bcsls
0

MLA Certification

Certification

Working in a Lab certification banner.jpg

Medical Laboratory Assistants

Medical laboratory assistant certification

The society's certification program validates that an individual has attained a recognized level of standards and training through BCSLS approved educational institutions.

Graduates of BCSLS Approved MLA programs get preferential hiring by health authorities and Lifelabs in BC. Make sure that the MLA program you choose is BCSLS Approved. To see a list of BCSLS Approved MLA programs see below.

To obtain BCSLS certification you have a few options:

Option 1.   

BCSLS reviews applications from public and private colleges, to determine whether their MLA programs meet BCSLS Competency Guidelines.  Graduates of the below BCSLS approved programs can apply for BCSLS certification after graduation.

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.

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.

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 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 in which we validate that an individual has attained a recognized level of standards and training through BCSLS approved educational institutions.  Certification application is a one-time fee of $89.  Please read 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?

  1. Are you a current BCSLS MLA Member? You can check to see on your BCSLS profile/account: https://members.bcsls.net/

  2. Are you also BCSLS MLA certified?

    1. This is not automatic upon graduation. You must apply for certification to recieve your certificate.

    2. If you are unsure you can email angie@bcsls.net

    3. 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

Medical Laboratory Technologists

medical laboratory technologist certification

You must be certified with the CSMLS to work as an MLT in BC.  Click here for more information

Medical Laboratory Technologist membership

You can become a member of BCSLS, regardless of your MLT Certification process with CSMLS. For more information see our Membership page.