Applications open on October 1 and close on February 15 each academic year. On February 15, paper applications are accepted until 4:30 p.m., and online applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. (CST). All supporting documentation is required by 4:30 p.m. (CST) on March 15. Where the 15th falls upon a weekend, documents will be due the following Monday.
Combined laboratory and X-ray technologists (CLXTs) are unique. You’re trained in medical laboratory, X-ray procedures and electrocardiography, so you need to be comfortable working with medical imaging and laboratory equipment. But you also need to be comfortable working with people because positioning and touching patients, as well as talking with them, is an important part of your job.
Start date
January
Length
97 weeks
Location(s)
SaskatoonIf you’re interested in a career in health care - one that lets you work in rural communities and offers excellent earning potential - Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology program will interest you.
International applicants are not currently considered for admission to this program.
The Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology program is a two-and-a-half-year advanced diploma program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Campus, Idylwyld Dr. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills you need to perform laboratory tests, general radiography and electrocardiograms. Your studies will focus on:
- anatomy and physiology
- clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis
- electrocardiography
- image acquisition
- laboratory procedures and quality management
- lab result correlation
- patient care
- radiographic procedures
Being a CLXT demands high standards and good empathy, so Saskatchewan Polytechnic also helps build professional skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to work as a CLXT and apply for membership in the Saskatchewan Association of Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technicians (SACLXT).
Extensive hands-on learning
Diploma to degree
Use your Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology advanced diploma to ladder into a degree program at Athabasca University (Alberta). A degree is usually required if you are interested in moving into management or teaching positions.
Learning environment
- Students will experience a mix of traditional lectures, web-assisted learning, practical labs and clinical practicums that will increase in length as the program progresses.
- The program requires students to enter with a strong math and science base (physics, biology and chemistry). The program builds on these subjects.
- There is a heavy workload with 20 - 30 hours/week of homework. Classes are Monday - Friday with variable hours between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Clinical practicum hours will coincide with health care hours and may include early morning start times (5 or 6 a.m.), evening, night, and weekend shifts.
- Saskatoon
- Clinical practicum placement may occur at any approved site in Saskatchewan.
- Note: all students require a rotation at a secondary site to meet program requirements
- 24 weeks at a location outside of Saskatoon or Regina
- 8 weeks in second year and 16 weeks in third year at approved sites within Saskatchewan.
- Alternate sites will be required to meet program requirements.
- Clinical practicum experiences are assigned by the Medical Diagnostics Committee on Practicum Placements (COPP). Students will have an opportunity to rank their preferred clinical sites. However, due to limited clinical placements in each location there is no guarantee that students will receive a clinical site assignment from their list of preferred sites. Students must be prepared to attend their assigned placement at any clinical site in the province.
- Students are responsible for arranging their own travel, accommodations and parking costs during their studies and clinical experience.
- Clinical experiences may require travel and/or accommodations at more than one clinical location to meet all program requirements.
- Not all clinical facilities are easily accessible by public transportation; students assigned to these sites must have access to personal transportation.
- Students will continue with their didactic studies through online learning while on their clinical experience, and stable Internet access is required.
- Enrolment in the program will require acceptance of a clinical placement anywhere within Saskatchewan. Clinical placements are determined during the program closer to the dates for practicum experiences.
Career and salary information
Your career
Combined laboratory and x-ray technologists work for regional/provincial health districts, government health agencies, educational institutions and both private and public labs. You could work in smaller rural hospitals, health centres, collection centres, community clinics and urgent care centres. To use the full scope of CLXT training expect to work in smaller rural hospitals. CLXTs work a variety of shifts which may include early mornings (5 or 6 a.m.), days, evenings, weekends, nights, statutory holidays and on call.
Combined laboratory and x-ray technologists perform invasive venipunctures and capillary punctures to collect blood samples from patients. CLXT’s perform laboratory testing, ECGs (electrocardiograms) and general routine x-ray procedures.
An average day as a combined laboratory and x-ray technologist would include:
- Wear personal protective equipment daily to protect themselves from biohazardous materials they work with such as blood, urine and feces. CLXTs are very aware of the biohazard materials they work with and take steps to reduce infecting workspaces and others.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves when dealing with patients and equipment.
- Makes critical decisions with accuracy.
- Maintains concentration for long periods of time in a rapidly changing environment.
- Able to effectively multitask and maintain an organized workspace.
- Requires good hand eye coordination.
- Sustains long periods of standing at analytical instruments and/or sitting at a microscope.
- Sustains long periods of standing while performing phlebotomy.
- Thoroughly know human anatomy and a large number of pathologies, how they appear on radiographic images and how to position patients so the required anatomy and pathologies are properly demonstrated.
- Understand x-ray equipment and the technical factors required to operate the equipment so they can protect patients and themselves from being exposed to excess radiation.
- Communicate clearly with the patient as to what they are doing and what they need the patient to do.
- Touch the patient when positioning them for the x-ray, ECG or blood sample collection.
- Assist the patient with removing hearing aids and dentures when required.
- Portering patients and assisting with moving/positioning.
- Comfort and assist patients who may be fragile, fearful, have dementia or be in extreme pain.
- Assist patients who are nauseous, may vomit or may have diarrhea.
