Pursuing further education as a laboratory professional is something that may have
crossed your mind. But how do you do it? What are the benefits and risks you should
look at before going after a degree?
When I started my career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT), I first completed
a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Microbiology before completing my Advanced Diploma in
Medical Laboratory Science. After working in the laboratory field for a few years, I decided
to take on the challenge of pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) while continuing to
work as an MLT.
FIND YOUR PASSION
My choice to return to post-secondary education and pursue an MPH was a decision that
was in motion for many years. First, I looked at my career as an MLT working in public
health and wanted to find something that would complement my work. I enjoyed being
involved in the public health field and felt a progression to obtaining an MPH was natural.
Whether you’re looking at completing your B.Sc, taking a certificate course or heading
back to school full time, it’s important to consider what you’re passionate about. You could
be passionate about your current work or there may be an area you want to explore more.
Here are some things to consider:
• Where do you see yourself using this course or program?
• What work do you currently enjoy? Are you looking to switch areas?
• What do you want to know more about?
EVALUATE YOUR SCHEDULE
Before taking on a new course or program, it’s always a good idea to look at the current
structure of your life and see where that can fit in. It’s possible your workplace may support
an education leave or offer flex scheduling to accommodate class times. Many degrees and
courses now offer flexible course loads you can complete at your own pace concurrently
with your job, including programs that can be obtained fully online. Some examples include:
• Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager Certificate – The Michener Institute of Education
at UHN
• Master of Public Health Program – University of Waterloo
• Master of Health Management – McMaster University
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EDUCATION
One of the benefits of pursuing further education as a lab professional is that you can bring
a vast amount of health care knowledge to your program. Having that real-life experience
is an asset to understanding course materials and transferring them to your career. Find
ways to incorporate what you’ve learned into your work by writing a paper or taking on
a project that utilizes course requirements. Not only will this help you with
meeting your program goals, but it will help integrate your new knowledge
into your current position and help open up new opportunities. Perhaps,
you can develop a quality program that your workplace has been itching to
implement for a number of years.
FUNDING YOUR FURTHER EDUCATION
Now that you’ve signed up for your program, a big question you may ask yourself is,
“How am I going to pay for this?” There are many funding sources you can explore.
One is to ask your workplace about providing funding for coursework. Some
employers offer education grants to all staff or they may offer grants and scholarships
you can apply for. If you are a member of a union, they may also offer educational
funding and scholarships.
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (csmls.org/Grants-
Scholarship-and-Awards) and other professional associations offer many
scholarships and grants to which you can apply, whether you’re taking a single course
or a traditional post-secondary program. The Allied Health Professional Development
Fund and SARS Infection Control Fund, for example, are available to eligible Ontarians.
Making the decision to pursue further education is no easy task, but hopefully these
tips gave you things to think about and can help you on your path to knowledge.