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.
Only 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:
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.
Thompson Rivers University: Distance Education. Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate.
Please note: The Medical Laboratory Assistant National Certificate is different than the one above and is not approved by BCSLS and graduates of the national certificate program will not be eligible for MLA certification by BCSLS.
Cambria College: Victoria and Surrey, BC
Edison College: Victoria, BC
Western Community College: Surrey and Abbotsford, BC
Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Graduates before April 2019)
MTI (Graduates before Dec 2018)
Suspended, special conditions or on hold:
Saskatchewan Polytechnic (After May 2019)
MTI (After January 2019)
2. Successfully write the MLA certification exam with MLPAO (Ontario Society). Once you have this, you can apply for BCSLS certification. You will also need to submit proof of industry experiences working in a lab (at least 120 hours) and proof of ECG training or ECG work experience. See details here
If you are interested in writing the MLPAO Medical Laboratory Assistant exam you would have to qualify through the ‘Special Consideration’ or “Out of Province - Special Consideration” application process. More information can be found HERE
Please note that the exams are in English so it is your responsibility to ensure that your English Language abilities are good enough to write the exam. There is no English test for you to take to ensure your Language Standards for this exam.
3. Successfully write the MLA certification exam with CSMLS (Canadian Society). Once you have this, you can apply for BCSLS certification. You will also need to submit proof of industry experiences working in a lab (at least 120 hours) and proof of ECG training or ECG work experience. See details here
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?
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
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.