Clinical chemistry education in the United States

Entrance into a clinical chemistry career in the US can be obtained through a variety of avenues, ranging from very formal to no formal training requirements. A frequent starting point is through a formal medical technology program at the baccalaureate level. Nonphysicians, interested in an advanced career, have also the option to choose their point of entrance through a formal graduate or postdoctoral program. The main 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 Pathology. 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 chemistry are available for graduates with doctorate degrees in the chemical and biological sciences as well as for physicians with laboratory experience.