Take Your Next Step in Laboratory Science
100% Online
12 Months*
Earn your online Graduate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Management (CLM) from the George Washington University (GW). This program prepare graduates to perform as laboratory managers in an exciting and rapidly evolving medical laboratory industry.
The CLM program emphasize the following content areas: operations management, hurman resource management, quality systems management, and financial management as applied to the operation of a modern laboratory. In addition, other topic areas include leading a diverse and inclusive workforce, workforce education and training, and data analytics and research methods.
This program prepare you for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) diplomate in laboratory management (DLM) certification examination. If you are an MLS/MT, have a master’s, and two years of full-time acceptable experience in clinical laboratory supervision or management within the last five years, you will be eligible to take this exam. You can also be eligible if you have a baccalaureate degree, are MLS/MT certified, and have four years of full-time acceptable experience in clinical laboratory supervision or management within the last eight years. View additional eligibility requirements.
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*The total number of credits and duration of the program depend on the number of transferred credits
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Accreditation and Rankings
- GW is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- #62 Best National University*
- #13 Best Online Bachelor's Programs*
- #7 Best Online Programs for Veterans*
* The U.S. News & World Report – 2024 Rankings
Program Highlights
Because of the shortages of qualified lab managers, we have streamlined the programs to save you time and money. Pick the option which best suits your career goals and timeline.
- Complete the 18-credit graduate certificate in as little as one year (three semesters), taking two courses per semester.
- Graduate with the 30-credit Masters of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) degree in less than two years (five semesters), taking two courses per semester.
- Prepare for the ASCP Diplomate in Laboratory Management (DLM) certification exam
In addition, these programs prepare you for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) diplomate in laboratory management (DLM) certification examination. If you are an MLS/MT, have a master’s, and two years of full-time acceptable experience in clinical laboratory supervision or management within the last five years, you will be eligible to take this exam. You can also be eligible if you have a baccalaureate degree, are MLS/MT certified, and have four years of full-time acceptable experience in clinical laboratory supervision or management within the last eight years. Review the additional eligibility requirements
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, learners will be able to:
- Perform strategic assessment of the lab practices and protocols and implement adequate corrective actions, when necessary, to ensure staff and patient safety and institutional, state, and federal compliance.
- Demonstrate effective communication and training strategies with clinical laboratory staff, patients, healthcare team members, and institutional administrators.
- Utilize the appropriate human resource tools to evaluate potential lab employees, assess the quality and productivity of laboratory staff, and ensure retention and succession of qualified lab professionals.
- Apply different leadership and management practices to produce effective fiscal outcomes in a clinical laboratory while ensuring optimal patient care.
- Conduct research in clinical laboratory management, training, or related area utilizing the process of literature review, research design, data analyses, results dissemination, and standard ethical practices appropriate to the area of research.
Career Outlook
After this program, you are prepared as clinical laboratory managers including supervisory roles in hospital, public health and reference laboratories, biotechnology industries, and government and educational institutions. The average Clinical Laboratory Manager salary in the US is $108,300 in 2023, with a range between $96,100 and $120,500 (Salary.com).
Tuition Details
Please find the cost per credit hour and total estimated program costs here.
Note: Tuition rates are subject to change and additional fees may vary by program.
Meet the Program Director
GW’s experienced faculty provide you with the rich, practical knowledge and support needed for you to succeed in the program and in your career.
Carol Rentas, PhD, MEd, MT(ASCP)SCCM,MBCM
- Read Full Bio
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Dr. Rentas has more than 25 years of experience in clinical laboratory science and education. She worked as a medical laboratory professional in hospitals across the country before moving into education. Dr. Rentas has taught or is presently teaching online and hybrid courses in clinical laboratory management, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, urinalysis and body fluids, and immunohematology.
Curriculum Details
18 TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
3 SEMESTER DURATION
All courses in this non-clinical program are taught 100% online and in an asynchronous format.
Core
- MLS 6160: Data Analytics and Research Methods in Laboratory Medicine (3 credits)
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The course reviews the basic methods and practices for conducting valid and ethical research in the clinical laboratory. Topics include literature review, research populations and designs, research ethics, data management and analytics, and research publication.
- MLS 6243: Education and Assessment in the Medical Laboratory (3 credits)
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This course studies the process of instructional design as applied to the education and training of MLS professionals. Topics include a fundamental review of instructional strategies, needs assessment, task analysis, analysis of subject matter content, the development of goals and objectives, lesson design, and the assessment of instructional outcomes. This is a project-oriented course in which students will design, develop, and evaluate a set of MLS instructional materials and assessment tools. In addition, current trends in instructional design as applied to the MLS field will be explored.
- MLS 8001: Clinical Laboratory Operations Management (3 credits)
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This course provides the managerial skills to operate a modern clinical laboratory and will cover safety and emergency management, facilities management, test method comparison and process validation, strategic planning and project management, as well as communication strategies both within the organization and the market at large. Additional topics include hospital and laboratory information systems management, performance monitoring, and change management.
