Who should write the CAMLPR Exams?
Already Practicing | Not Yet Practicing | Jurisdiction Requirements | CSMLS Exam Attempts | CSMLS Exam Eligibility
Already practicing as an MLT
Individuals who are already registered to practice as Medical Laboratory Technologists in Canada or already employed as MLTs in non-regulated jurisdictions (British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon) will not be required to take the CAMLPR Exams.
Not yet practicing as an MLT
In the participating jurisdictions, the CAMLPR Fields-of-Practice Competency Assessments (Examinations) will be required of all categories of applicants, including:
- Internationally Educated Medical Laboratory Technologists (IEMLTs): Individuals who have completed their medical laboratory technology/science education outside of Canada and are seeking registration to practice as MLTs in Canada.
- Canadian-Educated Applicants with MLT Education: Individuals who have completed CAMLPR-approved Canadian medical laboratory technology/science programs who are pursuing entry-to-practice registration in Canada. CAMLPR-approved programs are Health Standards Organization (HSO) EQual-accredited, accredited with condition, or admitted medical laboratory technology, clinical genetics technology, or diagnostic cytology programs.
- Applicants with Non-traditional Education: Individuals who have completed non-traditional academic qualifications (e.g., BSc, MSc, PhD) related to medical laboratory technology/science and who are pursuing entry-to-practice registration in Canada.
Exam and registration requirements by jurisdiction
Once the CAMLPR Fields-of-Practice Competency Assessments (Exams) take effect, they will be required for all applicants seeking to practice as Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) in the following jurisdictions:
| I am an applicant seeking to practice in: | Should I write the CAMLPR Exam(s)? | Do I need to apply for registration with a regulator? |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | Yes | Yes |
| New Brunswick | Yes | Yes |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | Yes | Yes |
| Ontario | Yes | Yes |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | Yes |
| British Columbia | Yes |
No. While MLTs are not currently regulated by a provincial regulatory body in British Columbia (BC), the province and BC employers have
endorsed
CAMLPR’s Flexible Pathways to Registration. Once the CAMLPR Exams come into effect, successful completion of these assessments will be required for all new applicants seeking to practice as MLTs in BC.
MLTs will be regulated in BC soon. |
| Northwest Territories | Yes | No. However, employers in the Northwest Territories have agreed to recognize the CAMLPR exams. |
| Nunavut | Yes | No. However, employers in Nunavut have agreed to recognize the CAMLPR exams. |
| Yukon | Yes | No. However, employers in the Yukon have agreed to recognize the CAMLPR exams. |
| Québec | No, contact OPTMQ | Yes. The regulator of medical laboratory technologists in Quebec is a member of CAMLPR. However, MLTs in Quebec follow a different registration pathway and should contact L’Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ) for examination and registration requirements. |
| Alberta | No, contact CMLTA | Yes. MLTs seeking to practice in Alberta, where Medical Laboratory Technologists are regulated, should contact the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta (CMLTA) for examination and registration requirements. |
Wrote a CSMLS exam, but did not pass
Please review the CSMLS to CAMLPR Transition Guide.
Applicants are allowed up to three (3) attempts to pass a CAMLPR exam in each field of practice.
For the following applicant categories, if you wish to attempt an exam again, you are required to take your next exam through CAMLPR if the exam date is on or after November 1, 2025:
- International MLT Education: You completed a medical laboratory technology/science program outside of Canada.
- Non-Traditional Education: You completed a program (e.g., BSc, MSc, PhD) related to medical laboratory technology/science.
- Canadian MLT Education (over 24 months ago): You did not attempt your first national exam within 24 months of completing a CAMLPR-approved Canadian medical laboratory technology/science program.
Please note that additional documentation must be submitted to CAMLPR before you may be granted eligibility to write the CAMLPR Fields-of-Practice Exam(s).
If your most recent CSMLS exam report was more than two years before your planned CAMLPR exam date, you will have additional requirements before you can be granted eligibility to write the CAMLPR exam.
Hold Statement of Eligibility for a CSMLS exam but have not yet written an exam
Please review the CSMLS to CAMLPR Transition Guide.
If you are a CSMLS Prior Learning Assessment client and CSMLS has issued your Eligibility Statement, you have 12 months from the eligibility date to take your first exam attempt.
- If you write on or after November 1, 2025, you are required to take your exam through CAMLPR.
- If you cannot write your exam within 12 months of your CSMLS Eligibility Statement date, you may be eligible for a time extension. Please contact applicants@camlpr.org for guidance on next steps.
Exam Attempts and Timelines
Maximum attempts: Applicants are allowed a maximum of three (3) exam attempts per field of practice.
Exam eligibility period: Applicants must complete all exam attempts, including the first attempt, within twelve (12) months of receiving eligibility confirmation for that field.
In exceptional cases, applicants may apply for a one-time 12-month extension per field of practice. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for extraordinary circumstances that prevents exam participation. Circumstances such as workload, stress, or scheduling conflicts are not considered grounds for extension.
For further information on eligibility, please consult the CAMLPR Exam Policy.