Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology

Application to this program is currently closed. Effective for the application period October 1, 2022, to February 15, 2023, the Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology program will be subject to the competitive admission process. On February 15, paper applications are accepted until 4:30 p.m., and online applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Saskatchewan times). All supporting documentation is required by 4:30 p.m. (Saskatchewan time) on March 1. Additional Selection Criteria will be required for the Competitive admission process. More information will be published at a later date.

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

Diploma graduates are eligible to take the Bachelor of Applied Management degree right here at Saskatchewan Polytechnic with only two years of additional study. Remote classes and part-time options are available.  

Use your Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology 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

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 are professionals designed to fill the needs in rural hospitals and smaller communities (typically less than 10,000 people). Smaller rural communities will allow graduates to use all of their training and skills. Some CLXT graduates do find work in private urban clinics but will often use less of their overall training. 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) or CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR Level 'C' AED or equivalent certification prior to the start of clinical practicums as directed by 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 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 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.

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. (Saskatchewan time), March 1.

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

Selection Criteria

For required information on preparing your application, refer to the Selection Process Guide for Applicants.

Phase I: The competitive score will be used to determine the applicants who progress to Phase II (based on highest admission averages). The competitive score will not be used in the Phase II process.

Phase I requires applicants to submit all of the following:

Transcripts:

• High School Graduates: The admission average is calculated from the final marks in high school courses required for admission to the program. The high school average will be compared to any grade point average(s) (UGPA) presented for a minimum of 30 passed post-secondary credits from a recognized post-secondary institution - and the highest average considered for admission. Such applicants must be in good standing with the institution. If transcripts from more than one post-secondary institution are submitted, the highest UGPA will be considered against the high school average. Applicants are then ranked in the order of the highest averages.
• High School Graduates (Effective Fall 2023 Intake):  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 any grade point averages(s) (UGPA) presented for 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 1. 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 where 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.
• Post-Secondary Education - if applicable

Situational Assessment:

• Effective for the application period October 1, 2022, to February 15, 2023, all applicants must complete a Situational Assessment through Casper®-TakeAltus prior to March 1. To register and sign up for a Situational Assessment, go to https://takecaspercom/.

Essay of Traits:

• See Essay of Traits - Applicant's Guidelines for Composition in the Selection Process Guide for Applicants.

Awareness Questionnaire:

• See Awareness Questionnaire

Phase II: Additional selection criteria will be applied to applicants with the highest competitive score from Phase I. Top ranked Phase II applicants will be offered a program seat.

• Relevant Post-Secondary Education = 10%
• Essay of Traits = 40%
• Situational Assessment = 50%

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 at the start of the program. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.
• Students will be required to purchase or routinely have access to a laptop or desktop computer for coursework. Associated expenses are thestudents' 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 get 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.

More about scholarships

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