One of CSMLS’ major functions is to help set qualification standards in medical laboratory science. To achieve this, we conduct the CSMLS National Certification Examinations (Exam) across Canada and issue certificates to candidates who meet the prescribed standard.

CSMLS Certification is offered in general medical laboratory technology, diagnostic cytology, clinical genetics, and for medical laboratory assistants.

Certification is formal recognition by CSMLS that an individual has proficiency within, and a comprehension of, a specified body of knowledge. CSMLS Certification is peer recognized, and it is accepted anywhere in Canada.

Certification is a mark of excellence. As a career investment, certification demonstrates that the certified individual has the knowledge to practice safely and competently.

It is the entry-level requirement for medical laboratory technologists in all of the regulated provinces (AB, SK, NL, MB, ON, NB and NS) with the exception of Quebec for registration.

Most employers in the unregulated provinces and territories (BC, PEI, NU, NT, YT) require CSMLS Certification for medical laboratory technologists.

Until recently, CSMLS medical laboratory assistant Certification was not mandatory in any province or territory. Currently, it is now a requirement of many employers in NL, NS and NB, and is gaining recognition across Canada.

When Competency Profiles are updated, they are published with the date that the new content will be added to the exams. Exam candidates are expected to know this new content.

In regulated provinces, the MLT designation can only be granted by the provincial medical laboratory regulator. Contact the regulator in the province that you reside in for more details.

An EQual™ Accredited Canadian Medical Laboratory Educational Program is one that has achieved Health Education Accreditation by Accreditation Canada.

Accreditation provides educational facilities an independent, third-party assessment of their organization using standards built upon best practices used and validated by similar organizations around the world.

Students who successfully complete a medical laboratory program listed on the Accreditation Canada website with “Accredited”, “Accredited with Condition”, or “Registered” status,are eligible to challenge the associated CSMLS certification exam.

Candidates have three (3) attempts at the Exam. The first Exam cycle allows two (2) attempts to challenge the Exam. After two (2) unsuccessful attempts, the Exam candidate enters the second Exam cycle where they must re-establish their eligibility to take the Exam. An Exam candidate must successfully complete a Learning Plan before they will be allowed to challenge their third and final Exam attempt.

Candidates cannot exceed three (3) Exam attempts. If a candidate is unsuccessful in their third Exam attempt, they are no longer eligible to take the Exam.

Certification by CSMLS is formal recognition that an individual has proficiency within, and a comprehension of, a specified body of knowledge. CSMLS certification is peer recognized, and it is accepted anywhere in Canada. It is the entry-level requirement for medical laboratory technologists in all of the regulated provinces (AB, SK, NL, MB, ON, NB and NS) with the exception of Quebec for licensure.

Most employers in the unregulated provinces and territories (BC, PEI, NU, NT, YT) require CSMLS certification for medical laboratory technologists.

A graduate of non-accredited program must first complete a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to determine eligibility to the CSMLS certification exam.The PLA will determine if they are eligible to challenge the Exam based on their education, clinical training, and experience.If eligibility is granted through the PLA process, then that individual can challenge the CSMLS certification exam.

The PLA process is intended for:

• those have graduated from a Canadian program that has not been EQual^TM accredited; or
• graduates of a Canadian training program completed more than twelve (12) months prior to the Exam date, never having registered for an Exam; or
• Internationally Educated Medical Laboratory Technologists (IEMLT); or
• those currently working as a non-CSMLS certified MLA in Canada.

Candidates wishing to apply for a PLA should read the PLA Handbook for the steps to follow; the application form is included there. See https://www.csmls.org/Certification/Prior-Learning-Assessment/Types-of-PLA.aspx for more information.

If a graduate has completed their Medical Laboratory program more than twelve (12) months ago, then they are not eligible to apply for or challenge the Exam. They will need to apply for a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) first.

Candidates wishing to apply for a PLA should read the PLA Handbook for the steps to follow; the application form is included there. See https://www.csmls.org/Certification/Prior-Learning-Assessment/Types-of-PLA.aspx for more information.

If a candidate is not successful on their first Exam attempt they are allowed to write the Exam a second time within their eligibility time frame (see ‘Exam Attempt Policy’ section). If a candidate does not apply for their second attempt within this time frame, they will have forfeited their second Exam attempt and it will be considered a fail.

