MLPAO Bursary for Medical Laboratory Students

What you will need

• ✓ MLPAO membership (your membership number goes on the form)
• ✓ The MLPAO application form for your bursary (MLT, MLA/T or Early Career), emailed with your documents to mlpao@mlpao.org
• ✓ MLT and MLA/T bursaries: an academic transcript from your school showing an average of at least 75%
• ✓ An original 500- to 600-word letter to the MLPAO Bursaries Selection Committee about your commitment to the profession, how the bursary would help you (including your financial need, for the student bursaries), and any special circumstances
• ✓ MLT and MLA/T bursaries: signed letter(s) of recommendation on letterhead from an educator or laboratory trainer in your program
• ✓ Early Career Bursary: a letter of employment from an Ontario clinical lab and a copy of your MLPAO (MLA/T) or CSMLS (MLT) certification

About this award

Depending on your program, you can receive different amounts. There is one MLT (Medical Laboratory Technologist) Bursary of $2,000, two MLA/T (Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician) Bursaries of $1,000 each, and one Early Career Bursary of $1,500 for new graduates. Additionally, there are 50 Belairdirect scholarships valued at $1,000 each and other $1,000 awards for those who have finished at least one year of study. These are grants, not loans, so you do not have to pay them back. This is for you if you are training to work in a medical lab in Ontario, whether you are currently a student or a new graduate entering the profession. Deadlines vary by award. The MLT Bursary is due September 30, the MLA/T Bursaries January 31 and June 30, and the Early Career Bursary February 28. For the Belairdirect scholarship and other $1,000 awards, no specific date is posted publicly—before you start the application, check the Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario (MLPAO) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. For the three MLPAO bursaries, a selection committee looks for a personal commitment to the profession through leadership or significant participation in educational or community activities; the student bursaries also need an overall average of at least 75%. Incomplete or late applications are disqualified. Ask the Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario (MLPAO) during your application how the money will reach you—some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed—if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with the Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario (MLPAO) whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

The three MLPAO bursaries are for MLPAO members who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or landed immigrants. To qualify for the $2,000 MLT Bursary, you must be a full-time student in an accredited Ontario Medical Laboratory Technology or Science program and have completed at least one semester. For the $1,000 MLA/T Bursaries, you must be enrolled in an MLPAO-approved Ontario Medical Laboratory Assistant or Technician program and have completed at least two months of study. The $1,500 Early Career Bursary is for new graduate MLA/Ts (Medical Laboratory Assistants/Technicians) or MLTs (Medical Laboratory Technologists) who work in a clinical lab in Ontario and entered the profession within the last 2 years. Other $1,000 awards require you to have completed at least one year in a full-time program leading to a Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or certification as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. For the Belairdirect scholarships, you must be an MLPAO member or the child of an MLPAO member.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to post-secondary or undergraduate students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario
• ✓ Studying Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory Assistant or Medical Laboratory Technician

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Financial NeedAvoid writing a generic request for money. Instead, explain exactly how the funding will help you jumpstart your career. Describe a specific cost, like a certification fee or textbook, that this award would cover.
• SupportAvoid using a general character reference. Instead, ask a professor or clinical instructor who has seen your lab work firsthand to vouch for your skills. Provide a letter that highlights your technical precision.
• StrategyAvoid applying for every award if you don't fit the specific role. Instead, match your application to your exact program—either MLT or MLA/T—to ensure you meet the strict program requirements.
• RealismAvoid counting on the Belairdirect scholarship. Instead, remember there are 50 spots available among all eligible members and their children, so focus on making your personal statement stand out.

Questions students ask

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