The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO)

To practise as an MLT in Ontario you must register with the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO). The CMLTO is responsible for regulating the medical technology profession in Ontario by ensuring that all MLTs are qualified to practise and are practising in a safe, effective, ethical, and competent manner.

The CMLTO was established in 1993 by a law called the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). The RHPA states that anyone who wishes to practise medical laboratory technology in Ontario must be registered with the CMLTO and must then work according to the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991 and the CMLTO regulations and standards. The title Medical Laboratory Technologist and the initials MLT can only be used by a member of the CMLTO.

The CMLTO issues certificates of registration in General Medical Laboratory Technology (which includes Biochemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Transfusion Science, Histology, and Phlebotomy), Cytotechnology, and Clinical Genetics Technology (which includes Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics).

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is the national certifying body and professional association for medical laboratory technologists in Canada. The CSMLS promotes and maintains the national standards of medical laboratory technology. It assesses the education, experience, and clinical practice of applicants for registration with CMLTO who have been educated outside of Canada. The assessment also includes continuing education and professional development taken by the applicant.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IN ONTARIO

In order to register as an MLT in Ontario, you must:

Satisfy one of the following educational and training requirements:

• 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.

For information on registration regulations, see the Government Policy page on the CMLTO site.

For details on the actual registration steps, see Steps to Registration.

Before you immigrate to Canada

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada and work as an MLT in Ontario, inform yourself about the profession by visiting the websites listed in the Contact Information section later in this document. The CSMLS has an Information Handbook available at: www.csmls.org/english/pre_assessment.htm

It is possible to begin the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process before you immigrate to Canada. However, you cannot write the CSMLS National Certification Examination outside of Canada. Effective with the June 2007 examination session, non-residents of Canada will be permitted access to the certification examinations in Canada providing certain requirements are met.  These requirements are:

• equivalent PLA report with the CSMLS;
• valid PLA report with the CSMLS;
• candidate adheres to all examination deadlines and fees;
• valid travel documents officially notarized, received by the CMLS no less than 4 weeks prior to examination date.