Candidates are directly responsible for registering themselves on time. Registration can be completed online, or by submitting a paper application including payment by email to exam@csmls.org, by fax or by mail. It is recommended that candidate pay for expedited service with tracking when sending applications by mail.

After two (2) unsuccessful attempts (whether attended or not) the candidate is placed into the Second Exam Cycle. They must re-establish eligibility by successfully completing a Learning Plan, in order to write a third and final Exam attempt.

Mailing / Courier Address:

Attention: Certification Department

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science

33 Wellington St. North, Hamilton, ON L8R1M7

The easiest way to apply for the certification exam is to apply directly online when the exam session opens.Go to www.csmls.org and log in using your identification number and password, or create a new account following the outlined steps. Once you are logged in, under the “Certification” tab, select “Registration”, then click on “Register Now”. Select the exam you wish to write and complete the online application.

Candidates can also apply for the exam by completing a paper application. This application can be emailed or faxed directly to us or sent by post. The paper application can be downloaded from our website www.csmls.org. Under the “Certification” tab, select “Exam Handbook”, then click on “Exam Forms” and then click on “Certification Examination Application”.

After a candidate applies for a certification exam, they will receive a confirmation email with instructions on when and how to schedule for a seat at their preferred location and time.

Note: Eligibility to schedule an exam/test location will not be available until four (4) days after payment has been processed.

Follow the instructions in your confirmation email.

Note: Candidates must wait a minimum of 24 hours after receiving the CSMLS registration confirmation email to schedule their exam seat at a Prometric test location (in-person or remotely proctored). Candidates registering on a weekend may have to wait until the following Tuesday to allow for fee processing.

Upcoming exam dates can be found on our website at:
https://www.csmls.org/Certification/Certification-Exam/Dates-and-Fees.aspx

Candidates can find the test centres that are available for their exam at https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/search/csmls, under “Locate”. Be sure to only select the date that the exam is scheduled on when searching for locations.

Not all sites are open for each exam session and are subject to change without notice.

Candidates will receive a confirmation email after they apply for the exam. If it is determined that a candidate does not qualify for the exam, they will receive an email.

Candidates requiring an accommodation should review the Exam Handbook and Accommodations FAQs for more information.

Candidates will receive a confirmation email that includes the following information and link to help with exam site selection:

Please click the link below to schedule your test/exam location

• https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/search/csmls
• Select SCHEDULE
• Read the information review – select next
• Read the Privacy Policy Review – once complete select next
• Under Eligibility information enter your Eligibility ID which is your CSMLS ID number (indicated at the top of this email)
• If your last name is less than 4 characters, use the space bar as characters

Note: Candidates must wait a minimum of 24 hours after receiving the CSMLS registration confirmation email to schedule their exam seat at a Prometric test location (in-person or remotely proctored). Candidates registering on a weekend may have to wait until the following Tuesday to allow for fee processing.

Candidates can reschedule the time or location of their exam within the same exam session using the Prometric website. The ability to change locations and/or times will be dependant on the availability of testing seats and additional fees may apply (see https://csmls.org/Certification/Certification-Exam/Dates-and-Fees.aspx).

Candidates wishing to change to an entirely different Exam session must contact exam@csmls.org as soon as possible. Additional fees may apply.

CSMLS is committed to ensuring that each candidate has a fair opportunity to test. Every reasonable effort has been made to provide each candidate with a testing seat in Canada within 150 kilometers of the location at which their accredited education program was delivered within 3 months post program completion. Educators can help with this process by informing CSMLS of any program enrollment changes.

Prometric guarantees the availability of reserved seats up to 30 days prior to the exam date. There are limited seat numbers at each exam site and an exam candidate can choose any site that is available. That is why it is recommended that you apply when the exam session opens, and select your preferred site as soon as you are eligible to do so to avoid disappointment.

Exam candidates experiencing any difficulty scheduling their seat online should contact Prometric directly at 1-888-763-0132.

CSMLS encourages all applicants to schedule their exams as soon as possible once eligible to do so, to ensure their preferred times and locations. If the closest Prometric facility doesn’t have any open seats, an exam candidate may need to travel to another Prometric center farther away from the preferred location.

