Return to Practice Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Technologists
October 2004
Amended June 2006
Developed by the NSCMLT Credentials Committee, approved by NSCMLT Board of Directors. This policy pertains to certified Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) who are not currently employed as a Medical Laboratory Technologist in Nova Scotia and wish to obtain a Practicing License.
If cases arise which do not fall within the scope of this policy, the Credentials Committee will review each case on an individual basis and render a decision on the requirements for returning to practice. This decision will then be used as a guideline for future cases of a similar nature.
Definitions
Direct Supervision: The supervising MLT continually monitors the performance of the person being supervised. The supervising MLT is always readily accessible on site in case of difficulty or needed intervention. The supervising MLT will use continuous observation until an assessment about competence is made.
Supervisor / Supervising MLT: a practising member of the NSCMLT.
Temporary License: issued to an individual for a specified period of time allowing that individual to work as a MLT under direct supervision. A Temporary License may be issued for a period of up to one year.
Temporary Restricted License: issued to an individual for a specified period of time allowing that individual to work as a MLT under direct supervision in a specific discipline. A MLT working with a Temporary Restricted License must complete the required number of supervised practice hours in each discipline in order to obtain a Full-Unrestricted License.
Full-Unrestricted License (Practicing License): issued to an individual for the current licensing year which allows the individual to practice without direct supervision in any discipline for which they are qualified.
Approved: refers to approval by the NSCMLT Credentials Committee.
Return to Practice for a Medical Laboratory Technologist not Currently Practising: refers to a MLT who has not engaged in the practice of Medical Laboratory Technology in more than one year (e.g. one year plus a day) and does not hold a practising position in Nova Scotia.
Timeframe I
5 years or less
I. General MLTs, Diagnostic Cytology MLTs, Clinical Genetics MLTs who have practiced within the previous 5 years must obtain a teKnowledge.ns certificate before a Practicing License can be issued.
Timeframe II
5-10 years
II. General MLTs, Diagnostic Cytology MLTs, Clinical Genetics MLTs who have not practiced in more than 5 years, but less than 10 years must successfully fulfill one of the following requirements before a Practicing License can be issued:
General MLTs:
Option#1: a) Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in one of the five disciplines, in consultation with and as recommended by the Credentials Committee. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary Restricted License in that discipline. The applicant must then complete 500 hours of supervised practice in the area refreshed prior to being issued a Practicing License in that discipline.
Option#2: b) Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in two or more of the five disciplines, in consultation with and as recommended by the Credentials Committee. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary Restricted License in the disciplines refreshed. The applicant must then complete a total of 650 hours of supervised practice prior to being issued a Practising License in the disciplines refreshed. (all areas refreshed and practiced in by the MLT may count towards the 650 supervised practice hours. If the MLT refreshes in one area and then returns to practice and continues to refresh in additional areas then they will fall under option 2b)
Option#3: General certification clinical assessment(s) may be administered by the clinical lab in which the applicant will practice. Based on the assessment, the applicant may have to complete updating courses as recommended by the Credentials Committee. If one general certification clinical assessment is to be completed then the applicant will receive a Temporary Licence and must complete the clinical assessment and 500 hours of supervised practice prior to being issued a Practising License in the discipline refreshed. If two or more general certification clinical assessments are to be completed then the applicant must complete the specific clinical assessments and a total of 650 hours of supervised practice prior to being issued a Practising License in these specific disciplines. For more information on this and the process involved, please refer to General Certification Assessment(s) icon under Polices.
Cytology MLTs:
Option#1: Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in Diagnostic Cytology. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary License in that discipline. The applicant must then complete 500 hours of supervised practice.
Option#2: A clinical assessment, to be developed by the Credentials Committee at a future date, may be administered by the clinical lab in which the applicant is practicing. Based on the assessment, the applicant may have to complete updating courses, as recommended by the Credentials Committee. The applicant will receive a Temporary License and must complete 500 hours of supervised practice.
