Information for foreign-trained medical laboratory technologists
(3211) Verified: 2009 10 15
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of medical laboratory technologist is regulated in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, where regulatory bodies (also called regulatory colleges) establish the rules and regulations that determine who may practice as a medical laboratory technologist. Their primary role is to protect the public. If you wish to work as a technologist in any of these provinces, you must be registered with the regulatory body (see list below).
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) works in partnership with provincial regulatory bodies, but is a completely separate organization. Its primary role is to advocate and certify people in the profession. This certification is accepted across Canada and is required in the provinces and territories that do not yet have an individual regulatory body.
- Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)
- PO Box 2830, LCD 1
- Hamilton ON L8N 3N8 Canada
- Phone : 905-528-8642
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-263-8277
- Fax : 905-528-4968
- Email : pla@csmls.org
- http://www.csmls.org/
The CSMLS certifies in the following disciplines:
- General Medical Laboratory Technologist
- Clinical Genetics
- Diagnostic Cytology
- Medical Laboratory Assistant
General Medical Laboratory Technologists must be competent in these five disciplines: clinical chemistry, hematology, clinical microbiology, transfusion science, and histotechnology. Diagnostic cytology technologists must be competent in both gynecological and non-gynecological analysis. Clinical genetics technologists must be competent in both cytogenetics and molecular genetics.
Eligibility requirements to the CSMLS Medical Laboratory Technology certification examinations involve completion of an accredited educational program or a two-step prior learning assessment process to evaluate their education, training and work experience for equivalency (See http://www.csmls.org/en/international-technologists.html).
Information on assessment of qualifications
The prior learning assessment process is available to foreign-trained medical laboratory technologist before or after arrival in Canada. See the appropriate Information Handbook [PDF] that applies to your situation.
You may contact the CSMLS at:
- Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)
- PO Box 2830, LCD 1
- Hamilton ON L8N 3N8 Canada
- Phone : 905-528-8642
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-263-8277
- Fax : 905-528-4968
- Email : pla@csmls.org
- http://www.csmls.org/
You may also consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada."
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources Development Canada regarding:
Specific provincial/territorial information
List of provincial regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (ACMLT)
- Whitemud Business Park, #105, Bldg. #1, 4245 - 97 Street
- Edmonton AB T6E 5Y7 Canada
- Phone : (780) 435-5452
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-265-9351
- Fax : (780) 437-1442
- Email : info@acmlt.org
- http://www.acmlt.org/
Manitoba
- College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba (CMLTM)
- 449 Provencher Boulevard
- Winnipeg MB R2J 0B8 Canada
- Phone : 204 231-0311
- Fax : 204 231-0905
- Email : cmltm@mts.net
- http://www.cmltm.ca/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NBSMLT)
- P.O Box 1812
- Moncton NB E1C 9X6 Canada
- Phone : +1-506-758-9956
- Fax : +1-506-758-9963
- Email : registrar@nbsmlt.nb.ca
- http://www.nbsmlt.nb.ca
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT)
- 5991 Spring Garden Rd, Ste 265
- Halifax NS B3H 1Y6 Canada
- Phone : (902) 453-9605
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-897-4095
- Fax : (902) 454-3535
- Email : nscmltoffice@ns.aliantzinc.ca
- http://www.nscmlt.org/
Ontario
- College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO)
- 36 Toronto Street, Suite 950
- Toronto ON M5C 2C5 Canada
- Phone : (416) 861-9605
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-323-9672
- Fax : (416) 861-0934
- Email : mail@cmlto.com
- http://www.cmlto.com/
Quebec
- Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ)
- 1150, boul. St-Joseph Est, bureau 300
- Montréal QC H2J 1L5 Canada
- Phone : (514) 527-9811
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-567-7763
- Fax : (514) 527-7314
- Email : optmq@qc.aira.com
- http://www.optmq.org/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (SSMLT)
- Box 3837
- Regina SK S4P 3R8 Canada
- Phone : (306) 352-6791
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-334-3301
- Fax : (306) 352-6791
- Email : ssmlt@sk.sympatico.ca
- http://www.ssmlt.sk.ca/
List of provincial and territorial associations
British Columbia
- British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS)
- 720-999 West Broadway Avenue
- Vancouver BC V5Z 1K5 Canada
- Phone : (604) 714-1760
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-304-0033
- Fax : (604) 738-4080
- Email : bcsls@bcsls.net
- http://www.bcsls.net/
Manitoba
- Manitoba Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (MSMLT)
- 585 London Street
- Winnipeg MB R2K 2Z6 Canada
- Phone : (204) 669-9050
- Fax : (204) 667-1747
- Email : msmlt@mb.sympatico.ca
- http://www.msmlt.mb.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland & Labrador Society for Medical Laboratory Science (NLSMLS)
- P.O. Box 39057, 430 Topsail Road
- St. John's NL A1E 5Y7 Canada
- Phone : (709) 754-8324
- http://www.nlsmls.ca/
Ontario
- Ontario Society of Medical Technologists (OSMT)
- 234 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 402
- Toronto ON M4P 1K5 Canada
- Phone : (416) 485-6768
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-461-6768
- Fax : (416) 485-7660
- Email : osmt@osmt.org
- http://www.osmt.org/
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (PEISMT)
- c/o QE Hospital
Attention: Pam Maloney
P.O. Box 6600- Charlottetown PE C1A 8T5 Canada
- http://www.peismt.org/