Medical Laboratory Assistants
Medical laboratory assistant certification
BCSLS MLA certification validates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and abilities to work in a BC medical laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Assistant.
There are two options for applying for BCSLS MLA certification:
Option 1:
Graduate from a BCSLS-approved MLA education program.
The BCSLS is recognized as the body responsible for setting the BC Medical Laboratory Assistant competency profile and the BC Medical Laboratory Assistant provincial curriculum to ensure graduates have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work in a BC medical laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Assistant. BCSLS approved programs have undergone a rigorous review process to ensure they meet the BCSLS MLA Program policies and curricular requirements. Both public and private educational institutions proceed through the review and approval process.
If you are a graduate from a BCSLS-approved MLA program, you can apply for certification upon graduation. To determine if the MLA program you completed is BCSLS-approved, please visit https://www.bcsls.net/bcslsmlaprograms
Option 2:
Successfully write the Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario (MLPAO) MLA certification exam OR Successfully write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) MLA certification exam.
AND
Demonstrate a minimum of 120 hours working in a laboratory, provide evidence of successfully completing education in ECG, and demonstrate competence in the performance of ECG. Applicants must submit the following with their application.
Proof of MLA certification from MLPAO or CSMLS
Resume indicating recency of practice in a medical laboratory and recency of practice performing ECGs indicating the most recent location/facility in which ECGs were performed, the approximate date when ECGs were last performed, and the approximate number of ECGs performed in the past five (5) years
A letter from a medical laboratory employer verifying a minimum of 120 hours of work experience as a medical laboratory assistant, and verification that you routinely performed ECGs in your employment with an attestation that you have demonstrated competency in performing 12 lead ECGs, patient preparation including placement of leads, detecting and correction of artifacts, recognizing rhythms indicating critical values and response, operating and maintaining ECG equipment. (Note: the verification and attestation of ECG competence and experience may come from a medical laboratory employer or cardiac services employer) The verification and attestation letter must be sent by the employer directly to BCSLS by emailing to bcsls@bcsls.net
The name and location of the post-secondary institution/program that ECG education was completed
The date the ECG education was completed
Evidence of successful completion of the ECG education (e.g., certificate, transcript)
The course outline or course syllabus for ECG focused course(s)
The number of hours of theory and lab classes focused on ECG
The number of hours focused in performing ECGs in a clinical placement
The approximate number of ECGs performed in a clinical placement
Please ensure that all documentation required is submitted at the time of application, and that BCSLS has received employer letters of verification and attestation as each application is reviewed once. If the Committee determines that insufficient information and evidence was provided at the time of review, the application for certification will not be approved and re-application including payment of application fees will be required.
MLA 2025 GRADUATES - Free membership
SPECIAL: Apply for your BCSLS certification ($89) within 4 months of your graduation date and we will give you the current year's MLA Certified Membership for FREE!! When you are BCSLS certified and a BCSLS member, you receive professional liability insurance.
mla certification vs membership
BCSLS MLA Certification is a one-time process to validate that an individual has the knowledge, skills and abilities to work in a BC medical laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Assistant. Applying for certification is $89. Please read the BCSLS certification options on this page for more specific information.
BCSLS MLA Membership is renewed each year for a 12 month period. Membership has many benefits: Leadership opportunities, significant discounts on educational seminars and Congress, the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting and hold elected office with BCSLS. Membership is $103 annually. For more information go to our Membership webpage
MLA Professional Liability Insurance
Find more information about insurance here: https://www.bcsls.net/bcsls-mla-professional-liability-insurance
Introducing The New Professional Liability Insurance: Some level of uncertainty is present in all lab work. But your professional status is NOT dependent on random variables.
BCSLS covers the cost of insurance for our BCSLS MLA certified members!
Are you eligable for the bcsls Professional Liability Insurance?
Are you a current BCSLS MLA Member? You can check to see on your BCSLS profile/account: https://members.bcsls.net/
Are you also BCSLS MLA certified?
This is not automatic upon graduation. You must apply for certification to recieve your certificate.
If you are unsure you can email angie@bcsls.net
Click for more information on BCSLS certification: https://www.bcsls.net/certification
How to apply for bcsls mla certification
Link to the member page: https://members.bcsls.net/
Press CREATE NEW ACCOUNT or Login to your existing account.
APPLY for your certification (right side of page), pay by credit card ($89). SAVE AND SUBMIT
APPLY for your membership (right side of page). (Recent MLA grads do not need to do this part)
You will need to upload your MLA diploma
Optional: Fill in all of your personal, professional, educational information and documentation and SAVE
Your certification will be pending until BCSLS has approved your application.
We recommend also getting your BCSLS membership too. Remember, if you are BCSLS certified and a current member, then you will have our professional liability insurance
Re-issue your MLA BCSLS certificate for $15
Link to the member page: https://members.bcsls.net/
Login to your account.
APPLY for the RE-ISSUE of your certification (right side of page), pay by credit card ($15). SAVE AND SUBMIT
Optional: Fill in all of your personal, professional, educational information and documentation and SAVE
We will mail you another certificate and upload a pdf to your account.