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: Dr. Pierre Alllard [Pierre.Allard.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca]
University of Manitoba and Diagnostic Services Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba
Program Head: Dr. AbdulRazaq Sokoro [asokoro@dsmanitoba.ca]
DSM website
University of Manitoba
Information package on this program
Call for applicants
University of Calgary and Calgary Laboratory Services
Program Heads:
Dr. Hossein S.M. Sadrzadeh and Dr. Isolde Seiden Long [Chemistry.Fellowship@cls.ab.ca]
Call for applicants - start date July 1, 2015
University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta
Program Heads: Dr. Kareena Schnabl (Director) and Dr. Anna Füzéry (Co-director) [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.