The CSMLS is a non-profit organization. The money we need to administer the certification exams comes from the exam fees you pay.

CSMLS works hard to keep our exam fees low but as our costs increase we must increase exam fees accordingly.

Exam fees cover many different kinds of expenses:

• Direct costs for the exam program. These include exam sites and personnel, computer equipment, exam security, and accommodation costs.
• Committee costs for development of exam items and for exam scoring decisions.
• Psychometrics and quality assurance activities.
• Operating expenses for rent, salaries and office supplies.

Not included in these costs is the significant number of volunteer hours contributed by medical laboratory professionals from across the country who spend time on committee activities related to the exam. These individuals are not paid for the hours they work on exam activities.

Yes, exam fees are adjusted yearly according to costs and inflation.

No, exam candidates can only choose to writhe the exam in French or English.

If registered candidates want to cancel their registration, they must cancel at least fourteen (14) days beforethe exam date, in writing, to receive a partial refund of the Exam fee.

Cancelling an exam attempt may result in the loss of that attempt (considered a failed exam attempt).

Candidates must complete and submit the Request for Exam Cancellation form to the CSMLS office at exam@csmls.org. This form can be downloaded from the CSMLS website under ‘Exam Forms’.

For the current Cancellation fees, please check the CSMLS ‘Service Fees’ found at the bottom of the CSMLS Dates and Fees webpage.

NOTE: Candidates are NOT ALLOWED to cancel their Exam on the Prometric website. Cancelling an Exam can only be done by completing the CSMLS Request for Exam Cancellation form and returning it to the office as stated above.

Candidates who are non-residents of Canada must NOT register for an exam session unless they have confirmation they are able to travel to Canada (for example an approved visa). Non-residents of Canada CANNOT register for an exam session online, they must send in a paper application with payment to exam@csmls.org.

Candidates have up to twelve (12) months after receiving initial eligibility to attend their first Exam attempt. Candidates should contact the CSMLS at exam@csmls.org BEFORE their eligibility expires for their next steps if they are unable to come to Canada.

If the candidate cannot make it to Canada to write their first exam attempt within twelve (12) months after receiving initial eligibility to the exam (the date is indicated on the Eligibility Statement) they may be eligible for a ONE TIME, exam deferral. The candidate must contact the CSMLS office within this time frame at exam@csmls.org, to request a deferral form. When the completed form is received with the applicable fees, the office will determine whether a deferral will be granted. Current and appropriate documented proof will be required.

Candidates must bring valid Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport matching the first and last name under which they registered with CSMLS.

Please call the Prometric support line at 1-888-763-0132 and Prometric will send you another confirmation.

Please refer to Appendix 1 in the Exam Handbook for more information including the length of each exam.

Validation questions are either revised or new questions that have been placed on an exam because they need to be validated. This means that we have to ensure that each question on every one of our exams is fair and valid. Exam question statistics are reviewed by a Psychometrician and the Exam Panel to ensure that each question is performing to best standards. Any questions on the exam not performing statistically are removed from scoring and do not count on the exam.

If a candidates’ Eligibility Statement has expired before they register for their first Exam attempt, they CANNOT register for the Exam, and must contact exam@csmls.org for their next steps.

This pertains to PLA Candidates and candidates who have completed the assigned learning plan between attempts two (2) and three (3).

A non-resident of Canada is someone who:

• normally, customarily, or routinely lives in another country and is not considered a resident of Canada; or
• does not have significant residential ties in Canada and lives outside Canada throughout the tax year; or
• stays in Canada for less than 183 days in the tax year.

Candidates will not be allowed to write the Exam if false information is included on the Exam Application form.

False information includes providing a Canadian address to avoid paying non-resident Exam fees.

Candidates that have received their Permanent Residency (PR) card but do not yet live in Canada are considered to be a non-resident.

Proof of residency, a copy of a current tax form, or alternative documents may be required to prove Canadian residency.

The CSMLS is committed to providing accessible and equitable services to all Exam candidates, including administering the Exam in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities and/or religious observations. The CSMLS will make the Exam accessible to every extent possible, this includes making special accommodations for candidates who have provided evidence of these needs.

