AIMS PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION GUIDELINES

The AIMS Professional Examination

The AIMS Professional Examination is a written short answer paper of three (3) hours, conducted twice a year in March and September in a number of venues in Australia and overseas.

The examination consists of the following sections:

·         Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

·         Haematology 22 marks

·         Medical Microbiology 22 marks

·         Transfusion Science 22 marks

·         Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

All sections are compulsory. To pass the Examination candidates must obtain a total of 50% or more, with a pass of at least 50% in each section. Completed examinations are not released under any circumstances

Applicants who are successful in the Examination will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Please note:  If you have not completed stage 1 of your assessment of professional skills and qualifications then you are not able to apply for the professional examination.

AIMS Professional Examination Application Deadlines

You must apply in writing to sit the AIMS Professional Examination using the application form which will be provided in the examinations pack once stage 1 has been completed in your assessment of professional skills and qualifications.

Closing dates to receive this application form are:

1st December for the March Examination

1st June for the September Examination

Applications to sit the Examination must be received no later than 4pm on the specified date.

You should receive notification of your examination and venue by:

·         The second week of February (for March examinations)

·         The second week of August (for September examinations)

If you do not receive notification by 15th February (March examination) or 15th August (September examination) please contact AIMS immediately.

English Language Requirement

All applicants must submit a valid IELTS report form showing an overall band score of 7.0 or better (Academic or General). AIMS consider an IELTS report to be current for three (3) years from the date of issue.

AIMS also accept the following English language assessments as equivalent to an IELTS overall band score of 7.0: TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points).

The only exemption to this rule is if you have already provided AIMS with a valid IELTS, TOEFL, or Pearson PTE Academic test report which accompanied your application for Assessment of Professional Skills and Qualifications. If this is the case then you do not need to supply it for a second time provided the application for the AIMS Professional Examination is received within three years of the date of your assessment.

Photographs

Please attach one (1) passport sized photograph to the application form.

Fees

All Fees are in Australian Dollars and are non-refundable. Visit the AIMS website for current fees.

How to Lodge Your Examination Application

Send by post your completed application form together with the required attachments (see below) and submit to:

Postal address: Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

PO Box 1911

MILTON QLD 4064 AUSTRALIA

Courier address: Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

Unit 7 / 31 Black Street

MILTON QLD 4064

AUSTRALIA

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

ü  Complete application form with the declaration signed

ü  Complete payment information or enclose a cheque / money order or draft

ü  Attach a valid IELTS, TOEFL, or Pearson PTE Academic certificate

ü  Attach one (1) passport sized recent photographs

Results

It will take up to ten (10) weeks to receive your professional examination result. Results will be given as either a PASS or FAIL. Exact marks will not be given.

Further Information

Email: contact@aims.org.au

Website: www.aims.org.au

The AIMS Professional Examination

The AIMS Professional Examination will be held in centres in Australia and other countries twice yearly, in March and September.

The examination is a three (3) hour short answer paper and is set at the level expected of a professional medical scientist with at least two years post graduate experience. All questions must be attempted.

The examination is divided into five sections:

·         Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

·         Haematology 22 marks

·         Medical Microbiology 22 marks

·         Transfusion Science 22 marks

·         Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

To pass the AIMS Professional examination, candidates must obtain an overall total of 50%, with a pass of at least 50% in each section.

Major Areas of Knowledge

The major areas of knowledge expected of candidates are as follows:

Clinical Chemistry

An understanding of the underlying techniques utilised and methodology behind the measurement of common chemistry anylates and their clinical utility including:

- Blood gas and electrolytes measurement

- Urea, creatinine, and creatinine clearance, uric acid

- Glucose, glucose tolerance, HbA1c

- Liver function tests

- Lipid analysis

- Thyroid function tests

- Adrenal function tests

- Plasma proteins and protein electrophoresis

- Specific plasma proteins e.g. CRP

- Principles of enzyme assays.

- Enzyme tests e.g. amylase, creatine kinase

- Calcium, phosphates, magnesium

- Bilirubin including neonatal bilirubin measurement

- Myocardial function tests.

