Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science

Online Self Assessment Tool for Prior Learning

Assessment Readiness of Internationally Educated
Medical Laboratory Technologists

Tania Toffner BSc, MLT

Director, Certification and Prior Learning Assessment
 Learning Objectives

• CSMLS: Who we are and what we do.

• Introduction to our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process:

the basic elements.

• Specific Accountability Measures: Online self assessment tool.

www.csmls.org
 CSMLS: Who are we?

• National certifying body for Medical Laboratory Technologists

(MLTs) and Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs).
• National professional society for medical laboratory
professionals.
• Established in 1937.
• Located in Hamilton, Ontario.
• Represents 14,000 members in Canada and around the world!

www.csmls.org
 CSMLS: What do we do?

• Distance Education

• Professional Liability Insurance

• Volunteer Opportunities

• Advocacy

• Grants and scholarships

• National Conference-LABCON

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 CSMLS: What do we do?

• Set the national standard for certification of MLTs and MLAs

recognized by all Canadian jurisdictions and regulatory bodies
with the exception of Quebec.

• Create and administer competency-based examinations: the

final entry-to-practice criterion for MLTs.

• Provide a national Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) service for

MLTs and soon for MLAs (Jan 2013).

www.csmls.org
 Prior Learning Assessment

• CSMLS established a formal prior learning assessment (PLA)

process – 1999 – long history of qualification review since the
60s.

• Since the formal process was implemented in 1999, we have

assessed over 2000 internationally trained medical laboratory
technologists and certified ~1000.

• CSMLS receives ~200-300 PLA applications per year and over

600 declare National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3211 to
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) annually.

www.csmls.org
 Prior Learning Assessment

• Under the mandate of the Council on National Certification

(CNC).

• To establish equivalency to the national competency profile.

Detailed review of:

• Education
• Work experience
• Certifications
• Professional development/CE

www.csmls.org
 Prior Learning Assessment Process

www.csmls.org
 Prior Learning Assessment Process

PRE-
ASSESSMENT
STAGE I = CLB 6

POST –
ASSESSMENT
= CLB 8
STAGE II

Language Proficiency Testing (if applicable)

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 Required Documents

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 Required Documents

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 NEW! Credential Evaluation

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 Required Documents

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 Required Documents

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 Language Proficiency Testing

Two-Stage Language Proficiency Requirement

1.Technical Review – The language requirement must be

achieved before the PLA file will be reviewed (technical report).
The minimum requirement is Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 6.

2.Equivalent and Eligible to Exam – The language requirement

that must be achieved before becoming eligible to write the exam.
The minimum requirement is Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 8.

www.csmls.org
 Language Proficiency Testing

• The credential evaluation (ICES or WES) determines whether a

language proficiency test is required.

• If the language of instruction in the clients home country was

English or French only, the client does NOT need to take a
language test.

• If language of instruction was not English or French, then a

language test is required to meet the language proficiency
requirement.

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 Required Documents

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 Summary of Required Documents

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 The Assessment Report
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES:

Supplemental information and appeals are permitted

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 Timelines for the process

• Assessment begins when all documents are received at the

CSMLS (12 months from application).

• Assessment takes about 4-6 weeks.

• Client has up to 2 years to complete the learning plan outlined

in their report.

• Takes 18-24 months to complete the learning plan.

• Once equivalent - 12 months (3 consecutive attempts) to pass

the exam (same as domestic).

www.csmls.org
 PLA - Cost

• In 2011, the PLA application fee is $800.

• The fee only covers a portion of the total cost of administering

and maintaining the PLA process.

• CSMLS does NOT receive funding from governments or

regulatory bodies for providing PLA services.

• The process is subsidized by CSMLS members through annual

dues.

www.csmls.org
 A Commitment to Accountability

The CSMLS is committed to an evidence-informed research

approach for PLA policies to ensure that the process …

• is transparent, objective, fair and impartial, and

• does not create artificial barriers for Internationally Educated
MLTs.

www.csmls.org
 Specific Accountability Measures: Online Self
Assessment Tool
• In 2006, the CSMLS PLA process underwent an external audit
(CAPLA – Canadian Association for Prior Learning
Assessment).
– This project was funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign
Credential Recognition Program.