In reviewing accommodation requests, the CSMLS must balance the rights of the individual Exam candidate with its mandate to protect the public interest through a fair, secure, valid and reliable Exam. The CSMLS has the right to approve or deny requests for special accommodation.

If an exam candidate requires an accommodation, they should review the accommodation requirements in the CSMLS National Certification Examination Handbook before contacting the CSMLS Certification Department at exam@csmls.org.

The deadline to apply for an Exam accommodation is the last day before registration opens for the desired Exam session. Candidates can only apply for Exam accommodations by contacting the CSMLS office at exam@csmls.org and providing the required documentation.

Exam accommodation requests received after registration opens will be reviewed but based on the type of accommodation requested, they may be only partially granted or not granted at all.

Candidates who are requesting an Exam accommodation must NOT register online. If a candidate has registered online for an Exam session, their request for an Exam accommodation will not be considered.

The CSMLS has the right to approve or deny requests for special accommodation.

If a request is approved, candidates may be required to take the Exam at a location determined by the CSMLS. If this requires the candidate to travel, all related expenses will be at the candidates expense. If the candidate cannot travel to the available location, they may apply for a deferral of this Exam attempt to the next Exam session.

No, the application process is different for anyone requiring an accommodation. Exam candidates requiring accommodations MUST contact exam@csmls.org for further instructions and to obtain the required application forms.

Applicants for accommodations MUST contact the CSMLS office BEFORE registration opens and CANNOT register for the Exam online.

Educational systems often grant accommodations to their students using old or outdated documentation or documentation from non-qualified professionals.

To ensure that all accommodation applicants are assessed fairly, the CSMLS follows industry standards for high stakes examinations where patient safety is a factor. Requests for accommodation must also ensure the integrity of the examination remains intact.

Each applicant is assessed individually for their requested accommodation.

The determination of whether a testing accommodation isappropriate will be based on:

• the information provided in the application and supplemental documentation provided by the appropriate professional;
• whether the disability disadvantages the candidate in the standard test taking task;
• whether the test-taking task that is being accommodated by the modification is critical to performance in the workplace;
• the extent to which the same or a similar accommodation is likely to be needed or made available in the work-place;
• whether the accommodation alters the skills and abilities that are measured, and at the level at which they are assessed;
• whether the accommodations provided give the candidate with a disability an unfair advantage over other candidates; and
• whether the accommodations provided risk the integrity of the examination in any way.

No, the current computer-based exam platform does not incorporate a Kurzweil reader program. If a reader is required by an exam candidate, they will be provided with a trained person to read the exam items in a private setting.

Noise cancelling headsets are available at many of the Prometric exam sites but not all of them. If a noise cancelling headset is required, the exam candidate will have to complete an accommodations application.

Accommodations previously granted are valid for one examination session only. A new request must be submitted for all other exam sessions.

The CSMLS does not provide a ‘study guide’ for any of our exams. Because there are no study guides or preparation courses, candidates must prepare their own study notes and prioritize study time using the appropriate Competency Profile and Blueprint. A thorough understanding of the Competency Profiles and the subjects it covers are the basic requirements for passing the exam.

Competency Profiles can be found on our website at: https://www.csmls.org/Certification/Certification-Exam/Competency-Profiles.aspx.

Each certification exam type also has books and materials listed under "Reference Textbooks" that are used to create the exam questions. There is no one resource and the CSMLS does not endorse any one reference source.

The Exam Blueprint can be found in each Competency Profile. It is a guide to the content of the certification exam and it shows how much each category is worth on the exam.

Registered exam candidates have the option to purchase the MLA or MLT General Practice Test to help them get you ready for their CSMLS Certification Exam. Once an exam candidate applies for the certification exam, they will receive a link to the practice tests in their Exam Registration Confirmation email.

This practice test will give exam candidates a better understanding of how exam questions are structured, the pacing needed to complete the exam within the allotted time and performance feedback.

Practice tests are available in both French and English for the MLA and MLT General exams. There are no practice tests available for the Diagnostic Cytology or Clinical Genetics exams.

The acronym CBT stands for Computer-Based-Testing. It is a method of exam delivery by use of a computer at a proctored vendor site.

Candidates should be familiar with the use of a mouse and keyboard. Candidates will find the computer-based testing platform to be very user friendly.

