Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology

If 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.

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.

International applicants are not currently considered for admission to this program.

The Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology program is a two-year 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

Saskatchewan Polytechnic uses hands-on learning to help you build your knowledge and skills. An in-depth clinical simulation prepares you for three real-world practicums. The first gives you experience in operating radiographic equipment to obtain diagnostic images, the second in performing electrocardiographs and the third in conducting routine laboratory procedures. By the time you graduate, you’ll have 29 weeks of supervised clinical experience.

Note that your clinical experiences can take place anywhere in the province.

Diploma to Degree

Use your Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology diploma to ladder into a degree program at the University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada or Athabasca University (Alberta).  A degree is usually required if you are interested in moving into management or teaching positions.

Learning Environment

Each year, 40 students are accepted to this program. 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.

For this program, 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.

Lectures and Practical labs: Saskatoon

Clinical Practicum Experiences:
Clinical practicum placement may occur at any approved site in Saskatchewan.
Note: all sites require a rotation at a secondary site to meet program requirements

• 29 weeks at a location outside of Saskatoon
  • 1 week in rural rotation at a secondary site
  • 28 weeks in second year at an approved site within Saskatchewan.
  • Alternate sites may be required in second year 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 of the clinical sites in the province.

Not all clinical facilities are easily accessible by public transportation; students assigned to these sites must have access to personal transportation. Students are responsible for travel, accommodation arrangements and costs to, during and from their clinical experience. Students will continue with their didactic studies through online learning while on their clinical placement, 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.

Your Career

Combined laboratory and X-ray technologists can work in either rural or urban communities, but you’ll find your skills most ”in demand” in rural areas. In rural hospitals and health centres, you’ll use the full range of your skills and play an integral role on health care teams.

Potential Careers

September and January

Year 1 - 40 weeks; Year 2 - 40 weeks

• Saskatoon

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*, Physical Science 20*, Chemistry 30 and Biology 30
• English Language Requirement (see Program-Specific ELP Requirements section)

*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics and physics requirements also accepted:

• Minimum of 70% in Math B30
• Minimum of 70% in Physics 20

Note

• Physics 30 will not be substituted for Physical Science 20 or Physics 20.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of CPR Health Care Provider (HCP), CPR Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR Level 'C' AED or equivalent certification upon admission into the program. CPR certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion regardless of the length of time indicated by the provider of the card or certificate. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of CPR certification is your responsibility.
• 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 practicums.
• Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) certification upon admission into the program. TLR® certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of completion. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of TLR® certification is your responsibility. 
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing upon admission into 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 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.

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Interested individuals should still apply. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met. Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission.

ACCUPLACER©

• 250 Arithmetic
• 252 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
• 256 Reading
• 250 Writing
• 5 Writeplacer

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2021/22 Academic Year

Year 1 - $14,800
Year 2 - $11,160

Additional programs costs that students are responsible for include:

• 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
• 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
• Mask FIT Testing
  • 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.
• Transfer, Lift, Reposition (TLR)
  • approx. $100 to $185
• WHMIS 2015 - Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification
  • Approx. $35
• Students will be required to purchase an iPad or tablet size device for use within the program. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.

Year 1

APHY 191

Anatomy and Physiology 1

3

APHY 282

Anatomy and Physiology 2

3

CHEM 176

Clinical Chemistry 1

5

CHEM 184

Urinalysis

2

CHEM 279

Clinical Chemistry 2

3

ECRD 180

Electrocardiography

3

ETHC 181

Patient Care in Radiography 1

2

ETHC 185

Professional Practices 1

3

ETHC 280

Professional Practices 2

2

HEMA 179

Hematology

5

HEMA 192

Introductory Hemostasis

2

IMMU 183

Immunology

2

IMRC 182

Image Recording Introduction

2

IMRC 183

Image Acquisition & Processing

4

INFC 180

Infection Control and Safety

2

MTER 180

Medical Terminology

1

PHYS 184

Physics

3

PROC 180

General Laboratory Practice

2

PROC 181

Specimen Collection and Handling

3

QC 194

Quality Management

2

RDGR 179

Radiographic Technique 1

5

RDGR 180

Radiographic Technique 2

4

RGAN 180

Radiographic Anatomy

3

RSAP 180

Radiation Science and Apparatus 1

3

Year 2 - Semester 1

PATH 179

Radiographic Pathology 1

2

PATH 181

Laboratory Result Correlation

3

QC 193

Best Practices in Point of Care Testing

1

RDBG 184

Radiobiology and Protection

2

RDGR 283

Advanced Radiographic Technique 1

2

SIMU 280

Clinical Simulation

9

Year 2 - Semester 2

CLIN 190

Clinical Radiography

39

CLIN 193

Clinical Laboratory

31

CLIN 198

Clinical ECG

2

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.  See links below to more information about PLAR and detailed PLAR candidate guides for courses in this program.

• Candidate Guide
• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

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.

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.

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