- MLS 8002: Personnel Management in the Clinical Laboratory (3 credits)
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This course covers the foundational theories of human behavior as it directly applies to managing a clinical laboratory. Topics covered include human needs, emotional intelligence, workplace motivation, recruitment, hiring, separation, staffing and scheduling, staff training and development, performance compliance, compensation and benefits, and succession planning.
- MLS 8003: Lab Quality Systems and Regulatory Compliance (3 credits)
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This course reviews the quality management practices necessary to maintain a quality management system (QMS) that directly impacts the integrity and reliability of patient laboratory results. This includes methods that assess laboratory protocols and outcomes and those used to implement adequate corrective actions, when necessary, to ensure staff and patient safety and institutional, state, and federal compliance. Additional topics include laboratory QSEs, specimen integrity, pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical process review, turnaround times, document control, CLIA, ISO clinical laboratory regulatory processes (CLIA, ISO, etc).
- MLS 8004: Finance for Laboratory Managers (3 credits)
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This course provides the essential skills in the financial management of a clinical laboratory. This includes becoming proficient at general financial tasks (budgets, income statements, and cash flow analysis) as well as understanding the market structure of the clinical laboratory industry and honing skills such as strategic profitability planning and assessment and revenue generation. Additional topics include the acquisition of capital equipment, competitor analysis, CPT coding, medical reimbursement, contract negotiations, and clinical laboratory materials management.
Key Dates
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Summer 2025 |
Fall 2025 |
Spring 2026 |
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| Application Deadline |
March 20, 2025 (Closed) |
July 20, 2025 (Open) |
November 19, 2025 (Open) |
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Management program (100% online), you must have:
| Degree and Minimum GPA | A baccalaureate degree in MLS or related science (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology) from a regionally accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all previous institutions |
| Official GMAT/GRE Score | Not required |
| Personal Statement | Applicants must include a 250–500 word essay describing your reasons for undertaking study at GW, your academic objectives, career goals, and related qualifications including collegiate, professional, and community activities relevant to your program of interest. Include any substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form. |
| Additional Requirements |
National certification as a Medical Technologist (MT), Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) or Blood Banking Technologist/ Specialist, or Microbiology Technologist/Specialist. Two years working experience in an accredited laboratory (CAP, TJC (formerly JCAHO), or equivalent). Other requirements include a statement of purpose, resume/CV, two letters of recommendation, and an $80 application fee. The application fee is waived for active-duty U.S. military, current GW students, degree-holding GW alumni, and current McNair Program Scholars. |
Two Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation should be from:
- Academic instructors who can strongly attest to your academic ability, and/or
- Individuals who served in a supervisory capacity for you, and who can strongly attest to your work ethic.
- The recommender cannot be from a family or friend.
Recommender will submit a letter on letterhead with a signature and credentials/contact information via the application portal.
International Students
Effective Fall 2025
International students should check with individual programs regarding eligibility for visa sponsorship. Generally, online and hybrid programs are not eligible for student visa sponsorship from GW. This would include transfer students from any other institution with an existing visa. To be considered for admission, there are required scores that you will need to meet. Score requirements may differ by school and program so check the admissions requirements for your program.
Applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or the Duolingo English Test scores to be considered for admission. The following are the minimum scores for admission consideration:
- TOEFL: 600 on paper based, 250 on computer-based, or 100 Internet-based,
- PTE: overall score of 68,
- IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 6.0
- DET overall score of 120.
Undergraduate applicants who meet one of the following conditions may be considered for admission without submitting TOEFL, PTE or IELTS or DET scores:
- You have earned an associate’s degree or higher from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction
- You are a citizen of an English-speaking country
Scores may not be more than two years old. To ensure TOEFL scores are sent to GW, use institutional code 5246. An institutional code is not required to send IELTS or PTE scores to GW. DET scores must be submitted via the Duolingo English Test system directly to GW.
Based on the results of your English Proficiency exam results and your application, you may be required to take English for Academic Purposes (EAP) during your first year of study at GW. Please note that GW evaluates each application holistically so applicants may still be recommended for EAP even if they meet the requirements for exemption. Students placed in EAP courses should anticipate additional tuition expenses as well as possible extension of time needed to complete their degree programs.
Official transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be accompanied by an official transcript evaluation from an accredited independent evaluating agency. Please be sure you request a detailed evaluation that includes all course titles, credit hours, grades, U.S. degree equivalency, grade-point averages (GPA), and date of degree conferral (course by course evaluation). For a list of acceptable foreign credential evaluation services, please visit NACES.
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Mail: George Washington University
ATTN: Transcript Processing Center
1415 W 22nd St.
Suite 220
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Alternatively, official electronic transcripts can be sent to: transcripts [at] hsprograms [dot] gwu [dot] edu (transcripts[at]hsprograms[dot]gwu[dot]edu)