FCR 2.0 – Regulatory Bodies – Integration Partners and Gatekeepers March 12, 2014 Gatineau C. Nielsen

1. FCR 2.0 – Regulatory Bodies – Integration Partners and Gatekeepers March 12, 2014 Gatineau C. Nielsen

2. The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is a national Not-for-profit association, Certifying body for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) and Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), and Professional society for Canada’s medical laboratory professionals Established in 1937 Represents 14,500 members in Canada and abroad CSMLS: Who We Are

3. Set the national standard (Competency Profiles) for certification of MLTs and MLAs Create and administer competency-based exams Prior Learning Assessment process for Internationally Educated Medical Laboratory Technologists (IEMLTs) Regulatory-like function CSMLS: What We Do

4. Professional Standards Council Board of Directors (Chair), Exam panel and Each province (regulator or association) Make recommendations to the BOARD on policies: Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) Certification (competency profiles, exam panels etc.) Governance: Harmony Nationally

5. The PLA Process PLA Stage I = CLB 6 PLA Stage II = CLB 8 Language Proficiency Testing (if needed)

6. Required Documentation

7. Process Timelines • Assessment begins when all documents received • Takes 4-6 weeks (Pan Canadian Framework) • Up to 2 years to complete the learning plan • Once equivalent - 12 months (3 consecutive attempts) to pass the exam (same as domestic)

8. Program Principles • Transparent • Fair • Impartial • Objective • NEW: Informed Choice

9. Research • The sooner people have information, the better their decisions “If I knew then what I knew now… I would have made a different decision…”

10. How did we get here? • Interest – our staff hear the struggles, barriers, challenges and triumphs of our clients • Harmony – we have a standardized, guided-by-the-regulators process for qualification (domestic and international) • Capacity – lengthy research history, 20+ full time staff • Credibility – leading-edge in evidence-based policy decisions, one of the first professions compliant with the Pan Canadian Framework

11. PLA By the Numbers • About 200 PLA clients apply to CSMLS per year • Approximately 90% are not equivalent to the national profile (numbers for 2013 are better – 17%) – they need to complete a Learning Plan • Even after completing a Learning Plan – about 35% pass the national exam on first attempt (domestic – about 86%) • Information up front • Allow for client CHOICE

12. What We DO Off Shore Application to PLA: • Strongly encourage off shore applicants - # rising every year! • Barrier - Cost Self Assessments: • Self assessment and readiness tool (SART) – included A Day in the Life (voluntary - free) • On Line Self Assessment (mandatory – free practice, actual test is $60) • Personal Competency Rating Booklet (mandatory - free)

13. What We DO Off Shore • Language Proficiency Testing – TOEFL, IELTs, etc • Assessment Reports: sent offshore, including advice on next steps • Gap-filling (upgrading) to qualify for exam – many of the courses to fill gaps are available to the global market. A clinical placement off shore could be considered…to meet the gap requirements. CSMLS does not presume that Canadian means ‘better’

14. What we won’t do… (yet) Off Shore Exams • Removed residency requirement over five years ago to allow for clients who are ‘legally entitled to be in Canada’ and eligible for the exam… to write the exam • Barrier – $$ - reasoning – the Canadian membership should not subsidize the process for clients who may never become members • Challenge – many clients (Nigeria) can’t get out of their home country to write exam

15. What we don’t have just yet… • Off Shore Bridging Programs – as long as they are relevant to the Canadian context, we would be able to consider them

16. New Projects • Self Directed Bridging – ESDC - piloting • Alternate Careers – Health Canada – underway How do IEMLTs feel about this? What to advise? When to advise?

17. CSMLS: Eliminating Barriers • Cost – split assessment fees into two payments (time to save) • Language – multiple tests acceptable • Language – high standard – implemented 2 stages (CLB 6 then 8) • Third Party Assessments – two agencies to choose from • Learning Styles – choice of courses (distance, online, in person, bridging programs) • Access – over 50 approved courses on our list • Mandatory Clinical Placement – eliminated in 1999, when zero access in the field

18. To Do…More Research • Eliminating insurance as a barrier to clinical placements • When clients drop out of the system, where do they go? • Peer Support/Mentoring network • Preparing employers for internationally educated MLTs • Validating assumptions about the K-12 Testing system in Canada… • Sector specific language proficiency testing/support Too numerous to count!

19. Christinen@csmls.org www.csmls.org