Before the exam starts, a 15-minute tutorial is available. It is strongly recommended that candidates take advantage of the tutorial before they start the exam.

In addition, exam candidates can take a “Test Drive” at a Prometric site for a fee prior to their exam, if available.

Test Drive is a way for exam candidates to experience the scheduling and test delivery process that you will experience when you challenge the CSMLS exam through Prometric’s network of test centres or online remotely proctored via ProProctor^TM platform.

With CBT, one question will appear on the screen at a time.Most of the CBT exam questions are standard multiple-choice depending on the certification exam. More details about what to expect for each exam type can be found in the Exam Handbook, in Appendix I: Exam Format.

Yes, candidates can even flag questions that were skipped so that they’re easy to return to. It is recommended that you skip a question that’s using up too much of your time and instead move on to other questions you’re more confident with; then you can come back when you have time left over and review the questions you skipped.

Exam candidates will not need to bring a calculator; the exam has a calculator imbedded into the computer program.

There is a clock on the computer screen (toward the top) that reflects the time remaining for each section of the exam. Note that personal watches must be removed and stored prior to entering the testing room.

No, the exam is not open book. Exam candidates need to study and prepare for the exam using the CSMLS Competency Profiles as guidelines. Competency Profiles can be found on our website at https://www.csmls.org/Certification/Certification-Exam/Competency-Profiles.aspx.

No, candidates will receive an exam completion confirmation email from Prometriconce they exit the exam. Exam scoring following best practices takes time. When results are released candidates will receive an email from the CSMLS with a link to the online exam portal.

Knowing in advance what to expect at the test centre helps candidates be more confident and comfortable on exam day.

Exam candidates should plan to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled appointmentto allow time for check-in procedures.

Candidates arriving late by 30 minutes or less,will not be given extra time for the exam. Candidates arriving late by more than 30 minutes will not be allowed to test and will forfeit all exam fees.

Prometric takes their role of providing a secure test environment seriously. During the check-in process, all of a candidate’s personal belongings need to be placed in atemporary Prometric locker during the exam. Candidates will be permitted to keep their ID and locker key with them at all times.

The test center administrator will ask all exam candidates to raise their pant legs above their ankles, empty and turn pockets completely inside out, and raise shirt sleeves above wrists prior to every entry into the test room. Any and all eyeglasses, jewelry, ties, bowties, hair accessories, and other accessories will be inspected to look for camera devices that could be used to capture exam content. Jewelry outside of wedding and engagement rings is prohibited. As a final step in the process, candidates will be scanned with a metal detector wand prior to every entry into the test room. In addition, all exams are monitored by continuous audio and video recording.

In order to be admitted into the Prometric testing center, an exam candidate must bring a valid and current (nonexpired) form of government-issued identification (e.g., driver's license or passport). Identification (ID) must include the exam candidates’ picture and signature. The name on the ID must also match the name as if was provided to the CSMLS at registration.

If an exam candidate does not bring in appropriate identification, or their name does not match, they will not be allowed to sit for the exam. If a candidate does not write a scheduled exam, they will lose that exam attempt and it will be considered a fail.

Exam candidates can bring snacks and a drink to their test center, but they must be in clear packaging and left in the locker provided. Food and drinks are not allowed in the testing room without an accommodation with the exception of water.

Candidates can bring water into the test room during their exam. Water must be in a clear or transparent container with a lid or cap. All labels must be removed, and the container will be inspected for notes or other test aids. The candidate will need to remove the lid/cap for visual inspection. Should the container not meet the requirements outlined, the candidate will not be allowed to take it into the test room.

Personal belongings are not permitted in the exam room. Exam candidates will be provided a locker to store personal items.

Yes. Whiteboards or paper is available at the Prometric computer testing center for taking notes during the exam. If additional whiteboards, paper or writing instruments are required during the exam, candidates only have to raise their hand and request it from the invigilator when they are addressed. Exam candidates are required to return all whiteboards or paper at the end of the exam; all scratch paper will be shredded.

Prometric test administrators can only address issues related to the test environment. They cannot answer questions regarding the structure or content of the exams. Candidates should answer exam questions to the best of their ability if they do not understand a question.

Candidates must not talk to other candidates or refer to their screens, testing materials, or written notes inthe test room.

