Medical Laboratory Assistants and Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists Regulations

made under Section 8 of the

Patient Access to Care Act

S.N.S. 2023, c. 3

O.I.C. 2025-59 (effective May 3, 2025), N.S. Reg. 42/2025

Table of Contents

Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
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Citation

Definitions

Expansion of health professions regulated under Medical Laboratory Technology Act

Practice of medical laboratory assistant

Practice of combined laboratory and x-ray technologist

Standards and requirements approved by Board

Application and criteria for registration

Permitted activities

Term of licence

Application and criteria for renewing

Failure to renew registration

Reinstatement

Titles—medical laboratory assistant licence

Titles—combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence

Citation

1 These regulations may be cited as the Medical Laboratory Assistants and Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists Regulations.

Definitions

2 In these regulations,

“Board” means the Board as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“College” means the College as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“combined laboratory and x-ray technologist” means a member of the medical laboratory technology health profession registered and licensed under these regulations;

“Credentials Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board that deals with the registration and licensing of members of the College and applicants for registration and other related matters as provided by the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, regulations made under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act and these regulations;

“hearing committee” means a hearing committee as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“investigation committee” means an investigation committee as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“licence” means a valid and subsisting licence issued under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act or these regulations;

“low-complexity test” means a stable, basic point-of-care test that requires minimal knowledge and skill to perform;

“medical laboratory assistant” means a member of the medical laboratory technology health profession registered and licensed under these regulations;

“medical laboratory technologist” means a member of the medical laboratory technology health profession who is registered and licensed by the College under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“medical laboratory technology” means medical laboratory technology as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“member” means a member of the College as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act;

“moderate-complexity test” means a point-of-care test that is routinely performed on automated or semi-automated instruments and requires the tester to be knowledgeable about and skilled in sample preparation, quality-control testing, instrument maintenance, troubleshooting and result reporting;

“Register” means the Register of the College kept under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act and these regulations;

“registered” means registered under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act and these regulations;

“Registrar” means the Registrar as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act.

Expansion of health professions regulated under Medical Laboratory Technology Act

3 (1) The health professions regulated under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act are expanded to include medical laboratory assistants and combined laboratory and x-ray technologists.

(2) The Medical Laboratory Technology Act and Medical Laboratory Technologists Registration Regulations apply to medical laboratory assistants and combined laboratory and x-ray technologists unless otherwise prescribed in these regulations.

Practice of medical laboratory assistant

4 (1) The practice of a medical laboratory assistant is the part of the practice of medical laboratory technology specified in subsection (2).

(2) A medical laboratory assistant may, under the direction of a medical laboratory technologist and in accordance with practice standards approved by the Board, engage in all of the following activities within the practice of medical laboratory technology:

(a) collecting and preparing specimens;

(b) performing low-complexity or moderate-complexity tests on biological specimens and recording the results;

(d) identifying results that are outside of expected ranges and notifying a medical laboratory technologist for further investigation of the results.

(3) A medical laboratory assistant must consult with a medical laboratory technologist when the medical laboratory assistant determines it is appropriate according to their individual scope of practice, Board standards and employer policies.

(4) In addition to the aspects of the practice of medical laboratory technology in subsection (2), a medical laboratory assistant may, in accordance with practice standards approved by the Board, engage in all of the following activities with respect to electrocardiogram procedures:

(a) performing electrocardiogram procedures;

(b) performing quality-control testing and recording the results;

Practice of combined laboratory and x-ray technologist

5 A combined laboratory and x-ray technologist may, in accordance with practice standards approved by the Board, engage in all of the following activities:

(a) practising medical laboratory technology;

(b) performing electrocardiogram procedures;

(d) performing quality-control testing to verify the accuracy and precision of test results obtained within the areas of practice described in clauses (a), (b) and (c);

(e) evaluating the accuracy and reliability of patient test results obtained within the areas of practice described in clauses (a), (b) and (c).

Standards and requirements approved by Board

6 Despite Section 22 of the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, the Board may approve standards and requirements for medical laboratory assistants and combined laboratory and x-ray technologists relating to any of the following:

(a) registration and licensing fees;

(b) forms;

(d) recognition of schools;

(e) educational qualification requirements of applicants for registration;

(f) continuing-competency requirements, including continuing education and practice-hour requirements;

(g) the evaluation of and licensing requirements for members and applicants for registration who have not practised for 1 year or longer;

(h) the type and amount of professional liability insurance or other form of malpractice coverage a member must hold;

(i) re-licensing requirements and processes for any of the following:

(i) after a member has been suspended for failing to comply with requirements,

(ii) when a licence has expired or lapsed,

(iii) after a period of non-practice;

(j) a code of ethics;

(k) practice standards;

(l) any other requirements the Board considers necessary for registration and licensing.

7 The Registrar must keep a separate register for each of the following licence categories:

(a) medical laboratory assistant;

(b) combined laboratory and x-ray technologist;

Application and criteria for registration

8 (1) An applicant for registration as a medical laboratory assistant or combined laboratory and x-ray technologist must submit a completed application in a form prescribed by the Board together with all of the following:

(a) payment of the applicable fee, within the time period determined by the Registrar and through a method acceptable to the Registrar;

(b) proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is the person named in the documentation submitted in support of the application;

(c) proof of professional liability insurance or other form of malpractice insurance that meets the requirements of the Board;

(d) proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant meets all of the criteria in subsection (2);

(e) any other documents determined by the Board to be needed to establish that the applicant has the capacity, competence and character to engage in practice safely and ethically;

(f) any additional information required by the Credentials Committee to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria in subsection (2).