- Common tumour markers e.g. Prostatic specific antigen, CEA

- Basic virology tests now performed in core lab settings

- Point of care testing

Microbiology

- A basic knowledge of infectious diseases and organisms most commonly associated with these diseases. There will be a greater emphasis on bacterial diseases, but some knowledge of parasitic, fungal and viral disease is also expected.

- Collection, handling and processing of samples including the minimal criteria for acceptance of samples

- Presumptive identification of major groups of bacteria based on microscopic and colonial morphology on a variety of common media and the use of key basic identification test such as catalase, oxidase and atmospheric growth requirements.

- Principles of major methods of susceptibility testing i.e. disc diffusion, agar dilution and broth dilution and the relationship between breakpoints, MIC and susceptible/resistant categories.

- General principles of Quality Control.

- Microscopy:

o Function and maintenance of a modern binocular microscope, including setting up and using for bright field, phase contrast and darkfield microscopy.

- Staining techniques:

o Gram stain

o Ziehl Neelsen

- Knowledge of Normal Flora (indigenous flora) of major body sites or absence of normal flora in sterile body sites.

Haematology

- Principles of automated cell counting

- Macrocytic anaemia

- Microcytic anaemia

- Normocytic anaemia

- Myeloproliferative disorders

- Lymphoproliferative disorders

- Production of erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets

- Iron metabolism

- Intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways and methods of testing

- Bleeding disorders

- Anticoagulant therapy and methods of monitoring this therapy

- Natural anticoagulants

- Fibrinolysis.

Immunohaematology / Transfusion Science

- Antibody structure and function

- Antibody production

- Blood donation testing

- Blood components

- Blood group systems

- Antibody detection and identification

- Pre transfusion testing

- Quality assurance in the blood bank laboratory

- Antigen/ antibody interaction.

Histopathology and Cytology

- Preparation of specimens for light microscopy including fixation and tissue processing, decalcification technique and general staining methods such as Haematoxylin and Eosin stain, Van Gieson stain and Masson`s Trichrome stain.

- Normal histology especially basic tissue types

- Histochemical methods as applied to light microscopy such as PAS and Perls` Prussian Blue for Iron.

- Fixation of cytological specimens

- The Papanicolaou staining technique

- The cytological features of inflammation and neoplasia in cervical smears

- Normal cell types in cytological specimens

Laboratory Safety and Quality Control

- Safe handling of biological specimens

- Safe handling of hazardous chemicals

- Sterilisation and disinfection procedures

- Handling of infectious specimens

Principles of quality assurance and quality control

- Basic charting and rules for rejection of results.

- Simple statistical evaluation. Reference ranges methodology – parametric and non parametric

- The role of internal quality control and external quality assurance

- Uncertainty of measurement

Basic Laboratory Procedures and equipment

- Normal and Molar solutions

- Basic laboratory calculations

- Basic laboratory equipment and its appropriate use

- Spectrophotometry

- Immunoassay

Recommended Reading List

Any edition of the texts below from the last 10 years would be suitable

1. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 10th Ed.

James Versalovic Editor in Chief 2011 American Society for Microbiology.

2. Practical Haematology. 6th Ed.

Dacie and Lewis Churchill Livingstone.

3. Medical Laboratory Haematology

Hall and Malia Butterworths.

4. Technical Manual. 10th Ed.

American Association of Blood Banks.

5. Textbook of Diagnostic Cytology

The New South Wales Institute of Technology Information and Publications unit.

6. Cellular Pathology 2nd Ed.

Cook,D.J 2006 Scion Publishing

7. Difiores Atlas of Histology with functional correlations 10th Edition

Eroschenko,V.A 2005 Lippincott

8. The Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry

Tietz, Saunders Saunders

9. Clinical Chemistry

Kaplan Mosby- Williams Publishers.

10. Essential Guide to blood groups

Daniels and Bromilow Wiley Page 7

MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA AS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA AS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST/BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST

OVERVIEW.

Applicants wishing to apply to migrate to Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician under the General Skilled Migration visa categories will need to have their skills assessed by AIMS. AIMS will assess applicants as "suitable" or "not suitable" for the nominated occupation against the requirements it has established.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection Australian Skills Recognition Information website (http://border.gov.au/ ) also provides information on working as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician in Australia.