- Communicates and interacts professionally with a variety of people including (but
not limited to):
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Medical radiologic technologists
- Doctors
- Medical laboratory assistants
- Nurses/LPNs/CNAs
- Physiotherapists
- EMS professionals
- Other CLXTs
- Patients and their families
- Phlebotomists
- Students
Potential careers
| Sample job title | NOC classification |
|---|---|
| Combined laboratory & X-ray technologist (CLXT) | Medical laboratory technologists (32120)* |
* Unlike most jobs in this category, CLXT duties include general hematology and biochemistry, general x-ray and ECG.
Admissions
Admission requirements
- Grade 12 with a minimum grade of 70% in English Language Arts A30, English Language Arts B30, Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30 or Calculus 30*, Chemistry 30 and Biology 30
- English Language Requirement (see Program-Specific ELP Requirements section)
*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics requirements also accepted:
- Minimum of 70% in Math B30 or Math C30
Note
- Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search upon admission into the program. At the discretion of the practicum agency, you may be declined access to a clinical or work placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is your responsibility.
- Accepted applicants are required to provide current immunization records and meet Saskatchewan Polytechnic immunization requirements prior to entry into clinical practicum.
- Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing prior to the start of clinical practicums as directed by the program. N95 respirator mask testing is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion. Retesting may be required during your studies. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
- Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of 2015 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility. Register for WHMIS.
- Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) certification or Safe Moving and Repositioning Techniques (SMART®) certification upon admission to the program. TLR® or SMART® certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of completion. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of TLR® or SMART® certification is your responsibility. Register for TLR (SPCR-1004).
Admission method
Competitive
The competitive admissions process is used for programs where the number of qualified applicants regularly exceeds the number of spaces available. In competitive programs, higher admission requirements and/or additional selection criteria may be required. The application period for this program is October 1 to February 15, each academic year. All supporting documentation is required by 4:30 p.m. (CST) on March 15. Where the 15th falls upon a weekend, documents will be due the following Monday.
See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.
Selection criteria
The competitive score will be used to determine successful applications, based on
highest admission
averages.
Transcripts:
- High School Graduates: The competitive score is calculated from final marks in high school courses required for admission to the program. The high school competitive score will be compared to the weighted average of a minimum of 15 passed post-secondary credit units to a maximum of 30 of the most recent credit units from recognized post-secondary institutions - and the highest score will be considered for the applicant's final competitive score. Such applicants must be in good academic standing with the institution. Applicants are then ranked in the order of the highest score.
- Current High School Students: The competitive score is calculated from final marks provided by March 15. Conditional admission may be granted on this basis. Current high school students must order transcripts to be sent directly to Saskatchewan Polytechnic at the end of Semester 1 and the end of Semester 2 of the grade 12 year. The final grade 12 mark will be used when the course is completed. The final grade 11 mark will be used only in the absence of the grade 12 mark in the same subject.
Tuition and fees
Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.
2025-26 academic year
Year 1 - $10,320
Year 2 - $5,700
Year 3 - $9,690
Additional programs costs that students are responsible for include:
Year one requirements:
- Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
- approx. $75
- Immunizations
- No cost if immunizations are completed with Sask Polytech health nurse.
- Completed outside of Saskatchewan Polytechnic range from $90 to $120 for Hepatitis B series
- Transfer, Lift, Reposition (TLR)
- Students should enroll into a course a minimum of 1-2 months prior to program start as courses fill up quickly.
- CLXT and MRT must take full TLR - (course code to register into is SPCR-1004)
- Approx. $100 to $185
- WHMIS 2015 - Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification
- Approx. $35
- Students will be required to purchase or routinely have access to a laptop or iPad
for use at the start of their program. Students will be expected to bring it with
them on registration day. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.
- Windows 11 or MacBook OS13 to o13+; iOS 11.0+ (iPad only) minimum 4 GB of Ram and Webcam required.
- Note: Android and Chromebook are not compatible with the required systems.
- Students must routinely have access to a laptop or desktop computer for coursework.
- Learning Resource that must be purchased by the program and then is charged back to
the student:
- CT Application Training APP – approx. cost $125-130 – will appear on student account in the spring
Year three requirements:
- CPR C/AED (Health Care Provider) – recognized by the program for two years from date
of certification. If expires during programming student must recertify.
- Approx. $130 to $160
- Mask FIT Testing – two sizes
- N95 - approx. $75 to $125
- Mask Fit testing is recommended to be updated annually, however, it is mandatory to be updated every two years. If expiry date occurs during programming student must re-submit proof of testing to the program. Cost of re-testing is the student's responsibility.
- Students will be required to purchase either an iPad or tablet size device or a smart
phone with data plan for use during their clinical practicum experience and have stable
Internet access. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.
- Most recent iOS version (apple), version 5.0 or greater (android), 8 GB minimum, stylus.
- One of the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Goggle Chrome or Safari (Internet connection).
- Students are responsible for all travel/parking/accommodation costs associated with their clinical experience.
Courses
Get credit for what you know
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.
Due to professional certification, licensing and/or regulation, some courses cannot be assessed through PLAR.
See the Candidate Guide below for this program’s PLAR offerings.
Transfer credit
Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.
| Institution | Details |
|---|---|
| Athabasca University | Graduates of this program may be eligible for block transfer of 60 credit units into the Bachelor of Science Post Diploma program or 30 credit units toward BSc (PD) with Majors in Applied Mathematics, Computing Information Systems and/or Human Science. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology | Graduates of this program may be eligible for direct admission into the two-year Bachelor of Technology program at NAIT. |
| Thompson Rivers University | Graduates of this program may be granted a maximum of 69 transfer credits into the Bachelor of Health Science. |
Student awards
Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.
