Article 8. Laboratory Employee Qualifications

§15736. General Laboratory Employee Qualifications.

(a) The licensed laboratory may only employ persons who are at least 21 years of age.

(b) The licensed laboratory shall develop and implement an employee training program to ensure competency of laboratory employees for their assigned functions.

(c) The licensed laboratory shall ensure and document that each laboratory employee meets the employee qualifications.

Authority cited: Section 26013, Business and Professions Code.
Reference: Sections 26102 and 26104, Business and Professions Code.

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§15737. Supervisor or Management Responsibilities and Qualifications.

(a) The licensed laboratory shall employ a supervisor or management employee who must be responsible for:

1. Overseeing and directing the scientific methods of the licensed laboratory;
2. Ensuring that the licensed laboratory achieves and maintains a laboratory quality assurance program as required by section 15729; and
3. Providing ongoing and appropriate training to laboratory employees.

(b) To be considered qualified, the supervisor or management employee must have at minimum:

1. A doctoral degree in biological, chemical, agricultural, environmental, or related sciences from an accredited college or university;
2. A master’s degree in biological, chemical, agricultural, environmental, or related sciences from an accredited college or university, plus at least 2 years of full-time practical experience;
3. A bachelor’s degree in biological, chemical, agricultural, environmental, or related sciences from an accredited college or university, plus at least 4 years of full-time practical experience; or
4. A bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university, plus at least 8 years of full-time practical experience, 4 years of which must have been in a supervisory or management position.

Authority: Section 26013, Business and Professions Code.
Reference: Sections 26102 and 26104, Business and Professions Code.

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§15738. Analyst and Sampler Qualifications.

(a) The licensed laboratory shall employ an analyst who, at minimum, must have either:

1. Earned a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in biological, chemical, agricultural, environmental, or related sciences from an accredited college or university; or
2. Completed 2 years of college or university education that included coursework in biological, chemical, agricultural, environmental, or related sciences from an accredited college or university, plus at least 3 years of full-time practical experience.

(b) The licensed laboratory shall employ a sampler who, at minimum, must have either:

1. Completed 2 years college or university education; or
2. Earned a High School Diploma or passed a General Educational Development or High School Equivalency exam, plus at least 1 year of full-time practical experience.

Authority: Section 26013, Business and Professions Code.
Reference: Sections 26102 and 26104, Business and Professions Code.

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