Certification Standards for Bioanalyst Clinical Laboratory Director (BCLD)  

To be eligible for certification as a Bioanalyst Clinical Laboratory Director (BCLD), an applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Hold an earned doctoral degree* from an accredited institution (see rule 11 under General Regulations) with a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science as the major subject and have successfully completed 32 semester hours (minimum) in chemistry or the biological sciences acceptable to the Board. AND

2. Have four (4) years** of documented pertinent experience within the ten (10) years immediately prior to the application date on human specimens in an acceptable clinical laboratory gained at the minimum level of medical technologist. This experience must include:
   
   a. A minimum of two (2) years of experience within the ten (10) years immediately prior to the application date on human specimens directing or supervising high complexity testing in a clinical setting;  AND
   
   b. A minimum of four (4) years of experience within the ten (10) years immediately prior to the application date on human specimens in at least three (3) of the following clinical laboratory disciplines;

    

   1. Chemistry;
   2. Diagnostic Immunology;
   3. Hematology; 
   4. Microbiology or Public Health Microbiology;
   5. Molecular Diagnostics  

   This experience may be obtained concurrently; AND

3. Pass an ABB examination in General Knowledge and in at least three (3) of the clinical laboratory disciplines mentioned in 2.b.

Effective January 1, 2021, Molecular Diagnostics is defined as "testing that involves the manipulation and examination of nucleic acid in a high complexity testing environment." See General Regulation #21.

* Individuals with an M.D. or D.O. degree, or the equivalent, must also be licensed to practice medicine in at least one (1) state in the U.S.

**Effective January 1, 2012, ABB will accept up to two (2) years of alternative experience toward the four-year experience requirement for BCLD certification.  The two (2) years of acceptable alternative experience must be on human specimens within the ten (10) years immediately prior to the application date and must be applicable to a clinical setting. An additional two (2) years of clinical supervising or directing experience is still required in addition to the two years of “alternative” experience. (see General Regulations, rule 18).

PLEASE READ - Instructions for completing the Application for ABB Certification

Application for ABB Certification