Medical Laboratory Science / Laboratory Medicine in Australia

In Australia, most of those engaged in medical laboratory science are employed in public hospitals or private diagnostic pathology laboratories. There are two levels of practice:

Medical Laboratory Scientists are normally employed in diagnostic clinical laboratories, and they work in the field of laboratory medicine. They conduct medical laboratory tests on blood, body fluids and tissues and apply knowledge and methodology from various scientific disciplines to assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease. Responsibilities include the quality and reliability of test results and may include interpretation of these results and the development of new test procedures.

Medical Laboratory Technicians perform or assist with laboratory tests on blood, body fluids and tissues in medical and pathology laboratories under the direction of medical laboratory scientists and operate diagnostic and monitoring equipment used in support of health professionals.

Employment in Australia

As in most countries, the practice of a profession in Australia requires evidence of an appropriate level of education and practical experience. There is no statutory registration of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Australia.

Successfully migrating to Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician is no guarantee of employment in Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician.

The AIMS assessment Process

AIMS can provide advice only on applying for a skills assessment. All other questions relating to migration should be directed to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

Applicants’ skills and qualifications will be assessed by AIMS to determine whether they are suitable for the applicant to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician. AIMS will assess applicants as "suitable" or "not suitable" for the nominated occupation against the requirements it has established. An applicant’s skills assessment must be included with their visa application to the DIBP, and applicants must be prepared to show DIBP all the documentation they have relied upon when seeking a skills assessment. Applicants should keep a certified copy of their skills assessment and all other relevant documentation for their own records.

Please note that all applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis and this information is provided for guidance purposes only. The assessment committee determines the eligibility of the applicant to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician.

To be assessed as a Medical Laboratory Technician

The minimum requirements for a Medical Laboratory Technician are that an applicant has completed an award in medical laboratory science assessed as comparable to an Australian diploma from a Technical and Further Education College, based on the AEI Country Education Profile criteria, plus a minimum of two years diagnostic medical laboratory experience within the five year period immediately prior to applying for assessment OR registration with the New Zealand Medical Laboratory Science Board.

Applicants who do not qualify to sit the Professional Examination or who fail to pass the Examination may also be classified as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

To be assessed as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

The assessment process for Medical Laboratory Scientist is in two stages and usually includes a written examination (the AIMS Professional Examination).

Stage 1: Document assessment

The first stage is a document-based assessment. Applicants who hold an AIMS accredited degree will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and will not be required to take the written examination. It is the responsibility of all prospective applicants who hold an AIMS accredited degree to ensure the subjects completed comply with the AIMS accredited pathway in order to gain assessment as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Professional membership of AIMS. These requirements are stated in the AIMS accreditation report held by the university. Prospective applicants should contact the program co-ordinator at the University for Advice on these requirements.

The skills and qualifications of applicants who do not hold an AIMS accredited degree will be assessed individually to determine eligibility to sit the Professional Examination.

Applicants who have an acceptable science degree (equivalent to Australian Qualifications Framework level 7 or 8) and two years post graduate professional experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory within the five year period immediately prior to applying for assessment will usually be assessed as eligible to sit the Examination.

An acceptable science degree is one with subjects relevant to pathology that meets the AIMS minimum requirements and is assessed as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree based on the AEI Country Education Profile criteria.

An acceptable science degree should include FULL units (not part units) of the following subjects:

Ø  Human Anatomy

Ø  Human Physiology

Ø  Chemistry

Ø  Biochemistry

Ø  Immunology

Ø  General Microbiology

Ø  General Pathology

Ø  Human Molecular Biology

and should include at least two (2) of the following professional subjects:

Ø  Clinical chemistry

Ø  Haematology

Ø  Medical microbiology

Ø  Transfusion science (Immunohaematology)

Ø  Histopathology/Diagnostic cytology

Pharmacy and biotechnology degrees are not normally acceptable degrees, but some units of these degrees may be acceptable.

Stage 2: The AIMS Professional Examination

Applicants assessed in stage one as eligible may apply to sit the Professional Examination. This is a written short answer paper of three (3) hours, conducted twice a year in March and September in a number of venues in Australia and overseas.