Clinical Genetics MLTs:
Option#1: Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in Clinical Genetics. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary License in that discipline. The Applicant must then complete 500 hours of supervised practice.
Option#2: A clinical assessment, to be developed by the Credentials Committee at a future date, may be administered by the clinical lab in which the applicant is practicing. Based on the assessment, the applicant may have to complete some updating courses, as recommended by the Credentials Committee. The applicant will receive a Temporary License and must complete 500 hours of supervised practice.
While working on a Temporary Restricted License, the candidate may increase their scope of practice by completing additional approved updating courses. The candidate’s Restricted License will be expanded to include practice in additional disciplines as additional courses are completed. The candidate must complete the required supervised practice hours in each discipline in which they wish to obtain a Practicing License.
Timeframe III
10 years or more
III. General MLTs, Diagnostic Cytology MLTs, Clinical Genetics MLTs who have not practiced in 10 years or more must fulfill one of the following requirements before a Practicing License can be issued:
General MLTs:
Option#1: Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses in all general disciplines. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary License. The applicant must then complete 800 hours of supervised practice and complete all of the general certification clinical assessments prior to being issued a Practising Licence. For more information on this and the process involved, please refer to General Certification Assessment(s) icon under Polices.
Option#2: a) Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in one of the five disciplines, in consultation with and as recommended by the Credentials Committee. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary Restricted License in that discipline. The applicant must then complete the specific general clinical assessment and 800 hours of supervised practice in the area refreshed prior to being issued a Practicing License in that discipline.
b) Before returning to practice, complete an approved updating course in two or more of the five disciplines, in consultation with and as recommended by the Credentials Committee. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary Restricted License in the disciplines refreshed. The applicant must then complete the specific general certification clinical assessments and a total of 1200 hours of supervised practice prior to being issued a Practising License in the disciplines refreshed. (all areas refreshed in and clinical assessments completed in may count towards the 1200 supervised practice hours. If the MLT refreshes in one area and then returns to practice and continues to refresh in additional areas then they will fall under option 2b)
Option#3: Successfully complete an approved General “MLT” training program.
Diagnostic Cytology MLTs:
Option#1: Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses in all areas of Diagnostic Cytology. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a Temporary License. The applicant must then complete 800 hours of supervised practice.
Option#2: Successfully complete an approved “Diagnostic Cytology” Training Program.
Clinical Genetics MLTs
Option#1: Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses in all areas of Clinical Genetics. Upon returning to practice the applicant will receive a Temporary License. The Applicant must then complete 800 hours of supervised practice.
Option#2: Successfully complete an approved “Clinical Genetics” Training Program.
While working on a Temporary Restricted License, the candidate may increase their scope of practice by completing additional approved updating courses. The candidate’s Restricted License will be expanded to include practice in additional disciplines as additional courses are completed. The candidate must complete the required supervised practice hours in each discipline in which they wish to obtain a Practicing License.
Appendix A
Approved Refresher Courses:
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Medical Laboratory Science – Professional Qualifying Program
School of Health Sciences, Certificate of Technology, Full Time
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
Bridging Program for Medical Laboratory Technology
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Analytical Techniques 5 L & T, Course Code: MLS15
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Analytical Techniques 1 Theory, Course Code: MLS09
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Instrumentation Theory, Course code MLS06
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Basic Laboratory Techniques, Course Code MLS05
Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences
Refresher courses offered by distance in Cytology, Genetics, and all General disciplines
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Refresher courses offered by distance in all general disciplines
CSMLS Distance Education Courses
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CSMLS Mode Modules
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Distance Education
Colorado Association for Continuing Medical Laboratory Education
Refresher courses offered by distance in all general disciplines
If there is a refresher course you know of that is not on this list please bring it to the attention of a member of the NSCMLT Credentials Committee.
If you are interested in taking a refresher course not on this list and wish to have it count toward Return to Practice requirements, you must have it approved by the NSCMLT Credentials Committee prior to enrollment.