Clinical laboratories.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of clinical laboratory personnel by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes the department to issue a clinical laboratory scientist's license to an applicant who is the lawful holder of a baccalaureate or an equivalent or higher degree and who meets specified training and experience requirements, subject to the payment of a licensing fee. This bill would, notwithstanding those provisions, authorize the department to issue a clinical laboratory scientist's license to an applicant who completes at least 2 years of full-time employment as a clinical laboratory scientist at a CLIA certified laboratory, who possesses a baccalaureate or an equivalent or higher degree from an accredited institution, and who passes a national examination approved by the department, subject to the payment of the requisite licensing fee.