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)
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 |