placement or may be removed from a clinical placement. This includes, but is not limited to, prescribed medical marijuana or opiates.
  3. Demonstrating that you are current with immunizations (e.g., tuberculosis, measles, varicella & influenza). A record of previous immunizations is not sufficient to fulfill these requirements. If you are unable to demonstrate, through written documentation, that you are current with your immunizations, you may not be able to secure a clinical placement. It has been UConn’s experience that clinical facilities will not accept a religious exemption form in lieu of proof of immunization and will deny clinical placements to any student who fails to provide such proof. Evidence of immunity and costs associated with testing are your responsibility. Titers may be done through either your family doctor or the University’s student health service.

If you are not able to meet these requirements, you will most likely not be able to complete the program’s clinical experience requirements. The financial costs of meeting these requirements are generally your responsibility. If you have any questions regarding background checks or drug screenings, you can contact UConn’s Clinical Case Manager at clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu. For all other inquires please contact the Program Director, Rosanne Lipcius (rosanne.lipcius@uconn.edu | 860-486-1994).

A full list of student responsibilities in clinical education can be found in the Program’s Clinical Compliance Handbook.

How are clinical placements determined?

During the summer and fall semester of the clinical year, students will visit all available clinical rotation sites and submit their first, second, and third choices for placement. The clinical site may then require additional information, which may include a personal interview. Once this has been completed, a matching process will determine the placement. Available placements will be determined depending on the number of slots available at contracted clinical sites. While students are not guaranteed their first choice, placement will be guaranteed for those who maintain the standards of scholastic achievement and meet all compliance requirements.

Is housing or parking available at clinical sites?

Housing is not currently available at clinical sites. There may be parking fees, depending on the clinical site.

Important Clinical Compliance Information

You are required to complete a clinical rotation in order to successfully complete the Medical Laboratory Sciences program. Depending on your clinical placement, you may be required to pass a background screening, pass a multi-panel drug screening, and demonstrate proof of immunity to multiple diseases. If you are not able to meet these requirements, you will most likely not be able to complete the program’s clinical experience requirements. The financial costs of meeting these requirements are generally your responsibility. If you have any questions regarding background checks or drug screenings, you can contact UConn’s Clinical Case Manager at clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu. See menu to the right for key forms and checklists.