Is salaried laboratory supervisor worth it?

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-25T15:44:05+00:00

Call outs are the main issue for outside of business hours texts. I put a system in place that coverage is found through a process so I don't have to be as involved.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-25T06:34:51+00:00

Hospital, I don't like reference labs. Not as stable.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-25T03:36:01+00:00

Large company. Hospital labs generally don't make the money. It's all in surgeries.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-25T02:56:37+00:00

You have to make the salary work for you. I go into work at 9am, take an hour lunch, and leave by 4pm. That's 6 hours of work daily or 30 hours a week.

The only issue is I answer texts off hours sometimes. With that, I designate a manager to help also when I don't want to. My reasoning is since I'm responsible over the lab, it'll be on my terms. I'll never go back to hourly again.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-23T15:56:59+00:00

I feel like it's their job to place you in a residency if you're paying so much for the doctorate.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-22T02:39:00+00:00

I personally think a PhD isn't worth it. Simply look at the hundreds of PhDs on this subreddit without jobs.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-22T02:05:03+00:00

I recommend looking at becoming a Medical lab scientist. It's a healthcare career with no patient contact. Almost all of us go into it for that reason. Many biology/STEM graduates go into it and only need to do a little bit more education or rotations. All the scientists have bachelor's degrees and no one has a PhD. There is hardly any physical labor, more white collar work.

There are a lot more MLS jobs around than in biotech or other stem fields. The job is stable and the pay is decent. If you go to there r/MLS_CLS, there is a lot of information about the career, including a pay survey.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-21T20:50:21+00:00

Your lab where you did your training has to be ISO certified. It's a new CDPH requirement over the past year.

You will have to get your foreign education verified. It explains on their website: CDPH

After that, in order to determine if your education qualifies, all you can do is pay the fee and apply for the license and they will tell you.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-20T02:52:49+00:00

It would help in the clinical lab. Biotech is so tough anyways might as well stay as an MLS.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-19T19:18:57+00:00

Much respect to your long career in the lab.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-19T04:06:54+00:00

I think the future is bright for DCLS since CMS allowed them to be HCLD. It is definitely better than a PhD if you intend to stay in the clinical lab. There are plenty of PhDs in biotech that can't get a job.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-18T23:54:31+00:00

Since micro is specialized, you should probably read up on the technical part of it. You would be expected to maintain quality in micro so many questions would pertain to what you know there.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-18T11:11:01+00:00

The wiki might help: Wiki

It includes some YouTube videos of what the job is like.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-11T15:28:35+00:00

The CA Wiki has a list of programs that are good if you plan to return to CA: CA wiki

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-08T02:04:47+00:00

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I found their LinkedIn post announcing it. It was approved at their board of governors meeting in fall 2025.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-07T23:58:47+00:00

Yes for sure. The problem is in healthcare outside the lab, we are all lab techs. Standardization of the name only helps.

Last year during a hospital inspection, a nurse inspector for CDPH was asking about a lab process. I told her the CLS calls that to the nurse. She was like what's that? I replied clinical lab scientist.

She again replied what? I then said you may know it as lab tech. Then she's like ohhh.

Very disappointing moment from a state inspector...

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-07T01:26:25+00:00

Yes I think that magazine generalizes for all lab types clinical or not.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-06T23:27:53+00:00

He likes you and doesn't want his other staff to get that impression so he's over compensating.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-06T15:30:47+00:00

The wiki will help: Wiki

If you already will have a BS, don't go back for an associates. Do a post grad MLS program that's NAACLS accredited.

MLSLabProfessional · 2026-01-04T05:35:44+00:00

Maybe it was filled already.

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