Comments or feedback regarding the exam content should be sent directly by email to exam@csmls.org. Concerns with the testing environment at the Prometric center should be brought to the attention of the Prometric test administrator and the CSMLS.

If for any reason the exam is unable to be administered, the candidate will be rescheduled to the next available date or a new date will be established without any additional fees.

In the unlikely event that some unforeseen circumstance at a Prometric center negatively impacts your testing experience, be sure to report your issue to the Prometric test administrator. The feedback candidates give to Prometric test administrators is recorded in the Irregularity Report and reported back to CSMLS staff, so that the incident can be investigated.

If you need to contact us or the centre is unable to have you start your exam within 30 minutes of your pre-arranged start time, please contact the CSMLS by email at exam@csmls.org. This email address is regularly monitored during all exam sessions. Please include your full name, your CSMLS identification number (if youhave it), a phone number that we can contact you with, and a brief description of the situation.

Any suspected instances of cheating, alleged inappropriate exam candidate behavior should be addressed to the onsite Proctor/test center administrator. All such matters will be reported, investigated, and subject to further action based on CSMLS policies and procedures.

Prometric systems are designed to save an exam candidate’s work during a power failure. Similarly, if a fire alarm were to sound during the exam, everyone taking an exam would be asked to leave the building. The computers would automatically shut down the exam and save all of the progress, so no one wouldn’t lose any exam time or any completed work. If the issue is severe and not resolvable within a reasonable time frame, the CSMLS will help you reschedule your exam without any additional fees.

On the exam day, if candidates cannot reach the Testing Centre because of circumstances beyond their control or they are ill, they MUST contact the CSMLS office immediately, BEFORE the exam begins, if possible. The CSMLS office can be contacted at exam@csmls.org or 1-800-263-8277.

Exam candidates who are ill or have extraordinary circumstances (including bereavement but excluding routine pregnancy) before the exam day MUST contact the Certification office as soon as possible, BEFORE the exam at exam@csmls.org or 1-800-263-8277.

The CSMLS will require official supporting documentation within seven (7) calendar days after notification.

Supporting documentation may include doctor’s notes, the CSMLS Medical Form, police report, death certificates and/or other documents, as applicable.

Medical documentation must be current and include a formal diagnosis of the specific illness/disability made by a qualified physician/psychologist.

If candidates provide notification by this deadline, their situation will be reviewed, they may be refunded a portion of the exam fee and/or have their exam attempt reinstated. Exam fee refunds and exam attempt reinstatements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, however the timer does not stop, and candidates will have to go through the scanning/inspection process again before re-entering the exam room.

CSMLS certification exams have no scheduled breaks unless a special accommodation has been made in advance. Unscheduled breaks are only permitted in order to access the bathroom. The test timer will continue to count down during an unscheduled break. You must return from your break with in 15 minutes, otherwise your exam session will be terminated and you will not be allowed to complete your exam.

Candidates are not permitted to leave the test center during the exam and doing so will result in the exam being terminated. Repeated or lengthy departures from the test room for unscheduled breaks will be reported by the test center administrator to the CSMLS.

Candidates are prohibited from communicating, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any part of your exam, in any form or by any means, verbal, written, or electronic, for any purpose.

All CSMLS Exams must be written in Canada, regardless of the testing method.

Results will be released within five to seven weeks of the Exam date. A statement of results will be sent to the address provided on the candidate’s application form, unless they send a Name and/or Address Change form.

Exam results will be posted online within forty-five (45) days of the exam date. We send each candidate an email with a link to the exam portal once the results are ready. Applicants must log in using their username and password to access the results and status of their attempt. You can also print the results from the portal. We recommend that all exam candidates provide a valid email address when registering for their exam, and establish a secure password.

If a candidate does not receive their result within sixty (60) days of the Exam, they MUST contact the CSMLS Certification office, at exam@csmls.org or 1-800-263-8277. Candidates will be required to pay a service fee for duplicate copies.

Under no circumstances will Exam results be given or discussed over the phone.

Exam results are reported as a “pass” or “fail”. Candidates who have passed the Exam will only receive the Exam pass mark. Unsuccessful candidates will receive both their Exam score and the Exam pass mark.