The examination consists of the following sections:

Ø  Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

Ø  Haematology 22 marks

Ø  Medical Microbiology 22 marks

Ø  Transfusion Science 22 marks

Ø  Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

The Examination is set at the level expected of a professional Medical Laboratory Scientist with at least two years post graduate experience. All sections are compulsory. To pass the Examination candidates must obtain a total of 50% or more, with a pass of at least 50% in each section.

Applicants who are successful in the examination will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

If assessed as eligible to sit the AIMS Professional Examination, applicants must apply in writing using the application form (which will be provided in the examinations pack once stage 1 has been completed).

Closing dates to receive this application form are:

1st December for the March examination

1st June for the September examination

Applications to sit the examination must be received no later than 4pm on the specified date.

Compulsory Requirements for All Applications

All documentation must be certified

Correctly certified supporting documentation

A certified copy is a photocopy that has been stamped and signed by a suitable certifying officer (as stated below) who verifies that they have sighted the original document and that the photocopy that they are certifying is a true copy of that original.

Each photocopied page of all documentation must be certified on the face and must show clearly the words "certified true copy of the original", the signature of the certifying officer and the name and address or provider/registration number of the certifying officer. It must be possible from the details provided for AIMS to verify the certifications by contacting the certifying officer if necessary.

Who does AIMS accept to certify my documents?

Documents certified in Australia may be certified by a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public.

Documents certified in a country other than Australia must be certified by a Notary Public or an official of an Australian Embassy or Consulate.

Please note that AIMS WILL NOT accept any other form of certification. If incorrectly certified documents are provided with an application it WILL NOT be processed and the fee will NOT BE refunded.

All applicants submitting an application for assessment of their professional skills and qualifications whether seeking the classification of Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician are required to provide:

1. English Language Requirement

A valid IELTS report form showing an overall band score of 7.0 or better (Academic or General). AIMS consider an IELTS report to be current for three years from the date of issue.

AIMS also accept the following English language assessments as equivalent to an IELTS overall band score of 7.0: TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points).

2. Completed signed application form

3. Supporting documentation

Must include all qualification certificates (or statements of completion issued by the educational institute in which the qualification was obtained) and all corresponding academic transcripts (showing FULL subject names).

4. Photographic identification

Applicants must provide a certified copy of their passport.

5. Work experience (if applicable)

Evidence of postgraduate professional experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory (a verification letter from an employer/past employer stating job title, hours of work, duties required and the dates of employment, on company letterhead).

6. Three (3) passport sized photographs signed on the back

Optional Documents that can be provided

1. Licences / Registrations

Evidence of current or previous licences held

2. Record of completed educational courses

3. Evidence of continued education in the workplace

How to Lodge an Application:

Send three (3) certified sets of documents: (one (1) originally certified set and two (2) duplicate photocopied sets)

Checklist:

·         Completed signed application form

·         Qualification papers and academic transcripts (showing full subject names)

·         Photographic identification (e.g. passport)

·         Evidence of professional work experience (verifying dates of employment)

·         Evidence of registrations / licences

·         Valid IELTS Test Result (or TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points))

·         Record of educational courses completed

·         Three (3) passport sized photographs signed on the back

Submit to:

Postal address:  Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

PO Box 1911

MILTON QLD 4064 AUSTRALIA

Courier address:  Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

Unit 7 / 31 Black Street

MILTON QLD 4064

AUSTRALIA

Reviews and Appeals:

An applicant who believes that his or her case has been wrongly assessed may seek a review of the assessment. The application for the review must be in writing, and should include the reasons for seeking the review. There is no charge for this review, which is conducted by the committee that made the original assessment.

If, after the review, the applicant still believes that he or she has been wrongly assessed, the applicant may appeal the assessment. The appeal must be in writing, stating the reasons for the appeal, and including additional documentation (if relevant). The appeal will be conducted by a committee other than that which conducted the original assessment. A fee of AUD200.00 is payable for the appeal.

Further Information:

Email:  contact@aims.org.au

Website:  https://www.aims.org.au/

For complete information and processes, please visit the official webpage of Australian institute of medical scientists: https://www.aims.org.au/services/assessment-options/medical-laboratory-scientist