How To Become A Medical Laboratory Technologist In Ontario (2024)

Medical laboratory technologists are a very vital part of the healthcare system and there are over 20,500 medical laboratory technologists working across Canada today. The job of a medical laboratory technologist is to collect samples including blood and other body fluids from patients, test these samples, get results, discuss and interpret the results with the physicians for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

To become a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario, you will be required to complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or it’s equivalent and enroll in a medical laboratory science program. After successful completion, you will be required to sit for the Canadian society for medical laboratory science national certification examination and hold a certificate of registration regulated by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists Ontario (CMLTO).

A medical laboratory technologist is a very crucial member of the healthcare team. They obtain specimens and test them to help determine the presence or absence of disease and whatever result they get helps the physician and other members of the healthcare team determine the type of treatment that will be used for the patient.

There are different types of medical laboratory technologists and they are differentiated according to the kind of specimens they work with.  They include;

  • Blood bank technologists
  • Clinical chemistry technologist
  • Immunology technologist
  • Microbiology technologist
  • Cytotechnologist
  • Molecular biologist technologist
  • Parasitology technologist
  • Histopathology technologist, etc.

How to Become a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario?

To start your career journey as a medical laboratory technologist, it is usually necessary to get a formal education and complete a high school diploma after which you will need to obtain a college degree. After completion of your college degree, you may need to get certain certifications to be able to practice, although, this varies from state to state.

These are the steps you should follow if you want to become a medical laboratory technician in Ontario;

1. Acquire a high school diploma

To begin your career path as a medical laboratory technician in Ontario, you will first need to get formal education to give you fundamental knowledge. You will need to have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or its equivalent with credits in English, biology, chemistry, and mathematics, as these serve as prerequisites for registration into college for the medical laboratory technologist program.

 2. Enroll into College

If you want to pursue a career as a medical laboratory technologist, it is necessary for you to earn a college degree in medical laboratory technology (MLT). This training program usually takes about two to three years and it is regulated by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists Ontario (CMLTO). CMLTO helps regulate the profession and also protects the right of the public by ensuring that services are provided according to ethical conduct.

The MLT program includes both in classroom work and also supervised practical training sessions. Some of the courses included in the in-classroom work are;

  • Clinical biochemistry
  • Clinical microbiology
  • Hematology
  • Histo-technology and transfusion science

 3. Earn Certifications

Within 12 months of completion of the college program, you will need to take the Canadian society for medical laboratory science (CMLS) examination which is a competency-based test that allows you to be registered as a medical laboratory technologist in Canada. However, if you didn’t complete the medical laboratory technology educational program, you can complete a two-step prior learning assessment to prove your education, training, and work experience.

However, to practice as a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario, you must fulfill the following;

  • You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or authorized under the immigration and refugee protection act of Canada
  • You must meet language requirements of fluency in English or French
  • You must meet the educational requirements according to CMLTO
  • You must pass the Canadian society for medical laboratory science (CMLS) examination and earn its certification
  • You must provide proof of active practice as a medical laboratory technologist within three years preceding the application.

After fulfilling the above requirements, you are eligible to register for a practicing certificate. To apply for the certification, you will need to

  • Submit your details in the online form
  • Pay a non-refundable registration application fee of about $169.50 (fee is subjected to change)
  • Print the guarantor’s verification form
  • Mail the supporting documentation along with the guarantor’s verification form to CMLTO.

After a successful application, a CMLTO staff will review your application and either deny or approve your application. If you get an approved verification, it is sent to the registration committee who awards you your practicing certification.

Requirements of a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario

  • You must be at least 18 years or older
  • You must have completed the Ontario Secondary School Diploma
  • You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or authorized under the immigration and refugee protection act of Canada
  • You must meet language requirements of fluency in English or French
  • You must meet the educational training requirements according to the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists Ontario (CMLTO) and show proof of graduation from the education program
  • You must pass the Canadian society for medical laboratory science (CMLS) examination and earn its certification
  • You must provide proof of active practice as a medical laboratory technologist within three years preceding the application.
  • You must obtain a practicing license as required by CMLTO.

How Much Does a Medical Laboratory Technologist Earn in Ontario?

Although there is no fixed price, the average salary of a medical laboratory technologist in Ontario is about $60,297 per year but it could be as low as $54,102 and as high as $65,922. Variations in salaries depend on the number of years you have practiced, additional skills and certifications, location, and level of education.

Related:

Are Medical Laboratory Technologists in Demand in Ontario?

Yes, medical laboratory technologists are in demand in Ontario. Due to the rapid increase in demand for testing to meet healthcare needs and up to 70% of medical decisions relying on test results, laboratory technologists have also been in high demand and the employment outlook will be good over the next 3 years because it holds a vital part in Canada’s healthcare system.

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