OPT Clinical Laboratory Scientist Jobs
Clinical Laboratory Scientist jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with a degree in clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or a related field. Most roles qualify for STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Hospitals, reference labs, and public health agencies regularly hire OPT candidates.
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CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - Westover Hills (CSRH-WH) is a 253-bed hospital serving the fastest-growing area of San Antonio. Specialized care includes orthopedic and surgical care with advanced spine surgery, Intensive Care, complex neurology for treating stroke and other neurovascular issues, comprehensive cardiovascular care from diagnostics to open heart surgery, vascular lab, sleep center, women’s services, a newborn nursery, the CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute, wound care, rehabilitation, emergency services, and more. The campus also boasts an Outpatient Imaging Center, an Ambulatory Surgery Center, and four medical plazas, one of which houses our CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Health Center.
Summary
This Job performs all routine and complicated laboratory procedures including specimen processing and handling, testing of patient specimens, calculating, and reporting of results, performance of quality control procedures, operation and maintenance of instruments and equipment, assisting in the development of new procedures and protocols, may perform phlebotomy and other patient-oriented tasks, and may perform other related duties as requested or directed.
Responsibilities
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Performs all routine and complicated laboratory procedures in the primary section to which assigned about age or sex specific values.
- Operates, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory instrumentation and equipment and makes minor repairs as necessary or notifies Bio-med as needed.
- Must cross-train to other laboratory sections as needed.
- Assures that the laboratory's quality control program is properly followed.
- Calculates, enters, and/or verifies results of laboratory procedures.
- Utilizes the Laboratory Information System.
- Provides notification and documentation of critical laboratory values obtained.
- Processes patient specimens, including collection, handling, and distribution always cognizant of minimal pediatric specimen volumes (when required).
- Participates in the evaluation, development, and implementation of new or updated testing procedures and protocols.
- Demonstrates competence to perform assigned patient care responsibilities in a manner that meets the population-specific and developmental needs of patients served by the department.
- Appropriately adapts assigned patient assessment, treatment, and/or care methods to accommodate the unique physical, psychosocial, cultural, age specific and other developmental needs of each patient served.
- Demonstrates adherence to the CORE values of CHRISTUS Health.
- Must complete all required compliance and regulatory tasks and follow all applicable policies and procedures.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
Education/Skills
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution or equivalent laboratory training and experience meeting the requirements defined in the CLIA regulation 42CFR493.1489 (includes U.S. Military laboratory training courses of at least 50 weeks)
OR
- Education that has been evaluated by an acceptable credentialing agency and deemed equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology.
Experience
- No experience required for graduates of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by NAACLS, or other organizations approved by HHS. OR
- One year of approved clinical laboratory experience, which must include a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology, Immunology, and Urinalysis/Body Fluids in the U.S. or with an accredited laboratory within the last 5 years.
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- Must possess Certification for MT, MLS, CLS, or MLT from ASCP, AMT, AAB, or HEW/HHS
- If certification with an expiration date is held, the certification must be maintained and kept current
- Louisiana requires State Licensure
- New Graduate that is Board Certified or eligible (must complete Board Certification in 1 year of hire, Louisiana excluded)
Work Schedule
2:30PM - 11PM
Work Type
Full Time
Description
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - Westover Hills (CSRH-WH) is a 253-bed hospital serving the fastest-growing area of San Antonio. Specialized care includes orthopedic and surgical care with advanced spine surgery, Intensive Care, complex neurology for treating stroke and other neurovascular issues, comprehensive cardiovascular care from diagnostics to open heart surgery, vascular lab, sleep center, women’s services, a newborn nursery, the CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute, wound care, rehabilitation, emergency services, and more. The campus also boasts an Outpatient Imaging Center, an Ambulatory Surgery Center, and four medical plazas, one of which houses our CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Health Center.
Summary
This Job performs all routine and complicated laboratory procedures including specimen processing and handling, testing of patient specimens, calculating, and reporting of results, performance of quality control procedures, operation and maintenance of instruments and equipment, assisting in the development of new procedures and protocols, may perform phlebotomy and other patient-oriented tasks, and may perform other related duties as requested or directed.
Responsibilities
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Performs all routine and complicated laboratory procedures in the primary section to which assigned about age or sex specific values.
- Operates, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory instrumentation and equipment and makes minor repairs as necessary or notifies Bio-med as needed.
- Must cross-train to other laboratory sections as needed.
- Assures that the laboratory's quality control program is properly followed.
