An individual who has successfully completed an educational program in medical imaging or radiation therapy outside of Canada is considered an IEMIRTP. To work as a medical imaging or radiation therapy professional (MIRTP) in Nova Scotia, you must be registered with the Nova Scotia College of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals (NSCMIRTP). The path to successful registration for IEMIRTPs differs from Canadian Educated applicants as individual assessment of education and skills must be done to ensure all registrants meet the entrance to practice standards set out in Canada.
If you are currently working as an MIRTP in a regulated Canadian province, you are eligible for registration under the labour mobility provisions of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. Please have your current MIRTP regulator send NSCMIRTP a completed CFTA form and follow this link to the application process for an MIRTP registered in a regulated Canadian jurisdiction.
If you are currently working as an MIRTP in an unregulated Canadian province or territory and meet the following criteria:
are able to demonstrate that you have been successfully assessed by either the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) or Sonography Canada (SC)
have successfully written the National Certification Exam in your chosen area of practice,
then please follow the standard registration process.
IEMIRTPs who are seeking registration as an MIRTP in Canada for the first time will need to have their English language proficiency and legal eligibility to work in Canada assessed. This can be done by emailing NSCMIRTP at info@nscmirtp.ca Once NSCMIRTP confirms the applicant has met the criteria, they will be referred to either CAMRT or SC to complete a good character assessment, as well as have their academic and clinical credentials assessed for Canadian equivalency. A successful assessment by the National body (CAMRT or SC) will be followed by the applicant gaining access to write the national competency exam in their chosen area of practice. These exams are currently offered three times a year in January, May and September. Upon successfully challenging the national competency exam, the applicant can then return to the NSCMIRTP to complete the application for licensing as an MIRTP in Nova Scotia. This can be done by following the standard registration process.
NSCMIRTP follows the same English proficiency benchmarks as CAMRT. Please use this link for full details on our English testing requirements.
NSCMIRTP has provided a visual schematic of the IEMIRTP registration pathway vs the standard registration pathway.
For IEMIRTPs that have been employed as an MIRTP in another Canadian province or territory and have already successfully written the CAMRT or Sonography Canada (SC) entrance to practice exam, the registration process usually only takes 1-2 weeks (Pathways #1 & #2). For those seeking licensing for the first time in Canada (Pathway #3), the process can be much longer. Applicants should contact NSCMIRTP at info@nscmirtp.ca to begin the process as soon as possible. The initial assessment through NSCMIRTP typically takes 1-4 weeks if adequate documentation is received. Once NSCMIRTP approves the initial criteria, they will refer the applicant to CAMRT or SC for academic and clinical assessment. This process is outlined below:
(Process for Sonography Canada for sonographers see next section)
Applicants are encouraged to review the assessment process and timelines in detail on the CAMRT website. CAMRT also has an extensive collection of resources for assessment of credentials and to help prepare IEMIRTPs for writing the national certification exam. The national competency/certification exam is offered 3 times a year in January, May, and September.
Application and required documents must be submitted a minimum of 3 months prior to the date of writing the national exam to allow time for assessment.
IEMIRTP applicants must fill out an application form and submit required documents to CAMRT. CAMRT’s Manager of Certification and Assessment Committee reviews submitted documents to determine if they demonstrate substantially similar content and expectations in comparison to the entrance to practice competency profile for Canadian graduates. If proper documentation is submitted, the process of assessment is expected to take less than 3 months.
Documents that must be submitted include:
Completed application for assessment form.
Non-refundable assessment fee.
Verification of completion of a medical radiation technology program in one of the following disciplines: radiological technology, nuclear medicine technology, magnetic resonance or radiation therapy. A notarized copy of a diploma or degree certificate is required.
A notarized copy of an official transcript or marks from your education program in medical radiation technology.
Curriculum or course outline of your medical radiation technology program indicating the amount of time spent in both the theoretical and clinical components of your program. The curriculum or course outline must provide a:
Detailed list of courses and a description of the content of each course (photocopy of education institution syllabus)
Description of how you were evaluated on both the theory and clinical components of the program
A Clinical Assessment Checklist of work experience following graduation from education program. Work experience must be within the past five (5) years in the discipline in which you are applying.
A confirmation of employment letter from your most recent or current employer. This letter must be written on the letterhead used by the institution and must confirm your last date of employment, and number of practice hours.
A reference letter, in paper or email form, regarding your practice as a medical radiation technologist. The letter must supply your employer’s contact information. If you are a recent graduate with little or no work experience and you cannot provide an employment letter, your credentials will be considered for assessment and eligibility to write the CAMRT exam within 5 years from the date of your graduation.
Evidence of registration with an association / society / regulatory body for the specific discipline if you are registered.
Letter of reference attesting your good character from someone who has known you for a minimum of two years. The referee must sign the letter, print their name, and provide contact information.
