Continuing Competency Program

Medical Laboratory Technologists must be able to show they meet the following continuing competence program requirements.

  • Minimum 1,200 work hours over previous 5 years
  • Prepared Professional Portfolio
  • Completed Self Assessment identifying personal professional development goals
  • Completed 45 hours of Continuing Education accumulated over previous 5 years

All necessary self assessment and log sheets can be found here.

Continuing Education Credit System

Technologists must accumulate 45 hours over a 5 year cycle. There are 5 continuing education activity categories. The Continuing Education hours for any 5 year cycle must be accumulated in at least three categories.

5 Activity Categories

Formal Documented [FD] Work related educational activities that include a test of learning and proof of attendance with successful completion. e.g. Traditional course with exam
Non-Formal Documented [NFD] Work related documented educational activities with no test of learning but with proof of attendance from program provider. e.g. Conference with documented attendance
Non-Documented [ND] Work related education without test of learning or documentation. Self-tracked without acceptable proof of attendance e.g. Seminars without proof of attendance i.e. Bug Day, article reviews
Professional Activity [PA] Work related volunteer activities e.g. Giving presentation at a conference, serving on a committee
Non-Lab Related [NR] Activities with an opportunity to learn skills transferable to your professional practice. e.g. leadership, team work, communication, etc.

Specific Requirements

  • A minimum of 22.5 hours must be from documented activity categories
  • Activities must be from a minimum of 3 activity categories
  • College recognizes CSMLS Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) and Continuing Professional Studies (CPS) hours. Members may apply to CMLTM for assessment of other organizations credit hours.
  • If more than 45 hours are accumulated in a 5 year cycle they cannot be carried over.

Continuing Education Credit Guide

Category Description Eligible Hours
FD Formally evaluated courses (related to med lab practice)
  • CSMLS PEP hours and ASCLS PACE hours are recognized.
  • Submit others to CSMLS for assessment of hours.

Note: Activities completed as part of course cannot be claimed in other categories as well. i.e. Presentations, text reading, etc

Log approved hours
NFD Conference attendance, scientific meeting Log actual lecture time
NFD Lab-related Tele-video conference, in-services, seminars Log actual lecture time
NFD

Article review (also audio/video cassette) with written abstract.

Must write an abstract outlining article content and provide the original article title, author, publication, issue number and date

Log actual lecture/reading time
NFD Workshop attendance Log actual lecture time
ND Article or reference text review (also audio/video cassette)
Must site; article title, author, publication, issue number and date
(maximum 1 hour per article/chapter/audio/video)
Log actual lecture time
ND Conference attendance, scientific meeting Log actual lecture time
ND Lab-related Tele-video conference, in-services, seminars Log actual lecture time
ND Education activity with no documentation
(e.g. Attendance at lecture without formal attendance documentation)
Log actual lecture time
PA Presentation (Paper or Lecture)
*Hours include prep time and first time presentation hours only.
Log actual hours*
PA Poster presentation
*Hours include prep time and first time presentation hours only.
Log actual hours*
PA Preparation of scientific or lab related article Log actual prep hours
PA Preparing correspondence course or course exam Log actual prep hours
PA Preparing Course Evaluation Log actual prep hours
PA Preparing presenting lecture - live course.
*ours include prep time and first time presentation hours only.
Log actual hours*
PA Presenting Multimedia conference.
*Hours include prep time and first time presentation hours only
Log actual hours*
PA Tutoring (lab - outside of work hrs) Log actual hours
PA Preparation of case studies Log actual prep hours
PA Publishing scientific article in a scientific journal,
i.e. CSMLS Journal, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, etc.
7.5 hours for - 1000-2999 words,
15 hours > 3000 words
PA Submitting book review for publication Log actual prep hours
PA Committee work (for professional organization, union, College, workplace safety and health committee) 3 hours /year/committee
PA Examiner (CSMLS) Log actual hours
PA Committee Chair/Co-Chair 7.5 hours /year/committee
PA ART Examiner, Reviewer, Evaluator Log actual hours
PA Professional Volunteerism - Public relations
(Med Lab Week, Science Fair, Teddy Bear Picnic)
Log 1 hour for 6 hours of activity
PA Scientific editor - scientific publication Log actual hours
PA Scientific advisor or editorial consultant Log actual hours
PA Laboratory Accreditor (employers facilities ineligible)
(On site accrediting hours only accepted)
Log actual hours
NR Non Lab Related Activities that provide transferable skills.
Must outline transferable skills gained, subject to approval.
Log 1 CE hour for 6 hours of activity.
LIMIT 2 HOURS PER YEAR