Database of Health Workforce Innovations
96
Speed up licensing for new Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs)
With a surge in the number of Canadians being tested for COVID-19 in recent weeks, medical labs are finding
it difficult to keep up with the growing demand. As a result of the pandemic, labs are being asked to handle
more than 50,000 COVID-19 tests in a short amount of time, with numbers increasing every day. Typically,
these labs handle around 440 million tests a year outside of COVID-19.
it difficult to keep up with the growing demand. As a result of the pandemic, labs are being asked to handle
more than 50,000 COVID-19 tests in a short amount of time, with numbers increasing every day. Typically,
these labs handle around 440 million tests a year outside of COVID-19.
In an effort to ramp up testing capacity, the medical laboratory science community is making changes to
speed up licensing for new Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and for labs to perform testing.
1) The Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is currently preparing national certification
exam results and attempting to release these sooner than usual, allowing more newly certified MLTs to enter
the workforce. All Medical Laboratory Science students at the Michener Institute of Education at UHN
completed their program this past February and are now on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.
2) The decision to bring in retired MLTs to assist with patient care is left up to individual workplaces. The
regulating body for Ontario – the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario – does have
processes in place for emergencies, and regulators across Canada are looking at their registration processes
with the lens of accelerating licensure.
3) Health Canada is approving new methods and instruments for COVID-19 testing. University and private labs
must now verify whether they are capable of performing the tests. If so, validation studies will be completed
and a license to do the test for the Ministry of Health will be approved, the process for which has been
expedited.
speed up licensing for new Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and for labs to perform testing.
1) The Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is currently preparing national certification
exam results and attempting to release these sooner than usual, allowing more newly certified MLTs to enter
the workforce. All Medical Laboratory Science students at the Michener Institute of Education at UHN
completed their program this past February and are now on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.
2) The decision to bring in retired MLTs to assist with patient care is left up to individual workplaces. The
regulating body for Ontario – the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario – does have
processes in place for emergencies, and regulators across Canada are looking at their registration processes
with the lens of accelerating licensure.
3) Health Canada is approving new methods and instruments for COVID-19 testing. University and private labs
must now verify whether they are capable of performing the tests. If so, validation studies will be completed
and a license to do the test for the Ministry of Health will be approved, the process for which has been
expedited.
- Return of retirees
- Fast-track trainees
- Licensure flexibility
- Other
- Expanded roles
- Medical Laboratory Technologists
- Students
- Diagnostic Services
Research Intervention - outcome data available
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The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
(416) 596-3101
Canada - Ontario
Canada