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To obtain and maintain a license to practice, MLTs must work at least 1200 eligible practice hours in the previous five years. 

These “Re-Entry to Practice Policies” apply to MLTs who do not meet the practice hours requirement for obtaining or maintaining their license to practice.

These policies have been developed by the Education Marketing and Development Committee and have been approved by the SSMLT Council.  If cases arise that do not fall within the scope of these policies, the Regulatory Affairs Committee will review each case on an individual basis and render a decision on the re-entry requirements.  This decision will then become policy for similar future cases.

Definitions:

Temporary License: a license issued to an individual for a specified period of time requires the holder to work under direct supervision.

Temporary Restricted License: a license issued to an individual for a specified period of time.  A temporary restricted license requires the holder to work under direct supervision in the areas identified on the license.

Full-Unrestricted License: a license issued to an individual for the current licensing year which permits the holder to work in the areas identified (General, Cytotechnology, Clinical Genetics) without supervision.

I.             MLTs (General/Cytology/Clinical Genetics) who have not practiced in the profession for 5 to 9 years must successfully fulfill the following requirements:

Before returning to practice, complete one approved updating course, worth at least 3.0 credits.  Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary restricted license”.  The applicant must then complete the appropriate SSMLT clinical competency checklist and achieve 1200 practice hours while working under direct supervision.   After successfully completing the updating course, the clinical competency checklist(s) and achieving 1200 practice hours, the candidate will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.  

 While working on a “temporary restricted license”, the candidate may increase their scope of practice by completing additional approved updating courses and competency checklists within their area of certification (General/Cytology/Clinical Genetics). The candidate’s license will be expanded to include practice in additional disciplines as additional updating courses are completed.

 “Temporary (restricted) licenses” will be issued for a maximum of one year.  The Regulatory Affairs Committee will consider one-year extensions in extenuating circumstances.

 II.           General MLTs who have not practiced in the profession for 10 years or more, must fulfill the following requirements:

 Option 1:               Successfully complete the general “Medical Laboratory Technology” training program.

 OR

 Option 2:               Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses in all general disciplines. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT general discipline clinical competency checklists to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision.  After successful completion of the courses and required competency checklists, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

 OR

Option 3:               An assessment examination approved by the SSMLT must be successfully completed before the applicant can proceed. If the applicant fails the assessment examination, the applicant may not proceed with option 3 and must complete option 1 or 2. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT General clinical competency checklist to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision. After successful completion of the assessment examination and required competency checklist, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

III.            Clinical Genetics MLTs who have not practiced in clinical genetics for 10 years or more must fulfill one of the following requirements:

 Option 1:               Successfully complete the “Clinical Genetics” training program.

OR

 Option 2:               Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT Clinical Genetics clinical competency checklist to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision.  After successful completion of the courses and required competency checklist, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

OR

Option 3:               An assessment examination approved by the SSMLT must be successfully completed before the applicant can proceed. If the applicant fails the assessment examination, the applicant may not proceed with option 3 and must complete option 1 or 2. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT Clinical Genetics clinical competency checklist to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision. After successful completion of the assessment examination and required competency checklist, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

IV.           Cytotechnology MLTs who have not practiced in cytology for 10 years or more must fulfill one of the following requirements:

 Option 1:               Successfully complete the “Cytology”” training program.

OR

 Option 2:               Before returning to practice, complete approved updating courses. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT Diagnostic Cytology clinical competency checklist to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision.  After successful completion of the courses and required competency checklist, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

 OR

Option 3:               An assessment examination approved by the SSMLT must be successfully completed before the applicant can proceed. If the applicant fails the assessment examination, the applicant may not proceed with option 3 and must complete option 1 or 2. Upon returning to practice, the applicant will receive a “temporary license” and must complete the SSMLT Diagnostic Cytology clinical competency checklist to the degree that their place of employment requires these competencies and accumulate 1200 eligible practice hours while working under direct supervision. After successful completion of the assessment examination and required competency checklist, the applicant will receive a “full-unrestricted license”.

V.            MLTs who have practiced in the profession during the past five years but who do not meet the 1200 practice hours requirement must fulfill the following:

1.      Complete the Re-entry to Practice Requirements while working on a Temporary License (direct supervision required) in the laboratory discipline(s) in which they have been working.

VI.           Special Cases:

 1.     MLTs who are required to be licensed to perform pre-analytical and post-analytical specimen processing but who do not meet the practice hours requirement will be issued with a Temporary License to practice these duties under direct supervision while they meet the re-entry requirements.  They must complete at least one approved updating course worth at least 3.0 credits within four months of receiving their Temporary License.

 2.     MLTs performing very limited laboratory testing and who do not meet the practice hours requirement may be granted a restricted license. Each case will be decided on an individual basis by the Education Marketing and Development Committee.

 3.     Subject-certified MLTs who have successfully completed the CSMLS Cross-Training Program will be issued with a license restricted to practice in core-laboratory settings performing only Chemistry/Hematology/Transfusions tests.

VII.          SSMLT Policy on “Direct Supervision":

 The supervising MLT continually monitors the performance of the person being supervised.  The supervising MLT is always readily accessible on site in case of difficulty or needed intervention.  The supervising MLT will use constant observation until a judgement about competence is made.