Post job

Clinical laboratory aide education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a clinical laboratory aide. Clinical laboratory aides usually study psychology, kinesiology, or nursing. 52% of clinical laboratory aides hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 600 real clinical laboratory aide resumes to see exactly what clinical laboratory aide education sections show.

The most common colleges for clinical laboratory aides are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online clinical laboratory aide courses to help get the education required to be a clinical laboratory aide.

There are certain clinical laboratory aide certifications that you should consider. These clinical laboratory aide certifications include First Aid Certification and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

What education do you need to become a clinical laboratory aide?

What degree do you need to be a clinical laboratory aide?

The most common degree for clinical laboratory aides is bachelor's degree, with 52% of clinical laboratory aides earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 52%
  • Associate, 18%
  • High School Diploma, 15%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 11%

What should I major in to become a clinical laboratory aide?

You should major in psychology to become a clinical laboratory aide. 14% of clinical laboratory aides major in psychology. Other common majors for a clinical laboratory aide include kinesiology and nursing.

Most common colleges for clinical laboratory aides

Clinical laboratory aides often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, San Francisco State University, and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Here are the most common colleges for clinical laboratory aides in the US based on their resumes.
Clinical laboratory aide common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix9.38%
San Francisco State University7.81%
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania6.25%
University of New Hampshire6.25%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro6.25%

Best majors for clinical laboratory aides

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology13.7%
2Kinesiology11.5%
3Nursing10.1%
4Biology9.3%
5Medical Assisting Services8.8%

Best colleges for clinical laboratory aides

The best colleges for clinical laboratory aides are Northwestern University, New York University, and Johns Hopkins University.

A clinical laboratory aide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for clinical laboratory aides. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become clinical laboratory aides.

1. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

2. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Enrollment

16,205

6. Rhode Island College

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$8,929

Enrollment

6,480

7. Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$41,420

Enrollment

5,907

8. Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$14,460

Enrollment

39,208

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

10. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

20 best online courses for clinical laboratory aides

Advertising disclosure

1. Clinical Data Science

coursera

Are you interested in how to use data generated by doctors, nurses, and the healthcare system to improve the care of future patients? If so, you may be a future clinical data scientist!\n\nThis specialization provides learners with hands on experience in use of electronic health records and informatics tools to perform clinical data science. This series of six courses is designed to augment learner’s existing skills in statistics and programming to provide examples of specific challenges,...

2. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation

coursera

Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...

3. Basic of Clinical Data Management

udemy
4.5
(341)

Clinical Data Management...

4. Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course

udemy
4.6
(1,178)

Become A Certified Home Health Aide, Personal Care Aide, Nurse Aide/ Caregiver At The End Of This Course. Enroll Now!!...

5. Introduction to Clinical Data Science

coursera

This course will prepare you to complete all parts of the Clinical Data Science Specialization. In this course you will learn how clinical data are generated, the format of these data, and the ethical and legal restrictions on these data. You will also learn enough SQL and R programming skills to be able to complete the entire Specialization - even if you are a beginner programmer. While you are taking this course you will have access to an actual clinical data set and a free, online...

6. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

coursera

This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

7. Good Clinical Practice ICH GCP for Clinical Research

udemy
4.5
(710)

Certification on ICH GCP E6 R2 Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Research The Only Complete Course You Can Find Online...

8. The Simplest Guide to Clinical Trials Data Analysis with SAS

udemy
4.4
(1,044)

Step into the world of Pharmaceutical industry Clinical Trials Clinical Research Biostatistics Clinical SAS SAS...

9. Wilderness First Aid - Introduction

coursera

In this course, students will learn the basics of wilderness medicine, including how it is a unique clinical environment, and concepts of scene safety. They will learn how to perform a basic assessment of a patient, including a physical exam, gather history data using the SAMPLE approach, and how to evaluate a patient for a potential spinal cord injury...

10. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

coursera

Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

11. The Beginners Course for Clinical Research

udemy
4.5
(650)

The Essentials of Clinical Trials - Clinical Research for Beginners...

12. Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Research Professionals

udemy
4.5
(537)

The Complete, Certified ICH GCP (R2 & R3) Course for Investigators, Study Coordinators, Sponsors, Monitors and Study staff...

13. Predictive Modeling and Transforming Clinical Practice

coursera

This course teaches you the fundamentals of transforming clinical practice using predictive models. This course examines specific challenges and methods of clinical implementation, that clinical data scientists must be aware of when developing their predictive models...

14. First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking

udemy
4.8
(452)

Learn the most important first aid fundamentals to keep your loved ones safe. A practical first aid course for anyone...

15. First Aid Masterclass: A Complete Guide to First Aid

udemy
4.7
(610)

The Complete Guide to First Aid and Emergency Medicine: Learn CPR, Heimlich, How to Stop Bleedings, Baby Care & More!...

16. Certificate Course in Clinical Research (CCCR)

udemy
4
(302)

A Clinical Research Course-ICH-GCP E6(R2), Clinical Trials, Essential Documents, Sponsor, Investigator, Pharmaceuticals...

17. St John Ambulance: Official Baby & Paediatric First Aid

udemy
4.8
(294)

Essential Lifesaving First Aid & CPR Skills for Parents, Guardians & Carers in an Emergency Situation...

18. First Aid

udemy
4.3
(1,797)

A guide to first aid for the common man. Covers sudden illness, wounds, burns, bone injuries and more...

19. Pet First Aid (Advanced)

udemy
4.5
(655)

Learn essential knowledge and skills to be able to confidently carry out emergency first aid on a pet animal...

20. Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

udemy
4.2
(313)

Key features of the GCP guideline, roles and responsibilities involved and the requirements of essential documentation...

Top 10 most affordable universities for clinical laboratory aides

The most affordable schools for clinical laboratory aides are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of south florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for clinical laboratory aides are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for clinical laboratory aides.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

8. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for clinical laboratory aides

The hardest universities for clinical laboratory aides to get into are Northwestern University, New York University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for clinical laboratory aides are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for clinical laboratory aides based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

6. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

7. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

8. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for clinical laboratory aides

The easiest schools for clinical laboratory aides to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, adventhealth university, and kean university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a clinical laboratory aide without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for clinical laboratory aides.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

5. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

9. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

10. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

Average clinical laboratory aide salary by education level

Clinical laboratory aides with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $44,190 annually. With a Doctorate degree, clinical laboratory aides earn a median annual income of $43,614 compared to $42,746 for clinical laboratory aides with an Bachelor's degree.
Clinical laboratory aide education levelClinical laboratory aide salary
Master's Degree$44,190
High School Diploma or Less$33,215
Bachelor's Degree$42,746
Doctorate Degree$43,614
Some College/ Associate Degree$37,921

Clinical laboratory aide education FAQs

Search for clinical laboratory aide jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs