Medical Laboratory Technologists (MTs) are covered under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), so American MTs can work in Canada and vice versa. As stated in the relevant section (Chapter 16) of NAFTA, to qualify, medical technologists must have either: a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or a post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate and three years experience.

For details about licensing and visa issues, see:

For information about specialty certifications, see:

The Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) was initiated in 1928. ASCP Board of Registry has certified more than 400,000 laboratory professionals, including scientists, medical technologists, cytotechnologists, histotechnologist, phlebotomists, and technicians, as well as pathologists and residents.

The ASCP offers five technician certifications:

The ASCP offers eight medical technologist (MT) certifications:

The ASCP also offers eight specialist certifications:

Other ASCP offerings:

The ASCP also offers Diplomate in Laboratory Management, DLM(ASCP) certification.

And for those in "approved countries" (i.e., at 9/2008 listed as Guyana, Hong Kong, Panama, the Philippines, and South Korea), the ASCP offers international "ASCPⁱ" certification in four areas: International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPⁱ); International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPⁱ); International Medical Technologist, MT(ASCPⁱ); International Technologist in Molecular Pathology, MP(ASCPⁱ). As stated by the ASCP, "ASCPⁱ was established to provide a certification that would allow foreign graduates to be more competitive in their native country." For more information see the ASCPⁱFAQ.

Requirements for MLT, MT, and Specialist certifications:

The specific requirements for writing the MT, MLT, and technician certification exams vary according to the specialty and type of degree the applicant holds. There are anywhere from one to six routes of eligibility for each specialty, but, in all cases, to obtain MT certification, one must have a Bachelor's degree or higher (with concentration in math and/or sciences). RNs/LPNs applying for Phlebotomy Technician certification must provide a notarized copy of their current license.

The requirements for the specialist certification exams also vary, with one to four routes of eligibility, but, in each case, one must have a Bachelor's degree or higher (except for RNs applying for the Hemapheresis Practitioner certification). Additionally, RNs applying for Hemapheresis Practitioner certification must provide a notarized copy of their current license.

There are six eligibility routes to writing the Diplomate in Laboratory Management exam, but depending on the eligibility route used, the minimum educational level is a Bachelor's degree. The other requirement involves experience, within the past 10 years, in 20 out of the following 32 areas of management/supervision: billing and collection; budgets; capital equipment acquisition; cash flow analysis; contract negotiations; cost analysis; financial accounting; materials management (inventory control); materials management (purchasing); reimbursement issues; consumer relations; managed care; market research; product development; information technology; facilities management; data management; intra/interdepartmental relations; licensure/accreditation; performance improvement; productivity; risk management/medical legal issues; safety; conflict resolution; counseling/disciplinary action; education and training/continuing education; job descriptions; motivation; performance standards/evaluations; personnel negotiations; staffing/scheduling; wage and salary administration.

The exams are computer-based and offered year-round, with applicants being given a three-month window to write after receiving their "admission letter" for testing. The cost varies according to exam and ranges (as of 2008) from US$125 to US$500.

Beginning January 1, 2004, certifications are for a three-year period. To maintain certification, the ASCP Board of Registry operates a Certification Maintenance Program (CMP), which is required for all individuals who were newly certified beginning January 1, 2004 in the following categories:Apheresis Technician; Cytotechnologist; Donor Phlebotomy Technician; Histotechnician; Histotechnologist; Medical Laboratory Technician; Medical Technologist; Phlebotomy Technician; Technologist in Blood Banking; Technologist in Chemistry; Technologist in Hematology; Technologist in Microbiology; Technologist in Molecular Pathology. The CMP is voluntary for those certified before January 1, 2004. All Pathologists' Assistants certified after January 1, 2005 must participate in the CMP. All specialists and diplomates certified after January 1, 2006 must participate in the CMP. Those who have time-limited certificates and have fulfilled CMP requirements will be entitled to use the "CM" credential.

To maintain certification, individuals in the above categories (except Phlebotomy Technicians, who require nine documented continued competency points, and Pathologists' Assistants who require 45 points) must accumulate 36 points of documented continued competency during the three-year period.

Qualifications

As well, since 1993, the Board of Registry has offered a form of recognition called Qualifications in the following areas:

There are three to five routes of eligibility for these qualifications, as well as mandatory completion of a work sample project. Qualifications are worth 12 CMP points. The fee for the application is, as of August 2008, US$200. The qualification lasts for five years and is revalidated based on 30 hours of CE credits (and payment of a fee).

For more information on the above, see the ASCP Certification page.

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS), formerly the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists, was incorporated in 1937. It has more than 14,000 members in Canada and around the world.