Accreditation of MLT Educational Program Update
Re: Accreditation of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLT) Educational Program
CMLTM Registrants and Stakeholders,
Further to the last notice from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Sciences (CSMLS), the Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professions Regulators (CAMLPR[i]), and the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba (CMLTM) dated February 14, 2017, the CSMLS, CAMLPR, and CMLTM are pleased to announce that the Allied Health Program Accreditation Working Group[ii] (AHPAWG) has selected Health Standards Organization (HSO) and its affiliate Accreditation Canada (AC) to deliver accreditation services for medical laboratory technology education programs in Canada, following the end of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) conjoint accreditation services.
The AHPAWG is pleased that a single provider has been found for the seven professions represented by the Working Group. The HSO specializes in the development of best-in-class standards, innovative assessment methodologies, and practical accreditation services and tools. The HSO is responsible for the development of standards as well as the design of the fully automated web-based platform for the EQual™ Canada Program. AC plans and provides accreditation services to Canadian and international clients, helping people focus on what matters to them in their local context. AC is responsible for the implementation and operations of the accreditation program. Further information on HSO and AC can be found at www.healthstandards.org and www.accreditation.ca.
CSMLS and CAMLPR Members’ Approval of the HSO and AC EQual™ Canada Program
The CSMLS Board approved HSO/AC as the accrediting body for medical laboratory technology education programs at its meeting in May 2017. This means that graduates of the accredited education programs will continue to have access to the CSMLS certification exams.
All provincial MLT regulators (CMLTA, SSMLT, CMLTM, CMLTO, OPTMQ, NLCMLS, NBSMLT, and NSCMLT) have approved the HSO/AC EQual™ Canada Program as the accreditation services for approving the educational programs in medical laboratory technology.
Next Steps
The provincial regulators, who comprise CAMLPR and the CSMLS, are currently in the process of signing Program Client Agreements with HSO. CAMLPR and the CSMLS are committed to working with HSO/AC and look forward to opportunities to participate in governance, program review, and quality assurance.
Agreements between HSO/AC and the educational institutions will be sent to all medical laboratory education programs, along with an information package. In order to ensure a smooth and timely transition, it is important that the Agreements be signed promptly.
Transition
HSO/AC is committed to working with CMA, the CSMLS and the provincial regulators to ensure a smooth transition for the education programs, particularly those programs scheduled for accreditation visits in the year or two following February 1, 2018. More information will follow as transition plans are developed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact CMLTM.
Background
In January 2016, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) announced it would be divesting itself of responsibility for the provision of accreditation services to the allied health sciences education programs on February 1, 2018.
Accreditation is a process that ensures educational training programs across Canada are delivering quality education and producing graduates that meet pre-defined provincial standards of entry-to-practice competence. A national accreditation process is essential to the certification and registration/licensure of allied health professionals in Canada. National certification organizations, such as the CSMLS rely on the accreditation status to provide graduates of accredited programs access to their certification examinations. The provincial regulatory bodies rely on the accreditation process as a standard to approve the educational programs; therefore, enabling graduates to be issued a registration and/or certificate to practise in the profession. Accreditation serves to protect the public interest by defining standards for educational programs and ensuring compliance with those standards within Canada. The goal of accreditation is to ensure an educational program complies with established standards set by the respective professions. Accreditation is a valid assessment of academic quality and clinical integration of students in preparation for competent, safe, and effective entry level practice in the regulated profession. As an external review process, accreditation provides the benchmark for continuous quality improvement and excellence in education.
CMLTM, CAMLPR and CSMLS would like to recognize and thank the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists – CEO, Francois Couillard and Director of Education, Elaine Dever – for their leadership and administrative support during this initiative over the last eighteen months.
Regards,
Adam Chrobak, BSc, MLT
Registrar/CEO
[i] CAMLPR is composed of the eight provincial regulatory bodies for MLTs in Canada: the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta (CMLTA); the Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists; the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba (CMLTM); the Newfoundland & Labrador College of Medical Laboratory Sciences (NLCMLS); the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO); Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ); the New Brunswick Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NBSMLT); and the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NSCMLT).
[ii] The AHPAWG is composed of the following 11 organizations: Alliance of Medical Radiation Technologists Regulators of Canada; Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR); Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators; Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists; Canadian Orthoptic Society; Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS); Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists; Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion; Paramedic Association of Canada; Sonography Canada; Canadian Association of Allied Health Professions (Deans of Health Science).