Pathway for Licensure for MLTs from New Zealand and Australia

MLT Profesional rev

If you are an internationally educated medical laboratory technologist who wants to practice in Nova Scotia, there are three important steps:

  • You must be eligible for immigration to Canada
  • You need to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA) through the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Sciences (CSMLS) and successfully pass the national certification exam.
  • You must register with the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT) to be licensed.

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Steps

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Step 1
Are you eligible to immigrate to Nova Scotia?

To work as an MLT in Nova Scotia you must be eligible for immigration to Canada. Please visit these two valuable sites for more information on immigrating to Nova Scotia:

Step 2
Self Assessment

Before you apply to the NSCMLT, you need to determine if your education and experience matches the requirements to be a licensed medical laboratory technologist in Nova Scotia. As part of your registration you must write the National Certification Examinations. There are two ways you can be eligible to write the exam:

1. You are a graduate of an accredited MLT educational program. You must complete all diploma requirements before the exam.

OR

2. You have equivalent status through the CSMLS' prior learning assessment. Please click here to review the CSMLS self-assessment guide to find out about your eligibility.

Step 3
Get your Professional Credentials Checked

Before taking the CSMLS Prior Learning Assessment, you must first have your professional credentials checked by World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Evaluation Services. WES or International Credential Evaluation Services Credential Evaluation Package will sends confirmed copies of your transcripts to CSMLS. For more information visit:

Step 4
Complete the CSMLS Prior Learning Assessment

The CSMLS Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) evaluates your academic credentials, practical learning, professional development and work history to find out if you meet the Canadian national standards for an MLT.

All the information you need to complete the Prior Learning Assessment can be found on the CSMLS website.

On the website you will find:

  • Prior Learning Assessment handbook and application
  • Competency profiles - personal competency rating booklet for general laboratory technologist, diagnostic cytology medical laboratory technologists, and clinical genetics medical laboratory technologists.
  • Comprehensive resource guide and online self-assessment tool
  • Certification exam information and resource.

 There are four types of PLA results:

  1. You meet the requirements and are eligible to write the certification exam.
  2. You meet most of requirements but there is a deficiency in your education or experience. CSMLS may be able to help you find ways to fulfill that deficiency so that you can then write the certification exam. Please see section below "Fulfilling My Education Deficiency Through a Bridging Program ".
  3. You do not meet the requirements to be a registered medical laboratory technologist in Canada. You may receive information about other possible employment.
  4. Apply to the Nova Scotia Community College for the MLT program
Step 5
Write the MLT Certification Exam

Now that you have all the requirements of the PLA, you are eligible to write the certification exam. If you pass this exam you can then apply for a license as an MLT in Nova Scotia.

The MLT exams questions are multiple choice. The diagnostic cytology and clinical genetics exams also include questions linked to images.

All MLT candidates are required to read and complete the Exam Handbook and Application

More information on exam dates and deadlines can be found on the CSMLS Exam Information page.

IMPORTANT: Once you are eligible to write the MLT exam you must write it within two years. You are allowed three consecutive attempts at passing the exam before you will be required to complete extra education

Step 6
Obtain Professional Liability Insurance

Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) are required to have professional liability insurance in Nova Scotia. To clarify, this insurance is indeed mandatory, as outlined in the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT) Regulations 20(1). The purpose of this insurance is to protect MLTs from claims of negligence, errors, or omissions that may occur during the course of their professional work.

Steps to Obtain Professional Liability Insurance (PLI):

  1. Choose an Insurance Provider: You can select a provider of your choice. Alternative providers are the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS), and Harvard Western Insurance.
  2. Review the Coverage Requirements: Be sure that the policy meets the requirements set by the NSCMLT. It should cover the types of professional activities you're engaged in as an MLT in Nova Scotia and $2,000,000 liability.
  3. Obtain Proof of Insurance: Once you've purchased your policy, you need to submit proof of your coverage to NSCMLT as part of your registration or licensing process.
  4. Maintain Coverage: You are required to keep your professional liability insurance active while working as an MLT in Nova Scotia.
Step 7
Register with the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT)

Registration

If you have passed your MLT certification exam you can now apply for full registration with the NSCMLT to work in Nova Scotia as an MLT. If you have applied to write the MLT certification exam and you either haven't yet written the exam, or are working on a skills deficiency education program outlined by your PLA or you are waiting for your exam results, you can apply to NSCMLT for temporary restricted license.

English Translations

All forms and documents you send us must be in English. If your original documents are not in English, you need to send notarized English translations of the original documents. This means your documents are translated by a certified translator and must be witnessed by a notary public who is a public official authorized to witness signatures and take oaths.

Application on file for one year

NSCMLT will keep your incomplete application for registration on file for one year.

PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to sign a declaration that you have not been found guilty of a criminal offence. (NSCMLT Criminal Convictions Policy)

Full Registration

You will need to send in the following:

  1. A complete NSCMLT Initial Application Form with applicable fees. Click below:
    Form
    Fees
  2. An official sealed copy of your PLA report by mail.
  3. All documents as outlined in the initial application.

Temporary Registration

If you are preparing to write the MLT certification exam, waiting for the results of the exam, or in skills completion program to fulfil the deficiencies that have been outlined in your prior learning assessment, you can get a temporary registration to practice in Nova Scotia as an MLT, with restrictions.

Requirements for Temporary Registration:

  1. You must be either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or have authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
  2. You must have a Prior Learning Assessment by CSMLS.
  3. You must be eligible to write the MLT certification exam or in skills completion program to fulfill the deficiencies that have been outlined in your prior learning assessment.

Conditions for a NSCMLT Temporary Restricted License to Practice:

  1. You complete a PLA but do not have the complete skill sets in all disciplines required to get a license. You can apply for a temporary restricted license in a discipline in which you have met the Canadian skill sets through the PLA. You can practice as an MLT in that specific discipline under direct supervision of an MLT with an active license to practice in NS.
  2. You must be enrolled in a skills completion program related to your prior learning assessment while working.
  3. A temporary license to practice is valid for one year or your first attempt at writing the MLT certification exam.
  4. If you do not pass the MLT certification exam after your second attempt, your temporary license will be revoked. You cannot practice as an MLT until you have passed the exam. Please see NSCMLT policy REG.010 - Provisional license - Internationally educated MLT.
  5. You must upgrade from a temporary to an active license to practice before working as an MLT without direct supervision.
  6. Please visit our website for full information on a temporary restricted license.
  7. If you have previously written the MLT certification exam and were successful then you are not eligible for a temporary restricted license.

OR

If you have completed the PLA and are waiting to write the MLT certification exam or waiting for your exam results you may apply for a temporary license. Please submit the following documents with your initial application form:

Documents Required for Temporary License to Practice:

  1. A current and complete NSCMLT Initial Application form and applicable fees.
  2. An official sealed copy of your PLA report from CSMLS by mail.
  3. A copy of a CSMLS letter that says you are eligible to write the MLT certification exam.
  4. A letter from an employer on hospital letterhead on their intent to hire you as an MLT along with the job description.
  5. All documents as outlined on the initial application.
Step 8
Pay the fees

For a complete list of fees visit our website NSCMLT  

Pro-rated fees apply for first time NSCMLT applicant only who are applying for a Practicing membership license.

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