Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists

TeKnowledge.ns
- Application and Credit Chart located at the bottom of this page along with teK FAQ's
- Information on MediaLab Inc. located at the bottom of this page
 

Program Description
Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) are highly trained and skilled professionals who are an integral part of the health care community.  Lifelong learning is essential to keep this expertise in the rapidly changing technical laboratory environment.  The NSCMLT Standards of Practice, endorsed by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS), states that MLTs "demonstrate, maintain, and improve (our) knowledge and skills at an appropriate level while remaining current with scientific advances."

The purpose of TeKnowledge is to provide NSCMLT members with recognition and documentation of achieving sufficient professional development to be eligible for licensing.

The program is designed to:

• Assist members with participation in ongoing PD activities

• Assist members in obtaining PD credits for their PD activities

• Assist members in accessing and identifying local PD opportunities

• Assist members in documenting PD activities

TeKnowledge Credits

To renew a license on an annual basis the MLT must have a valid and current TeKnowledge certificate.  Each certificate will expire in 4 years.  It is possible however to obtain a certificate before the expiry date issued.

Each NSCMLT applicant requires 8 credits.  A maximum of 4 work credits can be submitted and a minimum of 4 education credits can be submitted.

Work credits – Maximum 4 credits

For every 500 hours worked the applicant will have accumulated 1 work credit.  These work credits can be earned over the past 4 years from the date of filing the application.

Professional Development Credits - Categories 1,2,3 – Minimum 4 credits

The minimum amount of education credits required is 4.  More than this amount can be submitted. Credits are typically assigned on the basis of 0.1 credit/ hour of activity.  For example every hour in attendance at a workshop seminar, lecture etc. the applicant will earn 0.1 credit and for each 1 day (7.5 hours) seminar the applicant may submit 0.75 credits.

Maximum credit categories

There are some activities that are assigned a maximum credit value/ year or / audit cycle regardless of how many hours are spent on the activity.  These activities may happen during work time (already get 4.0 credits) and may be a part of the job requirement or considered to be important to the development of laboratory professionals but not deemed to be significant to the upgrading knowledge and skills in Medical Technology.  These activities are being accepted to recognize the importance of new learning and updating knowledge. These maximum credit values are indicated in the credit value chart.

Categories of Professional Development:

Category 1 – Professional Activities

Activities that promote enhance and deliver learning to self and others

Category 2 – Non laboratory related – Transferable skills

Workshops, courses, training in other non-lab specific subject matter

Category 3 – Lab Related Professional Learning

Professional learning consists of formally planned Courses, workshops and conferences related to Medical Laboratory Science. Credit values are assigned based on hours of the program as indicated by the course description or CSMLS PEP criteria. Courses that do not have a CSMLS designation shall be submitted with the course description hours.

To support continuously updating knowledge and skills, NSCMLT members are encouraged to obtain the majority of credits in Category 1 and 3, the Professional activities and the Lab Related Professional Learning categories.

Completing the TeKnowledge Application

All NSCMLT applicants must use the forms provided for application. You may attach log sheets or additional forms to the application if there is insufficient space to record all of your information.

Completing Member Information

The member information section must be completely filled in. It is very important to print clearly and include an email address and a phone number.

Claiming Credits

All professional development activities to be considered for credit shall:

• Be listed on the application in the appropriate section

• Include the title or name of the activity

• Include the name of instructor/ presenter

• Include the date of the activity (40 hours of training is not sufficient)

• Include what you are keeping for documentation (certificate, log sheet, Proof of attendance)

• Include the # of hours of activity (most events have a standard # of hours on certificates)

• Include the number of credits you are claiming

• Total the # of credits being claimed

Any activity or reading material documented on the application must be itemized.  Activities that are not itemized or do not contain the required information shall not be included in the calculation of credits and may result in the Teknowledge application being rejected.

Unacceptable example: Applicants who submit “CSMLS journal articles x 10”

Maintaining Documentation and Audit of Activities

Documentation and proof of activity is required for all professional development activities. Appropriate documentation includes:

• Certificates

• Diplomas

• Copy of paid registration,

• Log sheets of seminars attended with the dates and instructor names

• Front page of power point (must be dated with a title and presenter)

• Other forms of documentation may be acceptable and should be approved by the Professional Development Director.

You are not required to send all the documentation with your TeKnowledge application. Random audits will be performed each year. Once you are identified for an audit you will have 1 month to produce the documentation for review. It will be returned to you within 2 months of receipt. Documentation and a copy of the application should be kept for 4 years in the event of an internal audit. A copy of the application should be kept by the member in case the initial application is lost or does not reach the NSCMLT office.

Signature

Once the official application is completed with your signature, it becomes a legal document.

The TeKnowledge certificate must be renewed BEFORE the expiry date listed on the current certificate. Applications for a renewed TeKnowledge certificate should be submitted to the NSCMLT office no later than the 1^st day of the month in which the TeKnowledge certificate expires.

Failure to renew a TeKnowledge certificate will result in suspension of a member’s license as described in section 16 (1) to (3) of the Medical Laboratory Technologists Registration Regulations.

Online Learning:  MediaLab Inc.

MediaLab Inc. allows users to sign up for as many as 52 different laboratory related courses in aspects of all MLT disciplines.  The module is extremely user-friendly and offers a printable CE certificate upon successful completion of each course.  There is even an option to build courses, an aspect that we will be looking into using in the future!

There were 250 seats purchased and those who attended the NSCMLT AGM in June 2009 were offered the option to be among the first to register.  The remaining seats are available now and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.  As long as the seats are utilized and the technologists provide favourable feedback, there will be seats purchased each year.  Members who do not receive a seat this year will be given first priority next year.  Every hour of a course is equal to 0.1 TeKnowledge credit and there is no limit to the amount of credits a member can earn using MediaLab, Inc.

A complete list of courses can be found at www.medialabinc.net and please do not hesitate to contact the site administrators, Norma MacDonald and Ryan Fraser, at medialabquestions@hotmail.com with any questions.

To request a seat, please contact the NSCMLT Office with your name, email, and phone number.