Internationally-educated/Non-HSO-accredited program

What is the CMLTO?

To work as a medical laboratory technologist (MLT) in Ontario, you must be registered with the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO). While called a college, the CMLTO is a regulatory body rather than an educational body. It was established in 1993 by a law titled, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). The CMLTO registration is composed of approximately 7,000 regulated MLTs who serve Ontario's citizens.

Once registered, MLTs must practice their profession in accordance with the CMLTO regulations and standards . This process protects the public's right to safe, effective, ethical service from MLTs.

The CMLTO produced a short video describing the registration requirements and process for internationally educated MLTs in Ontario.

To access this video please click here. Sign-in registration is required.
Webinar Script in English (PDF) / En français (PDF)

How do I become eligible for a Practising Certificate of Registration?
You must:

1. be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or have an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
2. obtain a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check within the six months preceding application. For more information, please refer to the Registration Committee Policy 16: Background Check of Applicants available here in English, Vérification des antécédents des candidats en français ici
3. meet language fluency requirements
4. have an equivalency according to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to Canadian MLT education
5. have Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) certification (formerly CSLT)
6. Proof of active engagement by:
   a) have been actively engaged (used your knowledge, skill and judgement as an MLT) in the practice of medical laboratory technology during the three years immediately preceding the date of the application OR
   b) have successfully completed refresher courses approved by the CMLTO within the three years preceding the date of the application.
   For more information, please refer to the Registration Committee Policy 13: Active Engagement available here / disponible en français ici.

1. be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or have an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
2. obtain a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check within the six months preceding application. For more information, please refer to the Registration Committee Policy 16: Background Check of Applicants available here, Vérification des antécédents des candidats en français ici
3. meet language fluency requirements
4. have equivalency according to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to Canadian MLT education
5. have Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) certification (formerly CSLT)

Before you apply for registration
Before you can apply for registration as a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario, you must: 

You may wish to visit the following Internet resources:

• Paths to equal Opportunity
• Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

2. provide evidence of reasonable fluency in English or French;

All applicants for registration with the CMLTO must meet all registration requirements including the ability to provide objective evidence of reasonable fluency in English and/or French.

CMLTO language fluency requirements are met when guarantor-signed evidence that the applicant meets one of the following criteria is provided to the CMLTO with an application for registration:

1. Successful completion of a medical laboratory science program accredited by the Health Standards Organization (HSO) (or its predecessor, the Canadian Medical Association conjoint accreditation services); or
2. Submission of proof acceptable to the Registrar (e.g., transcript that states language of instruction) that either: (a) both high school and medical laboratory science program (that was not accredited by the HSO or its predecessor) that included theoretical/academic coursework and a clinical placement, was completed in English or French; or (b) that both high school and undergraduate degree that included theoretical/academic course work and a clinical placement/practicum/internship was completed in English or French; or
3. Submission of published academic paper(s) (e.g., thesis, research publications) authored by the applicant as part of a Masters or Doctorate program successfully completed by the applicant with an accompanying letter of verification acceptable to the Registrar from the principal investigator, a program professor, or supervisor stating English or French was the language of instruction and the language in which the academic paper was written; or
4. Achievement of the minimum scores outlined below in one of the Registration Committee (RC) approved language fluency tests within the past two years

Language fluency test results provided to the CMLTO as part of an application for registration must not be more than two years old at the time of application. For more information, please refer to the Registration Committee Policy 03: Language Fluency Requirements available here / Pour plus d'informations, allez ici.

3. Have an assessment to establish equivalency to Canadian qualifications:

If your MLT education is not listed as an HSO-accredited program, your education must be assessed for equivalency to Canadian MLT education. Please check the Health Standards Organization (HSO) website to view the current listings of accredited and registered programs through this link (PDF)

The organization the CMLTO uses to assess equivalency is the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). The evaluation process used by the CSMLS is called the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). 

If your education is deemed equivalent to Canadian MLT education, you can apply to write the CSMLS examination. Exam eligibility is determined by the CSMLS. 

4. Pass the CSMLS Examination.

5. Provide proof of Active Engagement (practice) as a medical laboratory technologist (MLT):

• within the three years preceding the application, active engagement in the practice of medical laboratory technology, which may include time spent as a student, or in the teaching of medical laboratory technology, that demonstrates, in the opinion of the Registration Committee, that he or she could meet the current standards of practice in Ontario; or

• within the three years preceding the application, successful completion of a refresher course in the relevant specialties in laboratory science approved by the Registration Committee.

How do I apply for CMLTO registration?

1. Complete the online registration application process.
2. Pay registration application fee online (VISA or MasterCard accepted).
3. Print the Guarantor’s verification form via online application process.
4. Mail the supporting documentation along with the Guarantor’s verification form to CMLTO. 
* Refer to the process map.

How do I contact the CMLTO?

Should you require further information, please contact the CMLTO Registration Department at 416-861-9605 [toll-free in Canada: 1-800-323-9672] ext. 1 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To apply for membership, please complete the online registration application.

View the complete Registration Regulation.

View Frequently Asked Registration Questions