How to Become a Medical Laboratory Assistant in Nova Scotia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences to work as a medical laboratory assistant in Nova Scotia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“As of May 3, 2025, licensing requirements for those employed in the field of medical laboratory technology were expanded to medical laboratory assistants (including phlebotomists) and combined laboratory x-ray technologists.”
From nscmlt.org/licensing/applications, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Annual fees
-
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 1 - 15 2026: $100
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 15 - 30 2026: $250
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $350
-
Collect the required documents, including proof of program completion, proof of registration to an entry to practice exam, insurance, identification, and a criminal records check.
Source
“The following documents are required: - Copy of an official letter from an accredited program confirming successful completion OR a copy of certificate/diploma/degree”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate -
Use the registrant software to complete the registration process, and you can return at any time to finish the application.
Source
“The button below will take you to our registrant software, where you will complete the registration process. Your progress will be saved, so you can return at any time to complete the application, should you be unable to complete it at once.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate -
You cannot work in Nova Scotia until you have received notice that your application has been approved.
Source
“You cannot work in Nova Scotia until you have received notice from NSRMLS that your application has been approved.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate -
After receiving your national exam results, upload a copy to your NSRMLS profile so your provisional license may be changed to an Active license.
Source
“NSRMLS requires all graduates to upload a copy of their exam results to their NSRMLS profile. Once received/reviewed their provisional license may be changed to an "Active" license and the requirement for "direct supervision" may be removed.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $350 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 1 - 15 2026: $100
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 15 - 30 2026: $250
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $350
-
Collect the required documents, including proof of program completion, evidence of passing an entry to practice exam, insurance, identification, a criminal records check, and a current resume.
Source
“Copy of an official letter from an accredited program confirming successful completion OR a copy of certificate/diploma/degree - Evidence of successful completion of an entry to practice exam”
nscmlt.org/licensing/new-registrant
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $350 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 1 - 15 2026: $100
- Additional renewal fee Nov. 15 - 30 2026: $250
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Administration Application fee: $175 (nonrefundable)
- Non Sufficient fund cheque/credit card: $75 (cheque or credit card payment with non-sufficient funds)
Source
“Non Sufficient fund cheque/credit card | $75 plus bank charges”
nscmlt.org/licensing/fee-structure - Letter of Standing Application - Registrant: $75 (registrants)
- Letter of Standing Application - Former Registrant: $100 (former registrants)
- Seal of the College: $62
- Pro-rated MLA fee February: $367
- Pro-rated MLA fee March: $333
- Pro-rated MLA fee April: $300
- Pro-rated MLA fee May: $267
- Pro-rated MLA fee June: $233
- Pro-rated MLA fee July: $200
- Pro-rated MLA fee August: $167
- Pro-rated MLA fee September: $133
- Pro-rated MLA fee October: $100
- Pro-rated MLA fee November: $67
- Pro-rated MLA fee December: $33
- Pro-rated MLA fee - January: $400
Source
“| January | $410.00 | $400.00 | July | $205.00 | $200.00 |”
nscmlt.org/licensing/fee-structure
Requirements
Education
Applicants must enrol in and successfully complete a Canadian accredited educational program in an approved program category such as the Medical Laboratory Assistant program.
Source
“The requirements to apply for a NSRMLS license in Nova Scotia include enrolment and successful completion of a Canadian accredited educational program in one of the program categories below.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/applicationsOnce the educational program is completed, a graduate must successfully challenge the required national exam.
Source
“Once an educational program is completed, a graduate must successfully challenge the required national exam.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/applications
Police check
Applicants must provide a copy of a criminal records check with a vulnerable sector check.
Source
“Copy of criminal records check (CRC) with vulnerable sector check (VSC)”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate
Insurance
Applicants must provide proof of professional liability insurance of $2,000,000.
Other
New graduate applicants must have graduated from a Canadian accredited program within the previous 2 years and must not have worked as a MLA in another Canadian jurisdiction.
Source
“New Graduate applicants are those who have graduated from a Canadian accredited MLA, MLT or CLXT education program within the previous 2 years, have not worked as a MLA, MLT or CLXT in another Canadian jurisdiction, and are eligible to challenge the next approved entry to practice examination(s).”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduateApplicants must provide evidence of the NSRMLS English language requirements.
Source
“Evidence of NSRMLS English language requirements (refer to the English Language Proficiency policy)”
nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory registers in Nova Scotia. Source
“Please note there is no PLA for internationally educated MLAs at this time.”
nscmlt.org/licensing/applications
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Exams
-
MLA national exam
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 | $25.00 | $33.00 | Good (4 of 5) |
| Canada | $19.18 | $27.00 | $36.11 | — |
Medical laboratory assistants in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Compare medical laboratory assistant licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- License Requirements - Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists nscmlt.org/licensing/applications · fetched October 10, 2026
- New Graduate - Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists nscmlt.org/licensing/mlt-graduate · fetched October 10, 2026
- New Registrant - Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists nscmlt.org/licensing/new-registrant · fetched October 10, 2026
- Fees - Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists nscmlt.org/licensing/fee-structure · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a medical laboratory assistant in Nova Scotia?
Yes. Registration with Nova Scotia Regulator of Medical Laboratory Sciences is required to practise in Nova Scotia.
Which exams are required?
MLA national exam.
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