NYS Clinical Laboratory Practitioners

Update Regarding the Application Deadline

August 15, 2006

With the implementation date for the three new clinical laboratory technology professions (September 1, 2006) fast approaching, we have received questions from the field regarding applications for licensure and timelines for submitting applications. To respond to your questions, help you to apply for licensure, and help to ensure continuity for current practitioners who plan to continue to practice after September 1st, we are providing additional information below.

The implementation date that has been established in statute for the three Clinical Laboratory Technology practitioner professions is September 1, 2006. To continue to practice any of these three professions after September 1st, you must be licensed, exempted, or otherwise authorized to practice, such as under a limited permit. The emergency regulations, necessary to implement the three clinical laboratory technology practitioner professions were approved by the Regents on July 26, 2006, and became effective on August 1, 2006. To ensure that these regulations are aligned with statute and are finalized only after the needs and expectations of all stakeholders have been considered, numerous meetings and extensive communications were held with clinical laboratory technology practitioners, colleges and universities, professional associations, government agencies, laboratories, hospitals, and others. Now that the emergency regulations have been approved, applications for licensure are in the final stages of development. As September 1st approaches, however, please read carefully the following information:

For clinical laboratory technology practitioners who wish to continue to practice in New York State after September 1, 2006, and are eligible for licensure under grandparenting provisions:
If you, to the best of your ability, believe, in good faith, that you are eligible for licensure under "grandparenting"¹ provisions, you should complete and submit Form 1 of the application and the required fee by September 30, 2006, in order to continue to practice in New York State without being subject to charges of unlicensed practice by the Education Department. After we have received the Form 1 and the fee, you will receive a notice² stating that you are authorized to engage in practice until the remainder of your application is received and fully processed and evaluated. Grandparenting applicants who do not submit the Form 1 of the application and the fee by September 30, 2006, may still submit an application for licensure under grandparenting provisions until September 1, 2007, but if you continue to practice you may be subject to charges of unauthorized practice until you are notified by the Education Department that your application has been received.

For clinical laboratory technology practitioners who wish to continue to practice in New York State after September 1, 2006, but are NOT eligible for licensure under grandparenting provisions:
Individuals who are not eligible for licensure through grandparenting may continue to practice, without being subject to charges of unlicensed practice by the Education Department, if they submit an application for licensure and an application for a limited permit³ by September 30, 2006, and believe, in good faith, they have completed an appropriate educational program (e.g., one of the approximately 70 programs that are registered with the Department that have prepared graduates for employment in these professions or accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency) and met all other requirements for a limited permit. The limited permit will allow you to practice under appropriate supervision for one year. After we have received the Form 1 and the fee, and your application for a limited permit, you will receive a notice² stating that you are authorized to engage in practice until your limited permit application is fully processed. The limited permit provides you with an opportunity to continue to work for one year while you meet the examination requirement for licensure in New York State, and it may be renewed for good cause for a second year. After the limited permit has expired, however, you will be required to be licensed to practice the clinical laboratory technology professions in New York State. Individuals may still apply for a limited permit after September 30, 2006, but they cannot practice until the limited permit is issued.

Additional information on education requirements, grandparenting provisions, and the limited permit can be found on this site and are available in hard copy.

We hope that this information is helpful to those who are applying for licensure under the grandparenting provisions and those who are applying for a limited permit. We are making every effort to effectively implement the law, while helping to ensure that current practitioners can continue their employment at the time of the September 1, 2006 implementation date. Please check this site for additional information and updates or contact the Office of the State Board for Clinical Laboratory Technology at clinlabd@mail.nysed.gov, (518) 474-3817, ext. 150.

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¹ Grandparenting applies to persons who have provided services for several years in the clinical laboratory technology professions and meet specific education and/or experience requirements which can be found at www.op.nysed.gov/clp.htm. There is no examination requirement and licensure is issued for life.

² Unless there is a question on your application or other issue that needs to be resolved; in which case, you will be asked to provide additional information.

³ Information on limited permits for each profession can be found at www.op.nysed.gov/clp.htm. Limited permits are issued to applicants who meet education requirements and who work under the general supervision of the Director of the Clinical Laboratory. Usually, limited permits provide time for applicants to take the licensing examinations, but these permits are limited to one year, unless reissued for good cause.