Position Statement Maintenance of Competence

laboratory services are delivered in a safe and ethical manner. Although education and certification are necessary components to prepare the novice medical laboratory health care professional for clinical practice, continued competence is essential for maintaining sound practice. The CSMLS believes that professional status carries with it both rights and responsibilities. Certified laboratory personnel have the right to use a designated professional title and the responsibility to remain competent in that profession. Maintenance of competence is the ongoing ability to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, judgement and personal attributes required to practise safely and ethically in a designated role and setting. Medical laboratory professionals must: • commit to life-long learning to upgrade their knowledge and skills in order to keep their practice current • maintain and document competence in their practice of medical laboratory science, and seek out quality educational opportunities for professional growth • acknowledge limitations in their knowledge, skills, or judgment, and function within those limitations (reflective practice