Online Doctorate of Clinical Lab Science
A Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) from the University of Cincinnati Online is built for professionals at the baccalaureate and graduate levels seeking to expand their knowledge and skills to high-complexity laboratory positions. These can include faculty positions in education programs, governmental, or clinical laboratory settings.
Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science Program Overview
Our doctorate program seeks to improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of laboratories across the nation and improve the overall quality of healthcare. Laboratory science professionals relay crucial test results to physicians and require High Complexity Laboratory Directors (HCLDs) to manage and educate those seeking to advance. This program teaches the skills needed to assume these roles and beyond. It can be considered the next step from existing online laboratory science degrees also offered online at the University of Cincinnati: Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Leadership.
The Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) is designed to increase diagnostic efficiency among professionals in laboratories. Whether students are clinical laboratory scientists (CLSs) or medical technologists (MTs) who have at least a bachelor’s degree, they can qualify for this program which will help them accomplish even more.
Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science Program Highlights
High Quality Education
The Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science program’s goal is to provide students at the baccalaureate and graduate levels with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes that help medical laboratory science professionals succeed. These include attributes in leadership, education, research, and advanced practice that will allow these professionals to meet their professional goals and to maintain and improve the quality of health care nationwide. The DCLS program coursework is built to emphasize the competencies that help medical laboratory professionals serve as leaders, clinical practitioners, and educators according to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Flexibility
- Full and Part-Time Options
- Pathways for Those with Bachelor and Master’s Degrees
- Hybrid Learning Between In-Person Residency and Asynchronous Online Coursework
- Opportunity to Complete Residency at a Facility Local to the Student
- World-Class Faculty Leadership
- Scholarship Opportunities for Active Military and Veterans
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The University of Cincinnati’s DCLS program is highly competitive with limited spots in each cohort. Please pay close attention to all requirements for admissions and the application.
The University of Cincinnati Online accepts applicants from all laboratory science backgrounds whether they are applying at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level. Applicants interested in the Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science will need to be admitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati.
Please note, there is a $70 application fee and upon acceptance to the program, a $100 matriculation fee will be collected.
Prerequisites
- Students applying must have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree program from a regionally credited institution. This degree must be in medical laboratory science or a related field
- Applicants MUST have a generalist certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) or Medical Technologist (MT). This certification must be ASCP, ASCPi, AAB, or AMT.
- Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of prior clinical, industry, or research experience in laboratory science.
- All applicants must have maintained at least a B average (3.0/4.0 system) in all college work. Evidence of promise that is judged satisfactory by the program and the Graduate School may also be submitted.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: are currently serving in the US armed forces, or are veterans of the US armed forces.
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Applicants must provide three (3) CURRENT letters of recommendation. These letters should be from individuals who can attest the applicant’s potential success in the DCLS program.
If you have concerns about meeting the recommendation requirements, contact us directly.
Acceptable Recommendations MUST come from each of the sources below:
- Current employers or supervisors
- Prior employers or supervisors
- Academic recommendation from current or past instructors
Unacceptable Recommendations include:
- Friends
- Family
- Personal relationships with no insight into the applicant’s educational success
- Uncurrent recommendations – letters not written specifically for the DCLS application
Resume/CV of personal, professional and educational background.
Applicants should have a minimum of 2 years of professional practice or research experience in the laboratory.
Applicants must submit a personal statement of professional and academic goals. This should address professional interests, career aspirations, and clinical practice experience. Statements should be less than 1,000 words and should demonstrate how the applicant will be successful in an online doctorate program.
Tips for Statements of Purpose:
- Include leadership roles if these apply to you
- Elaborate on your educational past – especially if you struggled to maintain a 3.0 average.
- Elaborate on your Engagement in your program – including volunteer work and admission into groups and organizations outside of employment
Selected qualified applicants must complete an interview with the director and faculty of the DCLS program.
Selected applicants will be required to complete a virtual 15-20 minute writing prompt to ensure that they are ready for the writing-intensive courses of the DCLS. This will not be a requirement for all applicants.
Students who are not permanent residents of the United States or earned a degree from an institution where English was not the language of instruction must complete a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test when applying.
TOEFL Requirements:
- Internet Based: 100 minimum
- Computer Based: 250 minimum
- Paper Based: 600-603
Additional Requirements:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 7.0 minimum
- Duolingo: 120 minimum
In addition, applicants will be required to complete a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) review to ensure their qualifications fit the program.
Read our summary of the evaluation process for international students for more information.
This new program will begin accepting students for the Fall 2026 semester. Additional students will be enrolled during the Fall semester for each academic year. Additional students may be enrolled in spring and summer semesters if positions are available.
Here is a general timeline of the application review process:
- Online applications are accepted for the program every year, August 1st through February 1st.
- Completed online applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified via email if they are selected to move on to the writing prompt.
- Applicants who complete the virtual writing prompt and are selected to move on to the final interview will then be notified via email.
- Final interviews will begin in January each year
- Final decisions to be made in spring
- Applicants will be notified of their enrollment in the Fall semester by late spring of the same year, pending their completion of all admission requirements for the program.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | February 1, 2026 | August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
The Doctoral program, Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) at University of Cincinnati is a Candidate for Accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720 Rosemont IL 60018-5119, 773.714.8880.
Candidacy is a “pre-accreditation” status with NAACLS, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 4 years.
Students who complete the DCLS program will be able to:
- Provide customized, patient-centered consultation services to help with clinical decision-making among healthcare teams for their patients.
- Monitor laboratory data, and perform tests and diagnostic procedures for patients using informatics and analytics to improve accuracy and reduce costs and errors.
- Conduct research and apply evidence to demonstrate clinical laboratory tests and algorithms to improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of testing processes.
- Educate healthcare providers and the public, including patients and their families, about the indications, evidence, preparation, and interpretation of lab testing, including at-home self-testing.
- Direct laboratory operations to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations, including guidelines determined by professional licensure boards and certification/accreditation agencies.
- Participate in public and private health policy decision-making at all organization and government levels using evidence.
Pat (Patricia) Tille
Professor and Graduate Program Director Medical Laboratory Science, CAHS Clinical & Health Info Sciences
HSB
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