We understand that waiting up to 45 days after taking your exam is a long time. However, the process of performing psychometrics and reviewing question performance takes about a month. During this period, we also review exam candidate concerns they may have about exam questions or testing conditions, and the CSMLS then reviews and investigates each concern. Non-performing questions are also removed and the exam is rescored.

Every Exam has a “pass mark”, which is the total percentage score each candidate must reach to pass.

Anyone who achieves this mark passes the Exam, and there is no limit to the number of candidates who can pass. The pass mark, which is set by the Angoff method, varies from Exam to Exam depending on the difficulty of that particular Exam. The CSMLS uses a Double Modified Angoff Process that requires demographically-selected expert judges to discuss the issues involved in determining a pass mark and to evaluate the Exam by using a well-defined and rational procedure.

The purpose of this process is to determine the cut score (pass rate) required to identify a minimally competent MLP for each Exam. In this process, the Exams have been reviewed and accepted by the Exam Panel (a voluntary panel of industry experts with geographical representation from across Canada, selected and approved by Canadian MLT regulators) prior to this process.

A method of standard-setting based on the expected performance of candidates. A panel of demographically-selected expert judges estimates the probability that borderline (or minimally competent) candidates will answer each question correctly. In this method, the passing score is the sum of the probabilities of each question, expressed as a percentage.

Exam candidates that have passed their exam will receive a message that indicates that they passed (PASS – CERTIFICATION COMPLETE) and the score that was required to pass that exam (the Angoff score). Exam candidates will not receive their score.

When achievement of CSMLS certification is used as a hiring tool, it is irrespective of the passing score a certificant received, as CSMLS certification exams are created to only measure minimal competency at entry-level in the profession.

Thus, CSMLS exam scores are not provided to candidates who have passed a CSMLS certification exam.

If the candidate was not successful on their first exam attempt, they are eligible to write the exam a second time within their eligible time frame (see ‘Exam Attempt Policy’ in the Exam Handbook). Candidates will be required to apply and pay for the next exam by registering online or by sending in a paper application with the correct fee.

If the candidate does not apply for their second attempt within this time frame, this exam attempt will be lost and it will be considered a fail.

After two (2) unsuccessful attempts (whether attended or not) the candidate is placed into the Second ExamCycle. Exam eligibility must be re-established through the successful completion of a Learning Plan in order to write a third and final exam attempt.

YES, certification exams are high stakes exams and all results are final. Additional marks CANNOT be earned or added to any exam candidates score and we do NOT alter or change exam scores in any way.

Exam candidates can choose to apply for a Manual Verification of Exam Results, with the submission of the associated fees. Applications for Manual Verifications MUST be received within 60 days of the exam date. You can find the application form on our website at https://csmls.org/Certification/Certification-Exam/Exam-Handbook-and-Exam-Forms.aspx. A manual verification will not be completed if the application form is late.

Note: CSMLS performs numerous quality control measures and analysis of exam statistics based on each exam question before any results are ever released. An error in any result is unlikely.

Due to exam security, exam candidates cannot see or review any questions from the exam. If an exam candidate was unsuccessful, they will receive feedback as to how they performed in each of the main categories in the online portal.

When an exam candidate views their score through the online portal, candidates that have passed will have a link to the membership application. A FREE certificate is included with membership if the applicant applies by the date indicated on the application form. If membership is not taken by this date, applicants will have to pay to receive a copy of their certificate.

According to CSMLS Bylaws, holding a CSMLS certificate is not a right but a privilege of membership, and members must remain a member in good standing in order to retain their certificate.

The CSMLS sets exam fees to cover the costs to administer each exam. If an exam candidate fails an exam, they must register for the next exam and pay the full exam fees.

The performance of graduates of Canadian medical laboratory programs can vary from one exam to another. Many factors could explain why the performance of graduates of a particular program might vary. Overall, the average performance of Canadian-educated candidates is very consistent from year to year.

The CSMLS provides, collects and reports data on the examination performance for accredited medical laboratory programs in Canada on our website in the National Report Card. The report specifies how many candidates from each program challenged the CSMLS certification examination and the pass rate (the percentage of candidates that passed the exam) for each individual program. Only programs with 5 or more candidates in an exam session are reported.