• One of the recommendations of the audit report was the

development of a screening tool
• Give potential PLA candidates a clearer idea of the competencies
expected during the CSMLS credentialing process and in the
Canadian healthcare setting

www.csmls.org
 Specific accountability measure: Online Self
Assessment Tool

• Between April 2007 and September 2010 CSMLS developed,

piloted and implemented an online assessment tool for use by
would-be applicants to the CSMLS PLA process.
– This project was funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign
Credential Recognition Program.

www.csmls.org
 Intention of the Tool

• Expedite the integration of skilled medical laboratory

professionals into the Canadian healthcare system.

• Provide would-be applicants with a realistic, constructive and

accessible tool for assessing their own readiness to enter the
medical laboratory credentialing process.

• Provide information about the expectations of the Canadian

healthcare workplace.

• Encourage advance preparation and ‘informed self-selection’ by

potential PLA candidates, ideally before they arrive in Canada.

www.csmls.org
 Development Process

• Conducted 3 ‘Test item writing workshops’.

• Utilized the same process for developing the online test

questions that the CSMLS uses to create questions for its
certification examination.

• The workshops consist of 3 to 4 days of question development

and critique by 14 to 18 subject matter experts, CSMLS staff,
and individuals experienced in construction of competency-
based professional examinations.

• This has resulted in a substantial bank of almost 900 English

questions (and almost 600 French questions).

www.csmls.org
 Development Process

• The online test consultants, Yardstick, brought their

psychometrician onto their team; this additional expertise will
enhance the validity of the test and provide CSMLS with
ongoing statistical data and guidance in maintaining the test.

• Yardstick also created a video for test-takers on how to take

multiple-choice tests. This will be extremely useful for CSMLS’s
clients, as many have not encountered multiple-choice formats
in their academic careers.

www.csmls.org
 Development Process

• This test was developed with English-as-a-second-language

(ESL) language consultants, as well as with the newfound plain
language expertise of CSMLS staff acquired as a result of a
previous project supported by the Foreign Credential
Recognition Program.

• This has resulted in a clear and linguistically accessible testing

process, while orienting IEMLTs to the communicative and
technical requirements of the Canadian healthcare workplace.

www.csmls.org
 About the Test

• The online test has been available since November 2010 at a

cost of $59.95.

• The full version consists of 100 items (90 minutes).

• The test covers professional knowledge in;

• Hematology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Transfusion Science
• Microbiology
• Histology/Histotechnology
• Safety
• Specimen Handling
• Professionalism

www.csmls.org
 About the Test

• The test is available in English and French.

• Health professionals in their home countries can take the test.

• A small video tutorial about multiple choice questions is

available.

• Opportunity to try out a 10-question practice test before

attempting the full version.

• Those who complete the full test receive a diagnostic report on

their scores in the eight test areas.

www.csmls.org
 Step by Step Guide

• go to
http://csmls.protraining.com/

• Select language of choice

www.csmls.org
 Step by Step Guide

• Learn more about the

tool

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 Step by Step Guide

• Fill in demographic
information
• Information may be subject
to the US Patriot Act

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 Step by Step Guide

• Watch the tutorial

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 Step by Step Guide

http://vimeo.com/17578887

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 Step by Step Guide

• Try the Practice test

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 Step by Step Guide

• Start Exam

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 Sample Question

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 Sample Question

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 Zoom Image

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 Step by Step Guide

• A three page diagnostic

report is issued upon
completion
• This report can be saved
as a PDF or viewed from
the “your account” page

www.csmls.org
 Step by Step Guide

www.csmls.org
 Marketing & Communication

0974F CSMLS (Filipino) 0974P CSMLS (Punjabi)

Are you a medical laboratory

technologist who was educated
outside of Canada?

Are you looking to becoming certified

to practice in Canada?

Are you sure you are ready to begin

the certification process?

The Canadian Society for Medical

Laboratory Science encourages you
to complete our new online self
assessment tool.

This test will help identify knowledge

gaps and provide valuable
information to assist you with your
decision in pursuing Canadian
certification.

Please visit us at today at

www.csmls.org!

www.csmls.org
 Council on National Certification Decision

• As of June 2011, the online self assessment tool became

mandatory for all PLA clients.

• Over the next 2 years, the CSMLS will investigate if the tool is
being used as intended.

• After the 2 year period, the Council on National Certification will

re-assess the use of the tool and determine if it should remain
mandatory.

www.csmls.org
 Thank you for your time!

QUESTIONS?

For more information visit

www.csmls.org and select Research

Tania Toffner (E): taniat@csmls.org