The Laboratory Quality Management program is an on-line 20-week course designed to provide knowledge, discussion, and expertise for those interested in quality management for clinical and research laboratories.
The course is highly valuable for those who are or intend to be laboratory quality professionals, and for those that work with quality management issues.
It is appropriate for technologists, physicians, administrators, and other laboratory professionals.

Course Overview

Duration: Two courses of 10 weeks each. Complete the program in 20 weeks or take up to two years

Delivery: online, part-time, and asynchronous

Next Start Date: January 13, 2027

Registration: Open

Cost: Early Bird Rate: $1,550 per course or $3,000 for the full program (register before September 30, 2026). Standard Rate: $1700 per course or $3300 for the full program (applies after September 30, 2026).

Contact: lqm@pathology.ubc.ca

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Course Format

Asynchronous, completely online via Canvas LMS, accommodating an audience based across many time zones, globally. The program features readings, written assignments, online discussion/learning among the participants and course facilitators, quizzes, and a final examination.

Program Structure

The full program consists of two 10-week courses: LQM 101, running from January to March, and LQM 102, running from April to June. Please note that the 10-week duration covers instructional time only and excludes the additional week dedicated to writing the final exam.

Course Length

Two 10 weeks courses (LQM 101 course January – March; LQM 102 course April -June), excludes 1 week for writing final exam.

Time Commitment The course will require a time commitment of approximately 10 hours per week (for reading, discussions, and assignments.)

Learning objectives will be logically ordered into modules and supported by multimedia content to deliver principles and reinforce applied practices in the laboratory setting.

Course Content

  • The following topics are covered during the course:
  • Reading, Understanding, and Implementing ISO15189, ISO 17025 and ISO 9001
  • Measurement Uncertainty
  • Who is my Customer?
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Complaints and Concerns
  • History of Quality Management
  • Do-It-Right-the First-Time
  • Quality Culture
  • Strategic Quality Planning
  • Quality Education and Leadership
  • Quality Partners
  • Quality Management
  • International Standards for Quality and Success
  • Developing Policies
  • Developing Procedures
  • Developing Standards
  • Accreditation
  • Document Preparation and Management
  • Document Control
  • Document Records
  • Cost of Quality
  • Costs of Poor Quality
  • Quality Control
  • Quality Indicators
  • EQA
  • Proficiency Testing
  • Risk Analysis
  • Risk Awareness
  • Risk Management
  • Understanding and Working with Error
  • Error Awareness
  • Error Detection
  • OFI reports
  • Examination Error
  • Pre-examination Error
  • Post-examination Error
  • External/Internal Audits
  • External Failure
  • Failure Mode Effects Analysis
  • Impacts of Error
  • Severity/Occurrence
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Causal Analysis
  • Conformance and Nonconformance
  • TEEM
  • Internal Failure
  • Lean
  • Six Sigma
  • Plan-Do-Study-Act
  • Continual Improvement
  • Continuing Education
  • Mission Statements
  • Vision Statements
  • Teamwork
  • Safety Audits
  • Modern Tools for Quality in the Medical Laboratory
  • Visual Boards

Assessment

Assessment is based on discussion participation, assignments, quizzes and a final examination (all conducted on-line.)
Minimum pass mark is 60%.

Continuing Education Credits

These organizations will grant Continuing Education Credits to their members who successfully complete the LQM course, and receive proof of Certification:

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science

The LQM course was approved for 220 Professional Enhancement Program （PEP） hours and 14.3 Continuing Professional Studies (CPS）/ART credits. CSMLS file number is 4611-24. This assessment has been completed in compliance with the process described on the CSMLS website:
https://csmls.org/learning-resources/resources-and-policies/course-assessments/

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Maintenance of Certification （MOC）

The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians.
The LQM 2025-2027 program is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 120 hours (credits are automatically calculated). Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.

SAP ID: 17201

Requirements

It is strongly recommended that all course participants should have at least one of the following credentials (BSc, BMLSc, MD, PhD, RT, MT, Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science technology) and at least 2 years of work experience in a medical or research laboratory setting.
This course will be limited to 75 participants.

Course Contributors

Dr. Lucy Perrone Director, Program Office for Laboratory Quality Management, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC

Mr. Phillip Morehouse MLT, CMQ/OE

Mr. Mario Hemens MLT, Laboratory manager, Ontario Public Health, Ottawa

Mr. Kim Nicholson Strategic Lead, Medical Biochemistry, PHSA

Ms. Jane Weitzel

Dr. Jaya Shrivastava UK NEQAS – Manager of Parasitology proficiency testing schemes

Mr. Kilian Songwe PMP, The AG Group, Regional Director -Africa

Program administrator: Maggie Ma