MLT Education and Certification Exam

Applicants must provide documents showing they have met two very important registration requirements, which include the successful completion of an accredited MLT program or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and that they passed a certification exam. Applicants achieve this through various means depending on where their initial MLT education and experience occurred.

I graduated from an accredited MLT program

The CMLTO recognizes that graduates from a Health Standards Organization (HSO) or EQual Program accredited programs are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skill, and judgment to work in the profession. An accredited program means they have demonstrated compliance with specific standards necessary for ensuring graduates have quality, competency-based education.    

If you are looking to enroll in a Canadian MLT program, please visit the Accreditation Canada website to view the current listings of accredited Medical Laboratory Technology programs by province.

I graduated from an international MLT program

If you completed your MLT education outside of Canada, your education must be assessed for equivalency to the Canadian MLT education. This process is achieved through the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) evaluation process called a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). 

A PLA involves the collection and assessment of your MLT education and experience. An equivalent PLA will enable you to write the MLT certification exam (where available). Please contact the CSMLS for more information about the PLA process.

Toll-free: 1-800-263-8277

Email: info@csmls.org

CSMLS website: CSMLS Prior-Learning-Assessment

Challenging the MLT Certification Exam

Successful completion of a certification examination is a legislated registration requirement. The MLT certification exams are administered by the CSMLS. The exams are: 

  • General Medical Laboratory Technology which assesses Biochemistry, Hematology, Histology, Microbiology, Phlebotomy and Transfusion Science  
  • Diagnostic Cytology which assesses Cytology and Histology
  • Clinical Genetic Technology which assesses Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics

Please contact the CSMLS for information and resources regarding their certification exams including eligibility criteria, application dates, fees, and process.