Free Continuous Professional Development Opportunities for Medical Laboratory Scientists

As medical laboratory scientists, It is of great importance that we stay up to date with global and international standard practices in our line of profession. Due to the dynamism and ever evolving nature of science and technology, the relevance of getting up to date knowledge and information in our line as duty cannot be over emphasized.
On this note I bring you free, self-paced, easy to understand platforms to learn and earn free certificates which can be presented as evidence of CPD on any platform either national or international.

1. OneLab Reach (https://reach.cdc.gov/home): A platform with 7 features which includes OneLab Reach, OneLab network, OneLab Summit, OneLab Assessments, Onelab test, Onelab VR and OneLab resources. It was created in 2021 as an initiative by US centre of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the purpose of training, sustaining and bridging network of laboratory professionals and testers. The aim also include to establish a network to unite clinical and public health laboratory professionals and the testing community in preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
Training courses on OneLab Reach includes:
-Introduction to laboratory information management system (LIMS) and other Information Systems
-Introduction to clinical Laboratory Improvement amendments (CLIA) of 1988
-Fundamentals personal protective equipment (PPE) in clinical Laboratories
-Basic Molecular Biology Module 1-4
-Laboratory Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
-Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety
-Introduction to Laboratory Risk Management
-Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) and etc
Highly recommended for Lab managers, private laboratory owners, Bench Laboratory scientists, Laboratory consultants and trainers.

2. OpenWHO Courses (https://openwho.org/courses): Another unique online learning platform created by World Health Organisation specifically for public health related topics. Launched in 2017, openWHO is a free, open and accessible to professionals who are or will be health workers, policy makers, epidemiologists, Laboratory personnel and other frontliners. some courses here are available in other western African languages and are targeted to certain communities and for specific disease condition. However, majority are relevant for laboratory scientist with keen interest in public health and epidemiology. some of the channels includes:
-Neglected tropical Diseases
-Infection Prevention and Control
-Infodemic Management
-Preparing for Pandemics
-Universal Health Coverage
-Antimicrobial Resistance
-Digital Health and innovation etc.
Highly recommended for Public Health experts, Epidemiologists, Lab scientists in Primary health centre, Lab scientists in Public health NGO and public Health Organisations.

3. CDC Train (https://www.train.org/cdctrain/welcome): CDC TRAIN is a gateway into the TRAIN Learning Network, the most comprehensive catalog of public health trainings shared by public health organizations across the United States. You can become a learner in this system through the national gateway, your state’s gateway, or CDC’s gateway. As a learner in the TRAIN Learning Network, you can find courses that offer continuing education and track your learning through a single transcript. having over 5,500 training across different from different providers and platforms.
some of the courses that would interest you includes:
-Laboratory ethics
-Fundamentals of laboratory safety
-Basic Laboratory statistics
-Good Laboratory practice Recommendations for biochemical Genetic testing Preanalytical phase
-Chain of Custody and evidence handling for LRN laboratory personnel
-Quality Management System
-Malaria and Global Health
Highly recommended for all Laboratory personnel and public health experts

4. NHS leadership academy (https://learninghub.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk): Are you interested in Leadership and management role? if yes! This site hosts a range of short learning solutions designed by experts for the development of staff of all levels to work though at their own pace. The content of many of these learning materials is taken from elements of our Leadership Academy core programmes and is designed using the feedback and contributions of our learners. this site provide link to futurelearn website where advance and long self paced leadership courses are available.
Some of these courses include
-Edward Jenner leadership course Authentic Leadership
-Leadership in systems
-Motivation
-team and group dynamics
-Build resilience by managing your energy
Highly recommended for every potential leaders.

5. WHO Health Security Learning Platform (https://extranet.who.int/hslp/): created in 2023 as part of WHO emergencies programme with the aim to create a platform for health professionals especially Lab professionals and front liners to learn, build, connect and share in the line of duty.
Learn: WHO aims to helps Member States to enhance the knowledge and skills of public health professionals on health security with self-learning modules and training programmes.
Build: to allow professionals to build a course with our training materials, facilitator guides, and access to professionals networks for collaboration to your course project on the field of health security.
Connect & Share: to permit professionals to connect with other professionals on Health Security issues with opportunities to network, share knowledge, build collaborations and enhance learning in a peer-to-peer environment.
courses available here includes:
-Laboratory Quality Management System- Basics
– Introduction to IHR Monitoring and Evaluation
-Rapid Response teams training
-One Health- Multisectoral collaboration at the Human, Animal, Environment Interface
Highly recommended for all Lab professionals and Public health experts
These five highlighted platforms offer self paced, interactive training comes that comes with free certificate when completed. some of the certificate earned can be presented as evidence of CPD when requested. Constant learning help us as professionals to reflect on daily professional activities in order to improve and acquire UpToDate skills and knowledge.

Credit: Stephen Alabi, is a laboratory scientist and public health expert with keen interest in health policy, epidemiology, health improvement and health analysis. I hope to motivate and inspire professionals to imbibe the culture of making self and professional development a crucial part of their lives and activities.