Relevant evidence of continuing professional development activities.
Description of types of:
Equipment used (will vary as per discipline – indicate both analog & digital)
Settings where procedures/treatments were performed during the clinical component of your program ( i.e. imaging department, operating room, emergency, hospitals, clinics)
Patient population on which procedures were performed (i.e. adult, pediatric, geriatric, trauma)
The national competency/certification exam is offered 3 times a year in January, May, and September.
Application and required documents must be submitted a minimum of 3 months prior to the date of writing the national exam to allow time for assessment.
The national competency/certification exam is offered 3 times a year in January, May, and September. Applicants can write the exam up to 4 times in total. Applications to write the exam must be submitted a minimum of 3 months prior to the date of writing the national exam to allow time for assessment.
Applicants must fill out an application form and submit required documents to info@nscmirtp.ca. The College hires an assessor from SC to review submitted documents to determine if they demonstrate substantially similar content and expectations in comparison to the national competency profile for Canadian graduates. If proper documentation is submitted, the process of assessment is expected to take less than 3 months.
Documents that must be submitted include:
Completed application for assessment form.
Non-refundable assessment fee of $300.00.
Verification of completion of a sonography program (or equivalent). A diploma or degree certificate (notarized copy) is required.
An official transcript of marks from your education program in medical radiation technology (notarized copy).
Curriculum or course outline of your sonography program indicating the amount of time spent in both the theoretical and clinical components of your program. The curriculum or course outline must provide a:
Detailed list of courses and a description of the content of each course (photocopy of education institution syllabus).
Description of how you were evaluated on both the theory and clinical components of the program.
Clinical Assessment Checklist of work experience following graduation from your education program. Work experience must be within the past five (5) years in the discipline in which you are applying.
Confirmation of employment letter from your most recent or current employer. This letter must be written on the letterhead used by the institution and must confirm your last date of employment, number of practice hours and a reference regarding your practice as a medical radiation technologist. The letter must supply employer’s contact information; e-mail or paper accepted. If you are a recent graduate with little or no work experience and you cannot provide an employment letter, your credentials will be considered for assessment and eligibility to write the SC exam within 5 years from the date of your graduation.
Evidence of registration with an association / society / regulatory body for the specific discipline, if you are or were registered in the past.
Letter of reference attesting your good character from someone who has known you for a minimum of two (2) years. The referee must sign the letter, print their name, and provide contact information.
Evidence of language fluency if total medical radiation technology education program, that is both theory and clinical components, were not conducted in English or French (Original copy of language test results required).
Relevant evidence of continuing professional development activities
The link provides a visual schematic of the SC assessment process. Additionally if all documents requested (or suitable equivalent evidence) can be provided the SC Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA) is not required to gain licensing.
Applicants will receive a written decision stating whether their assessment meets Canadian equivalency or not. IEMIRTPs confirmed to meet the requirements are then eligible to apply to write the National Certification Exam. If they do not meet the eligibility requirements, the reasons to support this decision will be provided. For those eligible, information is provided on the process to apply to write the exam (CAMRT or SC) as well as information on applying for accommodation, if required. The exam is offered in January, May, and September, of each year.
IEMIRTPs have five years from the last date of employment or graduation as a medical imaging or radiation therapy professional to complete all the requirements to become registered.
NSCMIRTP also offers an academic program in nuclear medicine and radiography which can help an individual to prepare for the competency based national certification exam. We expect to add an academic program for sonographers and MRI in 2022 along with a jurisprudence module that will outline legal responsibilities for practice in Nova Scotia. For more information on the availability of these courses please email info@nscmirtp.ca or use the provided link.
Upon successful completion of the national exam individuals should proceed to apply for licensing with the NSCMIRTP by following the standard application process.
Below are fees an IEMIRTP can expect to pay to become a licensed MIRTP in Nova Scotia:
Non-refundable assessment fee of approximately $200-300
National Certification Exam fee (CAMRT approximately $840, and SC approximately $700) Please note these fees are set by CAMRT and SC so we recommend you check their website to ensure you have accurate exam fee information.
Exam center fee of approximately $200
NSCMIRTP application fee of $100
In addition, IEMIRTPs may require other services which they must cover costs of. This includes, but is not limited to:
Translation of documents
Language proficiency testing
Notarization of documents
Bridging programs/courses
Annual fees to maintain licensing in Nova Scotia
Professional Liability Insurance (approximately $275 annually)
NSCMIRTP annual registration fee of $450
Please Note: The process of document assessment can begin prior to arriving in Canada. Applicants can contact NSCMIRTP and begin the assessment process from anywhere in the world, thus shortening the time between arriving in Canada and being licensed to work as an MIRTP. Currently nationally exams a being delivered through virtual proctoring allowing for IEMIRTPs to write from outside of Canada. This will continue into 2022.