As a result of the shift in examination provider within most Canadian provinces (see background and rationale information), the MLSc program faculty have conducted a review of the current curriculum and alignment to the revised CAMPLR competency profile. This exercise has resulted in the proposed revised course learning outcomes wording on most MLSC courses to ensure alignment with the competency profile.

Course learning outcome changes are proposed in the following MLSC program courses with detailed information provide in each individual course change form.

• MLSC1010U – Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science
• MLSC2111U – Clinical Biochemistry I
• MLSC3111U – Clinical Biochemistry II
• MLSC2121U – Clinical Hematology I
• MLSC3121U – Clinical Hematology II
• MLSC2130U – Foundations in Clinical Microbiology and Immunology
• MLSC2131U – Clinical Microbiology I
• MLSC3131U – Clinical Microbiology II
• MLSC3200U – Transfusion Science I
• MLSC3220U – Transfusion Science II
• MLSC3230U – Microanatomy and Histotechnology
• MLSC3231U – Advanced Histotechnology
• MLSC3300U – Simulated Clinical Practicum
• MLSC3141U – Molecular Techniques and Complementary Technologies
• MLSC3210U – Effective Leadership and Quality Management

The Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Medical Laboratory Science is only one of two programs of its kind in Canada, and the only one currently located in Ontario. It provides students with a unique academic pathway leading to a breadth of employment and graduate study opportunities. The Medical Laboratory Science program holds accreditation with Accreditation Canada.

The faculty’s mission is to prepare highly skilled graduates who are committed to excellence, innovation, and evidence-based practice in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Throughout the program there is an emphasis on collaboration, accountability, leadership and research as the foundation of evidence.

In recent years, modern health care has become increasingly dependent on complex laboratory tests. Medical laboratory technologists perform tests in all laboratory areas. The results of these tests aid in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease. Increasing consumer and physician demand for diagnostic laboratory services and the anticipated Ontario population growth are excellent indicators of continued and growing employment opportunities for Medical Laboratory Science graduates.

Students learn fundamental knowledge and skills in biological, physical and health sciences. In the medical laboratory science-specific courses, students develop strong laboratory, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills. Consolidation of these skills occurs during the fourth-year practicum.

When in the laboratories, students will work with all types of human specimens. It is important that applicants are aware of this aspect of the program. Throughout Years 1 to 4, students will be expected to collect blood specimens. Competence in blood collection must be demonstrated prior to entering the first practicum semester in Year 4. Demonstrating this competency is important because under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), MLTs are authorized to perform one controlled act: to take blood samples from veins or by skin pricking, which is a part of the controlled act of performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis.

Medical laboratory professionals are dedicated to serving the health care needs of the public; therefore, the welfare of the patient is paramount at all times. To meet this expectation on graduation, it is important that students considering Medical Laboratory Science realize there is an expectation throughout the program that they perform testing protocols within a pre-established time standard and meet the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science competencies so that they are prepared for the clinical environment.

In August of 2024, the Canadian Association of Medical Laboratory Regulators unexpectedly announced a decision to assume national certification examination responsibilities in most Canadian provinces (Quebec, Alberta, and BC are exempt) effective March 2026. In addition to the shift in examination services, CAMPLR has released revised “flexible pathway” competency profiles that fundamentally dictate the learning outcomes within medical laboratory training programs, which this new certification examination structure must adhere to.

While shifts in competency profiles are relatively commonplace in health science education programs, these shifts are normally accompanied by a suitable transition period which allows programs to adjust curricular framework over a period typically equivalent to a complete academic program cycle (i.e., Ontario Tech would historically have had 4-5 years to adjust curriculum). However, in this instance, the regulator has indicated that no such significant transition will occur. Per CAMLPR:

“The new competency profiles and examinations will require that educational institutions revise and align their curricula to ensure that graduates meet the required competencies for entry-level practice as MLTs. Institutions may need to adjust their teaching methods, course content, and assessment strategies to prepare students effectively for the new examinations.” CAMPLR, 2024

Moreover, per official CAMPLR communication, this change in examination is set to impact all current MLSc program students except for those who are currently in Year 4 – this will be the last class to write this historical CSMLS certification exam which has been the primary certification examination since the program’s inception.