(2) An applicant for registration as a medical laboratory assistant or combined laboratory and x-ray technologist must meet all of the following criteria:

(a) they have completed 1 of the following:

(i) an education program approved by the Board,

(ii) an education program in another jurisdiction that makes the applicant eligible for registration in that jurisdiction and that, in the opinion of the Credentials Committee, is equivalent to an approved education program,

(iii) an education program that, in the opinion of the Credentials Committee, provides the applicant with comparable competencies to those of a person who graduated from an approved education program when combined with the applicant’s additional education and relevant experience;

(b) they have successfully completed any examinations approved by the Board;

(d) they are a Canadian citizen or are legally entitled to live and work in Canada;

(e) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in practice;

(f) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions from any registration or licensing authority that would preclude them from being registered.

(3) In addition to meeting the criteria in subclause (2)(a)(ii) or (iii), a graduate of a program other than an approved education program must complete any competence assessment required by the Credentials Committee and any bridging education required as a result of the competence assessment as selected by the Credentials Committee.

(4) Despite this Section, conditions or restrictions, including practice limits, practice settings and supervisory requirements, may be imposed on a medical laboratory assistant or combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence

(a) by the Board, the Credentials Committee or the Registrar;

(b) with the member’s consent; and

Permitted activities

9 A member is permitted to do all of the following:

(a) practise within the scope of practice,

(i) for a medical laboratory assistant, defined in Section 4, or

(ii) for a combined laboratory and x-ray technologist, defined in Section 5;

(b) practise within their individual scope of practice, within the restrictions and conditions of their licence, if any;

(c) practise within the standards of practice applicable to a medical laboratory assistant or a combined laboratory and x-ray technologist established by the Board;

(d) serve as an appointed member of any committee of the College;

(e) attend and participate in annual or special meetings of the College;

(f) vote at annual or special meetings of the College unless otherwise specified in the regulations;

(g) if elected to the Board, hold office unless otherwise specified in the regulations;

(h) receive copies of official College publications.

Term of licence

10 A licence ceases to be valid if any of the following occur:

(a) the licence expires or lapses;

(b) the licence is suspended or revoked;

(d) the member fails to continue to meet the criteria in subsection 8(2);

(e) the member fails to maintain their professional liability insurance or other form of malpractice insurance;

(f) the member surrenders their licence in accordance with Section 35 of the Medical Laboratory Technology Act.

Application and criteria for renewing

11 A member applying to renew a medical laboratory assistant licence or a combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence must submit an annual renewal form in a form prescribed by the Board together with all of the following:

(a) payment of the applicable fee, including any penalties incurred for late application, within the time period determined by the Registrar and through a method acceptable to the Registrar;

(b) proof satisfactory to the Board that the member continues to meet all of the criteria in subsection 8(2);

(c) proof of professional liability insurance or other form of malpractice insurance that meets the requirements of the Board;

(d) proof satisfactory to the Board that the member satisfies the continuing-competency requirements approved by the Board;

(e) if the member has practised outside of the Province in the previous year, proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the member has no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions or restrictions that would preclude them from licensing;

(f) any other documents determined by the Board to be needed to establish that the member has the capacity, competence and character to engage in practice safely and ethically.

Failure to renew registration

12 (1) The licence of a member who fails to submit a completed annual renewal form and comply with Section 11 on or before the expiry date of the licence must be suspended.

(2) Suspension of a licence under subsection 31(2) of the Act or subsection (1) is effective on the day immediately following the current licence’s expiry date.

(3) The Registrar must immediately notify, in writing, any person whose licence is suspended under subsection (1).

Reinstatement

13 (1) A member whose licence is suspended under subsection 12(1) may be reinstated by the Registrar when the Registrar is satisfied that the member has filed an annual renewal form and complied with Section 11.

(2) Reinstatement of a licence under subsection (1) is effective on the date that the Registrar issues a notice of reinstatement.

Titles—medical laboratory assistant licence

14 (1) A person holding a medical laboratory assistant licence under these regulations is authorized to use the title “Medical Laboratory Assistant” or the abbreviation “MLA”.

(2) A person must not use any of the following the titles or abbreviations, or any derivation of them, unless they are registered and hold a current medical laboratory assistant licence under these regulations:

(a) phlebotomist;

(b) medical laboratory assistant;

(d) MLA;

(e) MLTA/T;

(f) MLPAT.

Titles—combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence

15 (1) A person holding a combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence under these regulations is authorized to use the title “Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologist” or the abbreviation “CLXT”.

(2) A person must not use any of the following titles or abbreviations, or any derivation of them, unless they are registered and hold a current combined laboratory and x-ray technologist licence under these regulations:

(a) combined laboratory and x-ray technologist;

(b) combined laboratory and x-ray technician;

The current consolidation of the Medical Laboratory Assistants and Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists Regulations made under the Patient Access to Care Act includes all of the following regulations:

The following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for rules about in force dates of regulations.

Note: Only regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table. It may not reflect the entire history of regulations on this subject matter.

N.S. Regulation	In force date*	How in force	Royal Gazette Part II Issue
42/2025	May 3, 2025	date specified (date that is 60 days after March 4, 2025)	Mar 21, 2025

N.S. Regulation	In force date*	How in force	Royal Gazette Part II Issue

ad. = added am. = amended	fc. = fee change ra. = reassigned		rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected		How affected
..........................................................

N.S. Regulation	Title	In force date	Repealed date

Medical Laboratory Assistants and Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists Regulations	N.S. Reg. 42/2025
Patient Access to Care Act
Note: The information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

	Note	Effective date