English: Mohawk College, Hamilton, Canada. Fennell campus. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
If you've just immigrated to Canada, and you're a trained medical laboratory technologist or technician with qualifications from your home country... you're probably having a hard time finding a job in your field.
There are resources across the country that can help you with that. Canada needs more people with your skills and accomplishments. So here are some resources, courses, and programs to help get you back to the lab! You’ll want to look at the All of Canada section first. And please note that Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon are not listed because there are no special resources specific to those territories.
All of Canada:
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) has a certification process in place for internationally-trained General Medical Laboratory Technologists, Clinical Genetics Technologists (cytogenetics and molecular genetics), and Diagnostic Cytology Technologists (gynaecological and non-gynaecological analysis), in English and French. They'll prepare you for the Prior Learning Assessment Process. From there they determine whether you'll need a Learning Plan for further education, or if you can just write the exams to qualify as a Medical Laboratory Technologist certified to work in Canada.
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) has a webpage of information for internationally-trained medical laboratory technologists, including information on qualifications assessment, regulatory bodies, and other information specific to each province.
The Government of Canada provides a website showing how to become qualified and find work as a medical laboratory technologist in Canada.
Ontario:
The Ontario Society of Medical Technologists (OSMT) provides a refresher-course packet, including practice exams, which students review at their own pace, in preparation for the OSMT (Technician) qualifying examinations.
Mohawk College offers bridging programs for internationally-educated medical laboratory technologists who want to continue their work, with financial help offered by the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program. The Mohawk bridging program also includes sector-specific language courses, and preparation for the CSMLS (Technologist) exam.
The Michener Institute offers bridging programs for internationally-educated medical laboratory technologists and radiologists, with financial help offered by the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program.
Health Training Online offers a program involving study, review questions, and mock exams to prepare you to write the OSMT (Technician) certification examinations.
Algonquin Career Academy has an OSMT (Technician) exam preparation course with topic reviews and mock exams.
Medix Online provides an online OSMT (Technician) exam review program, with pre-tests for all topics and mock exams, and access online to instructors when you have questions.
The Robetech Institute provides review courses for the OSMT (Technician) and CSMLS (Technologist) exams, with flexible class scheduling and hands-on practice.
Manitoba:
The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba (CMLTM) will execute a Prior Learning Assessment and help you get your credentials evaluated, to determine whether or not you'll need any learning or preparation before writing the CSMLS qualifying exams. The Internationally Educated Applicants page is dedicated to helping Internationally Educated MLTs pass the qualifying exams.
The Manitoba Association for Medical Laboratory Science (MAMLS) is a professional body affiliated with the CSMLS.
Saskatchewan:
The Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (SSMLT) will guide you through the Prior Learning Assessment process, determine whether you need further training, and help you arrange to write the CSMLS qualifying exam.
Saskatchewan Immigration outlines the steps for becoming qualified in the province.
Alberta:
The Government of Alberta provides information for internationally educated medical laboratory technologists.
http://acmlt.org/The Alberta College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (ACMLT) is the regulatory body for the profession in Alberta, and you must be registered with them in order to work in the province.
Directions for Immigrants has more information about the process of preparing to work in the field in Canada.
British Columbia:
The British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS) is the professional association for medical laboratory technologists in BC.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) offers a Medical Laboratory Science Professional Qualifying Program for internationally-trained medical laboratory technologists.
The Skilled Immigrant Infocentre has a guide to working in the medical laboratory technologists and assistants field.
New Brunswick:
The New Brunswick Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NBSMLT) is currently developing a bridging program, in English and French, for internationally-educated medical laboratory technologists.
The Government of New Brunswick has helpful information about getting your credentials recognized and working in the field.
Prince Edward Island:
http://www.peismt.org/The Prince Edward Island Society of Medical Technologists (PEISMT) is an association for the profession in PEI.
Nova Scotia:
The Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT) is the regulatory body for the profession in the province, and has an informative webpage for internationally-trained medical laboratory technologists wishing to work in Nova Scotia.
Newfoundland and Labrador:
The Newfoundland and Labrador Society for Medical Laboratory Science (NLSMLS) is a professional association for medical laboratory technologists in the province.
Québec:
Immigration-Québec has a webpage for internationally-trained medical laboratory technologists who want to work in the province.
The Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec is the professional association for medical laboratory technologists in the province.