“Beginning March 1, 2026, CAMLPR will administer the CAMLPR competency assessments (examinations) to all registration applicants, including those educated in Canada, based on the new CAMLPR competency profile” – CAMPLR, 2024

As such, the OnTech MLSc program must immediately address any new or revised competency outcomes indicated in the revised profile to ensure students have attained the required skills and education to challenge this new certification examination. This is a requirement for both Accreditation and Regulation. In addition, the Ontario Tech MLSc program is currently in the end stage of its most recent accreditation cycle and must begin to prepare its self-study submission in Spring 2025.

Given this circumstance, faculty members reviewed the current competency profile and the revised CAMPLR flexible pathway profile and have approved the revised wording on all MLSC courses to ensure alignment with the competency profile. In most instances, these changes constitute a structural or grammatical revision of the learning outcome to more clearly align with the revised competency profile and with quality practice in constructing learning outcomes (e.g., appropriate verb selection, measurability, single outcome, etc…). This proposed change is in support of both the accreditation cross reference exercise (standards 1.1.2 and 1.1.6) and ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations to meet all professional competencies.

Importantly, most of these changes DO NOT significantly alter the associated classroom or laboratory pedagogy, course objective, current learning practices, or student experience with minor exceptions to select laboratory exercises. The medical laboratory science team at Ontario Tech has been historically responsive to ongoing changes in the field and have accordingly kept pace in most instances with learning exercises that reflect clinical practice. However, this sudden shift in examination provider necessitates a modification of the course learning outcomes to ensure alignment for currently enrolled students.

In addition, the program has identified several minor learning gaps associated with the new competency profile and select new competencies and has incorporated new learning outcomes to address these concerns. These new learning outcomes make up a very small percentage of the proposed changes and can be reviewed in each associated course change form. The limited nature of these changes speaks to the continued commitment of program faculty to ensure learning exercises are reflective of ongoing clinical practice.

Indeed, given the robustness of the MLSc program and the relative consistency of medical laboratory science training programs in Canada, in most instances, those gaps that have been identified between the historical (CSMLS) and new (CAMPLR) competency profiles are relatively limited and can be addressed with the addition of several new outcomes across the MLSc program cluster.

Ensuring competency and employable technical graduates who can meet and exceed the expectations of professional practice in Ontario is fundamental to the mission of the University. These changes ensure our continued alignment with the expectations of employers, students, and the broader patient public who rely on our graduates for accurate and timely care.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

As previously indicated, these changes do not negatively impact those students currently enrolled but ensure alignment with external program partners. Any revised learning outcomes will be integrated into existing laboratory learning exercises but will not alter the fundamental structure of their program. Due to the changes implemented by the regulator, current third-year students will require minor additional materials, which the faculty group will provide (e.g., revised learning activities/exercises within the laboratory space to enhance compliance with regulatory requirements). Note this is required regardless of this MPM due to the rapid timeline of the regulator change.

Students that are impacted will be made aware through communication by the program co-directors through official Ontario Tech email and will be informed regarding regulatory changes as more information becomes available.

As previously indicated, these changes do not negatively impact those students currently enrolled but ensure alignment with external program partners. Any revised learning outcomes will be integrated into existing laboratory learning exercises but will not alter the fundamental structure of their program. Due to the changes implemented by the regulator, current third-year students will require minor additional materials, which the faculty group will provide (e.g., revised learning activities/exercises within the laboratory space to enhance compliance with regulatory requirements). Note this is required regardless of this MPM due to the rapid timeline of the regulator change.

Students that are impacted will be made aware through communication by the program co-directors through official Ontario Tech email and will be informed regarding regulatory changes as more information becomes available.

N/A

Within the medical laboratory sector, external agencies prepare competency guidelines that fundamentally direct the curriculum. Given the nature of the changes (not significantly impacting pedagogy) and the aggressive timeline pursued by the regulator, student consultations were not conducted. However as indicated, these changes do not represent a significant alteration to the pedagogical approach and experiential environment that students will be exposed to.

Instead, these changes have been suggested in the students' best interest and directly support our ability to ensure and verify with our accreditation agency that students have been exposed to the required competencies to prepare them for the national examination.

N/A