www.csmls.org fcr 2.0 – regulatory bodies – integration partners and gatekeepers march 12, 2014...
TRANSCRIPT
www.csmls.org
FCR 2.0 – Regulatory Bodies – Integration Partners and
Gatekeepers
March 12, 2014 Gatineau
C. Nielsen
www.csmls.org
CSMLS: Who We Are
• 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
www.csmls.org
CSMLS: What We Do
• 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
www.csmls.org
Governance: Harmony NationallyProfessional 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.)
www.csmls.org
The PLA Process
PLA Stage I
PLA Stage II
Language Proficiency Testing (if needed)
= CLB 6
= CLB 8
www.csmls.org
Required Documentation
www.csmls.org
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)
www.csmls.org
Program Principles
• Transparent
• Fair
• Impartial
• Objective
• NEW: Informed Choice
www.csmls.org
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…”
www.csmls.org
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
www.csmls.org
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
www.csmls.org
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)
www.csmls.org
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’
www.csmls.org
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
www.csmls.org
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
www.csmls.org
New Projects
• Self Directed Bridging – ESDC - piloting
• Alternate Careers – Health Canada – underway
How do IEMLTs feel about this? What to advise? When to advise?
www.csmls.org
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
www.csmls.org
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!
