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Medical Laboratory Assistants and Technicians

Medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians (also known as attendants in some workplaces) perform pre-analytical functions such as collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, and preparing special chemicals called reagents for use in testing.

These practitioners have a significant and increasing impact on quality patient care due to their expanding roles and broadened responsibilities in the clinical laboratory. As they provide phlebotomy services and pre-analytical functions, in many cases, medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians are the primary source of contact between the laboratory, patients, and other health care professionals, in specimen collection centres, point-of-care settings and longterm care facilities.

The CMLTO Council has identified the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians as one of its strategic priorities. The CMLTO believes that increased access to a broader range of regulated health professionals in the clinical laboratory is in the public’s best interest, as stated in the CMLTO's Position Paper. In September 2012, the CMLTO Council passed a motion identifying the importance of the initiative as a public interest activity under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

Until such time that medical laboratory assistants and technicians are regulated health professionals in Ontario, the CMLTO Voluntary Roster of Registered Medical Laboratory Technicians will serve the public interest by confirming they have voluntarily met a certain level of education and professional practice criteria. On October 1, 2015, the CMLTO launched its Voluntary Roster of Registered Medical Laboratory Technicians.

Updates as of Fall 2023
The CMLTO hosted a webinar on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, during which staff provided an update regarding the pursuit of regulating medical laboratory assistants and technicians in Ontario. These webinars are aimed at medical laboratory assistants and technicians, and include a historical overview, current state, future directions, and information regarding the CMLTO Voluntary Roster for Registered Medical Laboratory Technicians.

The recording of the webinar is now available here. Please ensure that you fill out all information fields to view the recording. An English copy of the webinar transcript is available here. A French language copy of the transcript is available here

If you are interested in learning more about the Voluntary Roster Initiative, CMLTO staff have developed a promotional one-page document outlining basic details about the program, including an overview of the program and how to apply. To access the document, click here.

If you have any further questions about the Voluntary Roster initiative, please do not hesitate to contact CMLTO staff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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