THE CLINICAL LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENTS (CLIA) APPLICATION
(FORM CMS-116)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION
CLIA requires every facility that tests human specimens
for the purpose of providing information for the
diagnosis, prevention or treatment of any disease or
impairment of, or the assessment of the health of, a
human being to meet certain Federal requirements.
If your facility performs tests for these purposes, it is
considered, under the law, to be a laboratory. Facilities
only collecting or preparing specimens (or both) or
only serving as a mailing service are not considered
laboratories. CLIA does not apply to a facility that only
performs forensic testing. CLIA applies even if only one
or a few basic tests are performed, and even if you are
not charging for testing. In addition the CLIA legislation
requires financing of all regulatory costs through fees
assessed to affected facilities.
The CLIA application (Form CMS-116) collects
information about your laboratory’s operation which
is necessary to determine the fees to be assessed, to
establish baseline data and to fulfill the statutory
requirements for CLIA. This information will also provide
an overview of your facility’s laboratory operation. All
information submitted should be based on your facility’s
laboratory operation as of the date of form completion.
NOTE: WAIVED TESTS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM
CLIA. FACILITIES PERFORMING ONLY THOSE TESTS
CATEGORIZED AS WAIVED MUST APPLY FOR A CLIA
CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER.
NOTE: Laboratory directors performing non-waived
testing (including PPM) must meet specific education,
training and experience under subpart M (42 CFR
PART 493) of the CLIA requirements. Proof of these
requirements for the laboratory director must be
submitted with the application. Information to be
submitted with the application include:
• Verification of State Licensure, as applicable
• Documentation of qualifications:
• Education (copy of Diploma, transcript from
accredited institution, CMEs),
• Credentials, and
• Laboratory experience.
Individuals who attended foreign schools must have an
evaluation of their credentials determining equivalency
of their education to education obtained in the United
States. Failure to submit this information will delay the
processing of your application.
ALL APPLICABLE SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED
AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE FACILITY. PRINT
LEGIBLY OR TYPE INFORMATION.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
date of the change. For all other changes, including
change in location, director, lab closure, etc., check
“other changes” and provide the effective date of the
change.
CLIA Identification Number: For an initial applicant, the
CLIA number should be left blank. The number will be
assigned when the application is processed. For all other
applicants, enter the 10 digit CLIA identification number
already assigned and listed on your CLIA certificate.
Facility Name: Be specific when indicating the name of
your facility, particularly when it is a component of a
larger entity, e.g., respiratory therapy department in XYZ
Hospital. For a physician’s office, this may be the name
of the physician. NOTE: the information provided is what
will appear on your certificate.
Physical Facility Address: This address is mandatory and
must reflect the physical location where the laboratory
testing is performed. The address may include a floor,
suite and/or room location, but cannot be a Post Office
box or Mail Stop.
If the laboratory has a separate mailing and/or corporate
address (from the Facility Address), please complete the
appropriate sections on the form.
Mailing Address: This address is optional and may be
used if the laboratory wants to direct the mailing of the
CLIA fee coupon and/or CLIA certificate to an alternate
location, such as an accounts payable office. A Post Office
box number or Mail Stop number may be used as part of
the Mailing Address for this section.
Corporate Address: This address is optional and may
be used if the laboratory wants to direct the mailing of
the CLIA fee coupon and/or CLIA certificate to another
location, such as, the main headquarters or home office
for the laboratory. A Post Office box number or Mail
Stop number may be used as part of the Corporate
Address for this section.
Form Mailing: Select the address (Physical, Mailing,
Corporate) where the CLIA fee coupon and CLIA
certificate are to be mailed.
For Office Use Only: The date received is the date the
form is received by the state agency or CMS regional
office for processing.
II. TYPE OF CERTIFICATE REQUESTED
Select your certificate type based on the highest level
of test complexity performed by your laboratory. A
laboratory performing non-waived tests can choose
Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Accreditation
based on the agency you wish to survey your laboratory.
When completing this section, please remember that a
facility holding a: Certificate of Waiver can only perform
tests categorized as waived;*
For an initial applicant, check “initial application”. For
• Certificate for Provider Performed Microscopy
an initial survey or for a recertification, check “survey”.
Procedures (PPM) can only perform tests categorized
For a request to change the type of certificate, check
as PPM, or tests categorized as PPM and waived
“change in certificate type” and provide the effective
tests;*
Form CMS-116 (09/17) Instructions