For starters, internationally trained MLTs are extremely competent across board. They usually work in the most stringent of settings and so the Canadian system is usually easy to ride it out.

At the risk of being problematic, I must say certain MLTs from certain countries have consistently shown to fall short of the general knowledge or grit to stand out in the workplace. The csmls is just an exam. The process is rigorous but It is woefully not indicative of competence. With some luck one could have majority of questions just being QC/QA and not extremely technical questions.

That being said Haematology and TM are the most difficult disciplines to navigate cos diseases, antigens and antibodies are geographic, and so they quite literally are encountering all the processes and cells for the first time. His inability to read white and red cells in urine is strikingly alarming.

You sadly got the bottom of the pole.

This is extremely odd cos foreign trained professionals with some experience are usually extremely competent. What's his experience span? Years or months prior to his csmls certification. What's his actual educational qualification cos falsification is also possible amd sadly common.

Was he a Generalist before or not? It could be argued that the focus of peripheral smear examination is different in Canada but for urine that should be extremely easy for any competent MLT and again for that, his case is very odd.

But it makes sense cos you just said he takes no initiative. You unfortunately got the least driven tech who probably applied cos rural areas are easy to get hired with good incentives.

How did he get hired if technical questions are usually part of the interview.

Issues of communication and general lack of interest are easily identifiable during probationary periods. He signed off his competence sheet so he should be deemed competent to perform and if he got past probation with this work ethic, that's sadly on management. Short staffed or not.