- Calculates, enters, and/or verifies results of laboratory procedures.
- Utilizes the Laboratory Information System.
- Provides notification and documentation of critical laboratory values obtained.
- Processes patient specimens, including collection, handling, and distribution always cognizant of minimal pediatric specimen volumes (when required).
- Participates in the evaluation, development, and implementation of new or updated testing procedures and protocols.
- Demonstrates competence to perform assigned patient care responsibilities in a manner that meets the population-specific and developmental needs of patients served by the department.
- Appropriately adapts assigned patient assessment, treatment, and/or care methods to accommodate the unique physical, psychosocial, cultural, age specific and other developmental needs of each patient served.
- Demonstrates adherence to the CORE values of CHRISTUS Health.
- Must complete all required compliance and regulatory tasks and follow all applicable policies and procedures.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
Education/Skills
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution or equivalent laboratory training and experience meeting the requirements defined in the CLIA regulation 42CFR493.1489 (includes U.S. Military laboratory training courses of at least 50 weeks)
OR
- Education that has been evaluated by an acceptable credentialing agency and deemed equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology.
Experience
- No experience required for graduates of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by NAACLS, or other organizations approved by HHS. OR
- One year of approved clinical laboratory experience, which must include a clinical rotation through the following sections of the laboratory: Blood Banking, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology, Immunology, and Urinalysis/Body Fluids in the U.S. or with an accredited laboratory within the last 5 years.
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- Must possess Certification for MT, MLS, CLS, or MLT from ASCP, AMT, AAB, or HEW/HHS
- If certification with an expiration date is held, the certification must be maintained and kept current
- Louisiana requires State Licensure
- New Graduate that is Board Certified or eligible (must complete Board Certification in 1 year of hire, Louisiana excluded)
Work Schedule
2:30PM - 11PM
Work Type
Full Time
See all 75+ OPT Clinical Laboratory Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Laboratory Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Clinical laboratory science and medical technology degrees are on the STEM OPT designated degree list. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying so you can accurately represent your full three years of work authorization to employers.
Lead with your ASCP or AMT certification
Board certification from ASCP or AMT removes the biggest hiring hesitation employers have with OPT candidates. It signals you meet the same competency standard as any domestic applicant, which shifts the conversation away from your visa status.
Target hospital systems with established OPT hiring
Large hospital networks and national reference laboratories like Quest and LabCorp have HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork. Smaller independent labs may not. Prioritizing larger employers significantly improves your chances of a smooth sponsorship process.
Address your authorization timeline upfront
OPT students often lose interviews because employers discover timeline constraints late. State your STEM OPT eligibility and authorization end date clearly in your cover letter so employers can assess fit before investing time in multiple interview rounds.
Highlight state licensure status in every application
Many states require CLS licensure before you can work. If you already hold a state license or have applied, make that visible in your resume header. Employers worry about licensure delays more than OPT paperwork in regulated lab roles.
Use your clinical rotations as professional references
Clinical rotation supervisors carry significant weight as references because they have direct, hands-on evidence of your technical skills. Secure letters of recommendation from rotation sites before your OPT period starts and use them in applications proactively.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist on OPT?
Yes, provided your degree is directly related to clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or a closely related field. Your OPT employment must be in a role consistent with your degree program. Most CLS positions qualify cleanly, but your DSO should confirm the connection between your specific degree and the job description before you accept an offer.
Do Clinical Laboratory Scientist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do. Clinical laboratory science and medical technology programs are generally classified under STEM-eligible CIP codes, which makes you eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to sponsor the extension, so confirm that before signing an offer. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to be certain.
How do I find Clinical Laboratory Scientist employers who are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship status, so you can browse Clinical Laboratory Scientist openings from employers already familiar with OPT work authorization. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering mid-process that an employer won't proceed with OPT candidates.
Do I need ASCP certification to work as a CLS on OPT?
Certification requirements vary by state and employer. Many hospital laboratories require or strongly prefer ASCP Board of Certification credentials. If you completed a NAACLS-accredited program, you're eligible to sit for the exam. Holding certification before your OPT begins makes you more competitive and removes a common reason employers decline OPT candidates in clinical lab roles.
What happens to my CLS job if my OPT expires before I secure H-1B sponsorship?
If your OPT expires without an approved visa extension, you must stop working immediately. CLS roles can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations, but the annual lottery creates timing risk. STEM OPT students have more runway, with up to 36 months total. Discuss H-1B sponsorship timelines explicitly with your employer well before your STEM OPT end date.