How To Become A Clinical Laboratory Scientist Internship: What It Is and Career Path

What is a clinical laboratory scientist internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Angela Robinson MS MLS ASCP

If you are in a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Internship, you will work in laboratories of hospitals and other health organizations. You will perform tests related to the examination and treatment of patients, help with physical diagnosis, and treat diseases. You will use highly sophisticated lab technology and highly skilled manual techniques. You will examine and analyze body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify ineffective microorganisms, and identify blood-clotting abnormalities.

In addition, you will cross-match donor blood for transfusions, test blood for drug levels, and evaluate test results for accuracy. You will need to have an interest in medical research and science. You will need a bachelor's degree in chemistry and medical training and have taken biochemistry, biology, immunology, and medical microbiology classes.

As a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Intern, you can expect to make $44,000 - $61,000 per year. Salary will fluctuate depending on experience and added education.

What general advice would you give to a clinical laboratory scientist internship?

Angela Robinson MS MLS ASCP

Retired Assoc Admin of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Over the years with automation and autoverification - tools to assist the Medical Laboratory Professionals - the skills have altered from psychomotor behavorial to independent thinking and critical cognitive expertise. Soft skills are and will become even more prevalent - including Problem Solving/ Time Management/ Adaptability/ Communication/ Interpersonal/ Teamwork.

Medical Laboratory Professionals will continue to multitask at the workbench -
Medical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians must always seek accurate and precise quality standards with the most stategic highly regulated compliance of analytical laboratory testing.

But now must also come from behind the walls of the laboratory to collaborate and coordinate with other medical laboratory professionals as well as non-lab professionals to work as a team for patient care. Most errors are PREanalytical variables - (before laboratory analysis) with how specimens are incorrectly drawn - wrong tube type - incorrect order of draw - mislabeled - unlabeled - clotted - hemolyzed - QNS.

Furthermore - Laboratory professionals skilled at management must take a seat and have a voice at the c-suite. Supportive leadership for resourceful environments. Also medical laboratory professionals continue to become more acutely involved in POCT - Quality assurance - Safety - Infection Control - Risk - Education and even Public Relations. DCLS (the doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science) is also becoming highly sought out for Data Mgt Teams to markedly improve patient care.

ScoreClinical Laboratory Scientist InternshipUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,794

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 18.47%

Black or African American 9.31%

Hispanic or Latino 15.58%

Unknown 5.03%

White 50.81%

Gender

female 63.51%

male 36.49%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a clinical laboratory scientist internship

Explore clinical laboratory scientist internship education requirements

Most common clinical laboratory scientist internship degrees

Bachelor's

70.9 %

Associate

9.4 %

Master's

6.4 %

Start to develop specific clinical laboratory scientist internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	38.50%
Data Entry	13.35%
Body Fluids	8.66%
Patient Samples	8.15%
Test Results	4.72%

Complete relevant clinical laboratory scientist internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical laboratory scientist interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinical laboratory scientist internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical laboratory scientist internship resumes.

Research clinical laboratory scientist internship duties and responsibilities

Assist in managing office functions through strong knowledge of PACS, Fuji CR, and EMR systems.
Perform daily QC, maintenance and trouble shooting on various equipment.
Perform quality control and problem solving when the QC out of range.
Utilize the LIS for creation of work lists, entering and approving results, and other reports as they are develop.

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