The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) has announced that it is reactivating national certification for medical laboratory assistants.
CSMLS has been the national certifying body for medical laboratory technologists since 1937. National certification for medical laboratory assistants was available until 1984 when it was discontinued for several reasons including lack of demand and concerns about scope of practice. Since that time, changes in professional practice and advances in technology and health care reform have led to increased use of medical laboratory assistants.
A Medical laboratory assistants perform important functions in laboratories across the country,” says CSMLS President Tom Stowe. “The CSMLS certification process provides a set of national standards to guide their professional practice, and lays the foundation for a professional culture that promotes pride, excellence and recognition. We believe that this improves the quality of medical laboratory services and ultimately, enhances patient care.”
The examination is based upon national competency and essential skills profiles; both are available on the CSMLS web site, www.csmls.org (click on certification). Examination questions were developed by the Laboratory Assistant Examination Panel under the auspices of the Council on National Certification. The panel is composed of both medical laboratory technologists and medical laboratory assistants.
Eligibility to the examination is open to medical laboratory assistants who have either graduated from an educational institution or hospital-based program, as well as current practitioners who can apply with supporting documentation. The certification examination will be offered on June 24, 2003. The deadline for examination applications is March 15.
CSMLS is committed to strengthening Canada’s health care system by developing and promoting national standards of excellence in the practice of medical laboratory science.