CLINICAL-CHEMISTRY EDUCATION IN THE UNITED-STATES

Entrance into a clinical chemistry career in the US can be obtained th rough a variety of avenues, ranging from very formal to no formal trai ning requirements. A frequent starting point is through a formal medic al technology program at the baccalaureate level. Nonphysicians, inter ested in an advanced career, have also the option to choose their poin t of entrance through a formal graduate or postdoctoral program. The m ain source for obtaining a Master of Science or Doctoral degree with a major in the clinical laboratory sciences, is through Departments of Pathology. Physicians desiring to subspecialize in clinical chemistry can obtain some of the training through a residency program in Patholo gy. Clinical chemistry is an essential component of both the clinical pathology (CP) residency and the combined residencies in anatomic and clinical pathology (AP/CP). In addition, fellowships in clinical chemi stry are available for graduates with doctorate degrees in the chemica l and biological sciences as well as for physicians with laboratory ex perience.