Students participate in lectures and clinical laboratory rotations Monday through Friday, 40 hour per week for 52 weeks, supervised by the teaching coordinators or specialists, section supervisors, bench clinical laboratory scientists, and the program coordinator at all sites. Graduates are awarded a certificate of completion, and are eligible to take the national certifying examinations and the state of California licensure examination.

A series of didactic lectures is given in the core subject areas throughout the year by UC Davis Health System Pathology staff and faculty in hematology/coagulation, microbiology (bacteriology, parasitology, mycology, virology), urinalysis, clinical chemistry, immunology/serology, and immunohematology. Additional lectures are given in laboratory information systems, molecular biology, cytogenetics, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, management, and education.

Students also participate in clinical laboratory instruction by rotating for specified weeks, and performing routine and specialized test procedures in each laboratory section at UC Davis Health System or the affiliates, Fremont-Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, and Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. Licensed clinical laboratory scientists, teaching coordinator specialists, and section supervisors provide instruction at the clinical sites.

Hematology/Coagulation/Body Fluids (11 weeks):
Lecture and laboratory course integrates theory and application of hematology and hemostasis diagnostic procedures, interpretation, problem solving and correlation of laboratory findings with disease states. It includes topics on hematopoiesis, cell morphology, anemias, leukocytes, thrombocytes, myeloproliferative disorders, leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphoproliferative disorders, and blood parasites. An overview of hemostatsis provides studies in coagulation, bleeding abnormalities, and platelet disorders. Students perform specimen collection and handling, macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of urine and other biological fluids. Results are correlated with disease states.

Microbiology (12 weeks):
Lecture and laboratory course studies the isolation, cultivation, identification and susceptibility testing of pathogenic bacteria. Microbiology didactic lectures and bench work in parasitology, virology, and mycology are also included. Clinical correlation and case studies for all microbial pathogens are emphasized.

Immunohematology (6 weeks):
Lecture and laboratory course integrates the theory, practical application, and technical performance of blood bank procedures required for the transfusion of blood and blood components. Students study transfusion therapy practice, blood group system biochemistry, genetics and serology. Clinical experience and didactic information incorporates the operation and management of a transfusion service and a collection center.

Immunology/Serology (5 weeks):
Lecture and laboratory course integrates basic and clinical immunology, featuring the theory, practical application and technical performance used in diagnostic laboratory medicine for infectious and autoimmune diseases. Students study the function and measurement of T and B cells, and the clinical application of flow cytometry, as well as electrophoresis and other immunodiagnostic procedures.

Clinical Chemistry/Urinalysis/Toxicology (19 weeks):
Lecture and laboratory course integrates the basic principles and methodologies of clinical chemistry and the analysis of the physical, chemical and microscopic parameters of blood, urine and other body fluids. Students study the theoretical principles and the application of analytical techniques of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, electrolytes, nitrogen metabolites, inborn errors of metabolism, therapeutic drug monitoring, and toxicology.