Practice Review

Practice Review is a mandatory component of the Quality Assurance Program at the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO). Its purpose is to provide an objective assessment of a registrant's practice in relation to the standards of practice of the profession.

Registrants are randomly selected or requested by the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) to complete the Practice Review which consists of 30 multiple choice and true/false questions that are linked and aligned to the CMLTO Standards of Practice. The Practice Review administration follows the guidelines detailed in the Practice Review Blueprint. It is an open-book assessment that is completed and submitted online by a specific deadline date. To prepare for the Practice Review, registrants can use the Professional Practice Learning Modules available on the CMLTO website.

To successfully pass the Practice Review audit, a registrant must achieve a score that meets or exceeds the overall assessment cut score. Every year, the QAC reviews and approves the audit cut-score. If a Practising registrant's score does not meet or exceed the cut score on their first attempt, they will be provided a second attempt to meet the cut score in accordance with QAC Policy 106 – Practice Review Reattempt (here) / pour une copie française, cliquez (ici). If the registrant does not meet the audit cut score after their second attempt, their case is referred to the QAC for review and deliberation who may exercise one or more of their powers under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 section 80.2.

Please click here for a full list of Practice Review details (PDF).

Question: Is it mandatory that I participate in the Quality Assurance Program?
Answer: The program is mandatory for all CMLTO Practising registrants, regardless of employment status. A registrant's registration with the CMLTO is separate and distinct from their employment.

Question: When am I required to submit a Practice Review?
Answer: Registrants will be required to submit a Practice Review under the following criteria:

• Practising registrants registered for more than two (2) years will be randomly selected once in every ten-year cycle.
• All Practising r wegistrants within their first two (2) years of CMLTO registration.
• A registrant who changes their class of registration from Non-Practising to Practising will complete the Practice Review within two (2) years of the change.
• A registrant suspended for non-payment of fees and who reinstates as Practising will complete the Practice Review within two (2) years of reinstatement.
• A registrant who resigns or is revoked and reapplies to the CMLTO as Practising will complete the Practice Review within two (2) years of re-registering.
• A registrant who changes their class of registration (i.e., Resigned, Non-Practising, suspended, or revoked) after being randomly selected for the Professional Portfolio or Practice Review audit will complete the Practice Review assessment within 60 days of returning to Practising status.
• If requested to do so by the Quality Assurance Committee. 

Question: What happens if I get audited? 
Answer: The Practice Review audit process is described below.

1. Registrants are selected using the criteria from the previous question.
2. Registrants are notified by mail and email that they are required to complete the Practice Review. The notification includes detailed instructions to access and complete the Practice Review
3. Registrants should review the Professional Practice Learning Modules to prepare for the Practice Review.
   
4. Using the instructions, registrants will complete and submit the Practice Review assessment by the specified deadline date.
   
5. Registrants are sent a  Practice Review Summary Report within 60 days.
   
6. If a registrant does not meet the Practice Review requirements or they do not respond to CMLTO communications, their file is referred to the Quality Assurance Committee for review. 

Question: What happens if I cannot meet the submission deadline? 
Answer: Deadlines for submitting audit information are based on the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991, and internal CMLTO Quality Assurance Committee policies. It is recognized that sometimes members’ personal or professional circumstances do not allow them to meet their Quality Assurance obligations by the submission deadline. In extenuating circumstances, written (email, fax or letter) requests to delay the date of submission will be considered in accordance with CMLTO policy.

Question: Is my employer notified when I am selected for audit?
Answer: A registrant's employer(s) is not informed when they are audited. Legislation requires all information collected during an audit to remain confidential. This information cannot be used for other purposes, even by other CMLTO Statutory Committees. 

Question: How do I pass the Practice Review and what happens if I don't meet the requirements?
Answer: To successfully pass the Practice Review audit, a registrant must achieve a score that meets or exceeds the overall assessment cut score. Every year, the QAC reviews and approves the audit cut-score. If a Practising registrant's score does not meet or exceed the cut score on their first attempt, they will be provided a second attempt to meet the cut score in accordance with QAC Policy 106 – Practice Review Reattempt (here). If the registrant does not meet the audit cut score after their second attempt, their case is referred to the QAC for review and deliberation who may exercise one or more of their powers under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 section 80.2.