CAMLPR is committed to providing fair and accessible examinations for all applicants.
You may request accommodations if you face barriers related to:
- Disabilities
- Religious observances
- Pregnancy-related needs
- Other protected grounds under Canadian federal and provincial human rights legislation
How to request accommodations
You must submit your accommodation request, including all required documentation, at least eight (8) weeks before the exam session you plan to write. The accommodation deadline is typically just 2 weeks after registration opens, so plan ahead if you require accommodations. Approved accommodations apply only to the specific exam session for which they were granted.
Documentation requirements
You must provide documentation from a qualified professional who is licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to assess the condition or barrier for which you are requesting an accommodation. This may include physicians or nurse practitioners, psychologists or psychiatrists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, or other regulated professionals with appropriate expertise.
The documentation must include:
- A description of your condition or barrier.
- An explanation of how it affects your exam performance.
- The specific accommodations you are requesting.
- A clear connection between the barrier and the requested accommodation.
Your documentation must be current and reflect your condition as it is now.
- For psychiatric or recent physical disabilities, it must be from within the last 6 months.
- For long-term disabilities, it must be from within the last 5 years.
- For other disabilities, including ADD and ADHD, it must be from within the last 3 years.
- If your assessment was done before age 18, it must have been updated in the past 3 years to still be valid.
Regardless of when your documentation was completed, it must describe your current functioning and how your condition affects your ability to take the exam. If there is any uncertainty about whether your documentation is current, CAMLPR may ask you to submit updated information.
Submitting your request
Accommodations are requested when you register for the exam in the CAMLPR Applicant Portal. When you register:
- Indicate that you require accommodations
- Describe the accommodations requested.
- Upload the required accommodations documents.
Review process
Your request will be reviewed by an accommodations panel that may include accessibility specialists, examination experts, and medical laboratory practice experts.
You will receive a written decision within 10-15 business days after CAMLPR receives your request. The decision will either:
- Approve your request, with details about the specific accommodations and how they will be implemented; or
- Deny your request, with reasons provided and an explanation of how to appeal
Appeals
If your request is denied, you can submit a written appeal to CAMLPR at applicants@camlpr.org within 10 business days of notification by CAMLPR with any additional supporting documentation.
Confidentiality
All accommodation requests and documentation are handled confidentially and shared only with those who need the information to implement your accommodations.
Accommodation availability
Some accommodations are only available for in-person testing and are not available for remotely proctored testing. Your accommodation approval will specify whether you will need to write in-person at a Prometric test centre.
Bona fide occupational requirements
The practice of medical laboratory technology requires certain fundamental abilities that cannot be compromised. These include precise motor coordination and control, sensory perception and interpretation, cognitive focus and reasoning, and safety awareness. While barriers can be accommodated, accommodations cannot fundamentally alter these essential requirements of medical laboratory technology practice.
An illustration of functions that should not be compromised
Visual and perceptual requirements
Visual acuity for microscopy represents a non-negotiable MLT ability. Requests to eliminate microscopic identification questions or provide alternatives to visual cell morphology assessment must be denied because accurate identification of cellular abnormalities, parasites, bacteria, and blood cell morphology forms the foundation of hematology, microbiology, and clinical chemistry. Misidentification of these elements could lead to misdiagnosis of diseases, life-threatening infections, or other critical conditions that require immediate intervention.
Colour discrimination presents another essential visual requirement. MLTs must differentiate between subtle colour variations in Gram stain interpretation, blood bank typing reactions, and urinalysis results. Colour blindness that affects these areas could result in fatal transfusion reactions from mistyped blood products or missed bacterial infections due to incorrect Gram stain interpretation.
Motor skills and physical capabilities
Fine motor skills cannot be accommodated through elimination of related examination content because precise manipulation represents a core job function. MLTs must perform accurate pipetting, precise volumetric measurements, and delicate specimen handling daily. Inaccurate measurements invalidate test results and may require patient recollection, while damaged specimens can delay critical diagnoses.
Eye-hand coordination represents another essential physical requirement. Severe tremors or coordination deficits that prevent accurate pipetting or slide preparation would compromise the precision required for quantitative measurements and microscopic preparations.
Cognitive requirements
Mathematical calculation ability cannot be waived because MLTs must perform dilution calculations, interpret quality control data, and calculate results as part of routine practice. While calculators may be appropriate tools, complete elimination of mathematical assessment would fail to evaluate essential problem-solving skills required for quality assurance and result interpretation.
Critical thinking under pressure represents a fundamental cognitive requirement that cannot be accommodated through unlimited time allowances for all situations. MLTs must recognize and respond to critical values within appropriate timeframes because delayed recognition of such values can result in patient death. While extended time may be reasonable for most examination components, scenarios involving time-sensitive critical thinking cannot be modified without altering the essential nature of the competency being assessed.
Working memory capacity for retaining multiple procedural steps simultaneously reflects the reality of laboratory work where complex multi-step procedures cannot always be broken down into smaller components without compromising accuracy or efficiency. Problem-solving abilities for troubleshooting instrument malfunctions and investigating unexpected results are essential for quality assurance and patient safety. Attention to detail for maintaining focus during repetitive, detailed tasks represents an essential ability that underlies all laboratory procedures.