Admissions Requirements for International Students

Students from outside the United States who wish to gain admission to the University of Iowa and the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program must demonstrate proficiency in the English language necessary to be successful in an intense, science-heavy curriculum.  The steps necessary to do this include satisfactory performance on an English language proficiency examination and successful completion of college-level science courses in an English-speaking institution.

The requirements that apply to a specific student can be determined by answering the questions below.  It is strongly advised that you discuss your situation with a CLS adviser.

Question 1:  Is English your first language?

     No – Before enrolling in the CLS Program, you must complete all ESL requirements of the University of Iowa.  Generally the first step in completing this is to take the TOEFL exam.  Alternatively, you can take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation after you have been accepted for enrollment at the University of Iowa.  Based on those test results, you may be required to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.  You cannot be accepted into the CLS Program until all English language requirements have been met.

     Yes – TOEFL exam score is not required.

Question 2:  Do you have a bachelor’s degree from a non-U.S. institution?

     No - You will need to satisfy all degree requirements of the University of Iowa, including general education requirements.  You should first get admission to the University of Iowa as a pre-CLS undergraduate.  When admitted, you will meet with an advisor who will help you determine what additional coursework is necessary before you can apply to the CLS Program.

     Yes – Proceed to Question 3.

Question 3:  Do you plan on getting a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa?

     Yes – You will need to satisfy all degree requirements of the University of Iowa, including general education requirements.  You should first get admission to the University of Iowa as a pre-CLS undergraduate.  When admitted, you will meet with an advisor who will help you determine what additional coursework is necessary before you can apply to the CLS Program.

     No – You will not need to satisfy all degree requirements of the University of Iowa, but you will need to satisfy all CLS Program prerequisites.  You will be required to take some science courses at an English-language, U.S. institution before you can be enrolled in the CLS Program.  You should first get admission to the University of Iowa as a pre-CLS undergraduate.  When admitted, you will meet with an advisor who will help you determine what additional coursework is necessary before you can apply to the CLS Program.  In addition, it will be necessary to get an evaluation of your previous college coursework from an independent transcript evaluation service.  A list of some available services is provided below.

Transcript Evaluation Services

Candidates with education obtained outside the U.S. must submit an original course by course evaluation for equivalency reviewed by an evaluation agency. This evaluation is required not just for admissions to the CLS Program, but also to prove eligibility to sit for both of the certification examinations upon completion of the CLS Program.  Students with baccalaureate degrees from non-U.S. colleges cannot be accepted into the CLS Program until a transcript evaluation has been received.

Suggested transcript evaluation agencies include, but are not limited to:

World Education Services, Inc.
PO Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
(212) 966-6311 • Fax: (212) 739-6100
E-mail: info@wes.org


Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
(414) 289-3400 • Fax: (414) 289-3411
E-mail: eval@ece.org


International Education Research Foundation Inc.
Credentials Evaluation Services
PO Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
(310) 258-9451 • Fax: (310) 342-7086
E-mail: info@ierf.org