The purpose in releasing this data is two-fold:

• To strengthen CSMLS’s accountability to the membership and to other key stakeholders for the certification programs for which the CSMLS is wholly responsible.
• To provide a tool for education programs to monitor and analyze the impact of program change when compared to their peer group, as well as a resource when working with administration and government to address future program change.

In order to provide valid comparisons of graduates from accredited training programs, the report only includes performance data of first-time examination candidates. It does not include any supplemental exam candidates’ results, or data from other exam candidates, such as bridging programs or prior learning assessment eligibility.

A Learning Plan is essentially an intervention period for an exam candidate that has been unable to successfully challenge the certification exam after two (2) attempts. The purpose of the Learning Plan is to help the candidate by identifying areas of weakness based on previous exam performance with option to increase their knowledge and better prepare for their final exam attempt.

Exam candidates that have been issued a Learning Plan have to successfully complete it by the expiry date provided if they want to write the exam again.

Once the candidate completes their Learning Plan andCSMLS receives all the required documents proving successful completion, it is reviewed; if deemed complete,the candidate will be issued an Eligibility Statement.

This Eligibility Statement will grant the candidate one (1) final attempt to the next available Exam session.

Candidates will be given one (1) year to complete the Learning Plan.

NOTE: If the candidate does not complete the Learning Plan by the time it expires, they will nolonger be eligible to challenge the exam.

If the candidate cannot complete their Learning Plan by the expiry date, they can apply for an exam deferral. The candidate must contact the CSMLS office before their Learning Plan expires at exam@csmls.org, to request a deferral form. When the completed form is received with the applicable fees, the office will determine whether a deferral will be granted. Current and appropriate documented proof will be required.

No, once an individual is certified, they are certified for life.

Note: There is an expectation in the community that medical laboratory professionals will actively maintain and update their skills throughout their careers. In regulated provinces, licensed medical laboratory professional will be required to prove that their requirements for licensing have been met in a prescribed timeframe. Many employers additionally have requirements as well.

Holding a CSMLS certificate is not a right but a privilege of membership. “New” Certificates are issued to CSMLS members in good standing who have never received a certificate. If a CSMLS member falls into this category, they should contact certification@csmls.org and request the “Application for New or Replacement Certificate” and follow the instructions on the form.

Replacement Certificates are issued to CSMLS members in good standing when the original certificate has been lost, or when a name change has occurred. In the case of a change in name or damaged certificate, the original certificate must be returned to this office before the new certificate is issued. The statutory declaration form must be completed when the original certificate cannot be returned. Please note that the form must bear the official seal or stamp of the Notary Public who signs. Please ensure that the person who signs does have an official seal/stamp as CSMLS only accepts forms that carry an official seal/stamp. If a CSMLS members falls into this category, they should contact certification@csmls.org and request the “Application for New or Replacement Certificate” and follow the instructions.

Non-members CANNOT apply to have a certificate.

If proof of certification is needed, both members and non-members can apply for a Credential Verification. See verification of credentials for more information.

When starting a new job or working abroad a laboratory professional certified by the CSMLS may need to prove they achieved certification. With the completion of an application for a Verification of CSMLS Certification, the CSMLS will send the following documentation on behalf of the applicant:

• Regulatory Bodies – CSMLS will send a letter, bearing the CSMLS official seal, verifying your CSMLS certification directly to the Regulatory Body of your choice on your behalf.
• Visa Screening Agencies – CSMLS will send a letter, bearing the CSMLS official seal, verifying your CSMLS certification directly to the agency of your choice on your behalf. We will enclose any visa form you or the agency submitted with this application, but it will not be filled out by the CSMLS.

  Visa screening agencies will be notified that CSMLS is not a licensing body or regulatory agency; we do not keep records regarding complaints or disciplinary action; we do not keep records of date of birth; and, we do not complete any forms, including those requesting licensing, diploma, or registration information.

• Other – CSMLS will send a letter, bearing the CSMLS official seal, verifying your CSMLS certification to the location of your choice.

Becoming a member of CSMLS is easy. Go to the “Membership” tab on our website (https://www.csmls.org/Membership/Become-a-Member/Member-Benefits.aspx). Select the appropriate membership category and follow the instructions under “Membership Details”.