How do I become a clinical chemist?
There are several routes to becoming a Clinical Chemist in Canada. The most common is first to obtain a Ph.D. in a branch of chemistry or life science (often biochemistry or physiology) and then to enter a two-year Postdoctoral Training Program in Clinical Chemistry (one centre has a 3-year program). Such programs, available at 4 universities in Canada are directed toward acquiring professional competence as well as a small research complement.
Professional competence is assessed through written and oral examinations set and supervised by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (CACB), a body within the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC). A Specialty Certificate is awarded following successful completion of the examinations. A few Clinical Chemists enter the field via a Doctoral Program in Clinical Chemistry, which incorporated a hospital laboratory rotation as part of the Ph.D. requirements.
Postdoctoral Training Programs
University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario
Program Head: Dr. Khosrow Adeli [k.adeli@utoronto.ca]
McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario
Program Head: Dr. Stephen Hill [hillstev@hhsc.ca]
Call for applicants
Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
(D.E.P.D.; Diplôme d'Études Post-Doctorales)
Program Head: Director: Dr Jean-Pierre Émond : [[jean.pierre.emond.chum@ssss.gouc.qc.ca]
Program Head: Co-director: Dr Karim Benkirane: [karim.benkirane@umontreal.ca]
University of Manitoba and Diagnostic Services Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba
Program Head: Dr. AbdulRazaq Sokoro [asokoro@dsmanitoba.ca]
University of Manitoba Postgraduate Medical Education
Information package on this program
Call for applicants
University of Calgary and Alberta Public Laboratories
Program Heads:
Dr. Hossein S.M. Sadrzadeh and Dr. Alex Chin, co-directors; Shawna Pitman, program coordinator
University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta
Program Heads: Dr. Kareena Schnabl and Dr. Anna Füzéry Co-directors [clinbioc@ualberta.ca]
Foreign Credentials
If you have a university degree from a university outside Canada or the USA, and need your credentials assess and recognized for one of these programs, please consult the Government of Canada Foreign Credentials Referred Office (1-888-854-1805).
For more detailed information on the examination process, go to the Certification page, which includes the Syllabus (English and French versions), and copies of recent examinations.