Registering for Genetics

Thank you for your request for information about genetics registration with the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO).

College standards for entry to practice in genetics are consistent with Ontario Regulation 207/94, amended to O. Reg. 553/05. Among other criteria, the regulation requires applicants provide:

• proof of educational and training requirements, and
• proof of successful completion of a qualifying examination set or approved by the Registration Committee, and
• proof of active engagement in the three years preceding the application OR proof of successful completion of a refresher course in the relevant specialty/specialties approved by the Registration Committee.

The full Registration Regulation may be found at www.cmlto.com under Government Policy/College Administered Legislation.

If you graduated from a Canadian Medical Association (CMA) accredited clinical genetics program, you must successfully complete the CSMLS clinical genetics examination before applying to the CMLTO. To view a list of CMA-accredited programs, please look under Registration/Courses and Programs at www.cmlto.com.

If you did not graduate from a CMA-accredited clinical genetics program, you must arrange for a prior learning assessment (PLA) through the CSMLS. The PLA evaluates education and experience for equivalency to Canadian education.

Contact information for the CSMLS is as follows:

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)
PO Box 2830, LCD1
33 Wellington Street North
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3N8
Phone: (905) 528-8642 ext. 24
Fax: (905) 528-4968
E-mail: pla@csmls.org

You may download the PLA application and information from www.csmls.org at no charge or you may request the CSMLS mail a PLA package to you and a non-refundable administration fee will be required.

Once the CSMLS confirms your equivalency to a cytogenetics or molecular genetics technologist, you may apply to the CMLTO for membership. The CMLTO Application for Assessment can be downloaded from www.cmlto.com under Registration/Fact Sheets and Forms/Application Form. If you meet all the requirements, please complete the application form and send it, with the required documentation, to the CMLTO.

Please note, if you have not been actively engaged in medical laboratory technology and need to take a refresher course, the required number of refresher course hours is dependent upon the number of years since you last practiced as an MLT. Further details regarding CMLTO-approved refresher courses are available at www.cmlto.com under Registration/Approved Refresher Courses.

Thank you for expressing an interest in the CMLTO. If you require further information, please contact Silvia Wannam at 416-861-9605 (toll-free in Canada: 1-800-323-9672) ext. 226.