Academics and Admissions

Laboratory Field Services, the state agency that issues the CLS Trainee license, makes the final determination as to whether courses meet their specifications.

Important notice regarding evaluation of transcripts from outside the US:

As of August 15, 2016, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) discontinued its educational transcript evaluation services. Until further notice, LFS will accept educational transcript evaluations completed by “Current Members” of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and “Endorsed Members” of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations completed before August 15, 2016 will only be accepted if completed by AACRAO. Please use the links below to view the “Current” and “Endorsed” members of NACES and AICE.

NACES members site
AICE-EVAL members site

To ask LFS about accepting specific courses, email LFS directly:  lfsrecep@cdph.ca.gov

Deadlines

Spring semester deadline: July 1

Fall semester deadline: November 15

Essential course grade sheet (must convert to .pdf to upload to application)

SF State CLS Letter of Recommendation

• Must submit three LORs through CSUapply
• Link sent to recommender with instructions from CSUapply
• LORs must be completed by the deadline date OR it will be considered late
• Recommendations from instructors of online courses (may submit 1/3)
• Letters of Recommendation requests - helpful guidelines

Your SF State Graduate Application

• Cal State Apply (SF State Graduate Division application form)
• Applications to Grad Division (Cal State Apply); opens on May 15 and closes on July 1 for Spring admission 
• Applications to Grad Division (Cal State Apply); opens on October 1 and closes on November 15 for Fall admission 

International Applicants

• Must hold CA CLS generalist training license (link to apply below)
• Must have taken TOEFL test (unless degree from a waivered country)

CLS Trainee Licensing - Laboratory Field Services, California Department of Public Health

California Department of Public Health portal

How to Reapply

NOTE: All reapplications must be submitted through Cal State Apply

CLS Office no longer holds hard copy application documents 

1. Apply to Cal State Apply
2. Select the term to apply for: Spring or Fall
3. Sign in with your login/password (previously created)
4. Click on Add a Program (if you are unable to find the CLS program to add)

• Maximum of 3 application attempts per person.

Students will enroll through the College of Professional & Global Engagement (CP&GE) courses. For students entering the program in Fall 2023:

TOTAL tuition cost of program: $400/unit x 38 units = $15,200

The class registration system of San Francisco State University College of Extended Learning is a charge-based system. This means:

1. When you register for a class, financial charges in the amount of the class fees are applied to your account immediately with a payment due date.

2. If you decide to drop a class for which you have not paid, and the drop is not done by the deadline for a 100% refund, outstanding charges will remain on your account, and you are responsible for them. See Drops & Refunds.

3. Unpaid charges will result in a placement of a financial obligation hold on student records which prevents future registration, adding classes, receiving diploma and/or transcripts, use of campus facilities and/or other services. The University or its agent has the right to pursue collections in order to repay a delinquent debt owed to the University. If account is placed with an outside collection agency, the account holder may be required to pay all reasonable collection costs, including legal fees. Delinquent charges owed to the University will be submitted to the Franchise Tax Board for tax refund offset.

4. When you enroll online at SF State Gateway, both your fees owed and due date will display in the Finances section of your Student Center within 24 hours of registering. To see your class fees charges and payment due date immediately after registration, use the Find Due Date and Payment Instructions Guide. Full fees are payable as soon as students are registered. If full payment is not received by the end of the day on the payment due date, students will be dropped for non-payment.

5. For open University and semester-length academic credit courses, you will be able to drop and swap courses with no financial impact up until the Last Day to Drop on the Calendar & Deadlines.