1. www.csmls.org FCR 2.0 – Regulatory Bodies – Integration Partners and Gatekeepers March 12, 2014 Gatineau C. Nielsen

2. www.csmls.org CSMLS: Who We Are The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is a national ▪ Not-for-profit association, ▪ Certifying body for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) and Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), and ▪ Professional society for Canada’s medical laboratory professionals Established in 1937 Represents 14,500 members in Canada and abroad

3. www.csmls.org CSMLS: What We Do Set the national standard (Competency Profiles) for certification of MLTs and MLAs Create and administer competency-based exams Prior Learning Assessment process for Internationally Educated Medical Laboratory Technologists (IEMLTs) Regulatory-like function

4. www.csmls.org Governance: Harmony Nationally Professional Standards Council Board of Directors (Chair), Exam panel and Each province (regulator or association) Make recommendations to the BOARD on policies: Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) Certification (competency profiles, exam panels etc.)

5. www.csmls.org The PLA Process SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ASSESSMENT EQUIVALENT EXAM NOT EQUIVALENT LEARNING PLAN PLA Stage I PLA Stage II Language Proficiency Testing (if needed) = CLB 6 = CLB 8

6. www.csmls.org ASSESSMENT REPORT CREDENTIAL EVALUATION MLT EDUCATION LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY WORK EXPERIENCE CONTINUING EDUCATION ONLINE SELF ASSESSMENT PERSONAL COMPETENCY RATING BOOKLET PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION Required Documentation

7. www.csmls.org Process Timelines Assessment begins when all documents received Takes 4-6 weeks (Pan Canadian Framework) Up to 2 years to complete the learning plan Once equivalent - 12 months (3 consecutive attempts) to pass the exam (same as domestic)

8. www.csmls.org Program Principles Transparent Fair Impartial Objective NEW: Informed Choice

9. www.csmls.org Research The sooner people have information, the better their decisions “If I knew then what I knew now… I would have made a different decision…”

10. www.csmls.org How did we get here? Interest – our staff hear the struggles, barriers, challenges and triumphs of our clients Harmony – we have a standardized, guided-by-the-regulators process for qualification (domestic and international) Capacity – lengthy research history, 20+ full time staff Credibility – leading-edge in evidence-based policy decisions, one of the first professions compliant with the Pan Canadian Framework

11. www.csmls.org PLA By the Numbers About 200 PLA clients apply to CSMLS per year Approximately 90% are not equivalent to the national profile (numbers for 2013 are better – 17%) – they need to complete a Learning Plan Even after completing a Learning Plan – about 35% pass the national exam on first attempt (domestic – about 86%) Information up front Allow for client CHOICE

12. www.csmls.org What We DO Off Shore Application to PLA: Strongly encourage off shore applicants - # rising every year! Barrier - Cost Self Assessments: Self assessment and readiness tool (SART) – included A Day in the Life (voluntary - free) On Line Self Assessment (mandatory – free practice, actual test is $60) Personal Competency Rating Booklet (mandatory - free)

13. www.csmls.org What We DO Off Shore Language Proficiency Testing – TOEFL, IELTs, etc Assessment Reports: sent offshore, including advice on next steps Gap-filling (upgrading) to qualify for exam – many of the courses to fill gaps are available to the global market. A clinical placement off shore could be considered…to meet the gap requirements. CSMLS does not presume that Canadian means ‘better’

14. www.csmls.org What we won’t do… (yet) Off Shore Exams Removed residency requirement over five years ago to allow for clients who are ‘legally entitled to be in Canada’ and eligible for the exam… to write the exam Barrier – $$ - reasoning – the Canadian membership should not subsidize the process for clients who may never become members Challenge – many clients (Nigeria) can’t get out of their home country to write exam

15. www.csmls.org What we don’t have just yet… Off Shore Bridging Programs – as long as they are relevant to the Canadian context, we would be able to consider them

16. www.csmls.org New Projects Self Directed Bridging – ESDC - piloting Alternate Careers – Health Canada – underway How do IEMLTs feel about this? What to advise? When to advise?

17. www.csmls.org CSMLS: Eliminating Barriers Cost – split assessment fees into two payments (time to save) Language – multiple tests acceptable Language – high standard – implemented 2 stages (CLB 6 then 8) Third Party Assessments – two agencies to choose from Learning Styles – choice of courses (distance, online, in person, bridging programs) Access – over 50 approved courses on our list Mandatory Clinical Placement – eliminated in 1999, when zero access in the field

18. www.csmls.org To Do…More Research Eliminating insurance as a barrier to clinical placements When clients drop out of the system, where do they go? Peer Support/Mentoring network Preparing employers for internationally educated MLTs Validating assumptions about the K-12 Testing system in Canada… Sector specific language proficiency testing/support Too numerous to count!

19. www.csmls.org WWW.CSMLS.ORG Christinen@csmls.org