2027 Unit information is now available. View 2027 unit information
Online
Professional Experience Placement (PEP)
Students will be allocated PEP within individual health care agencies. Students must be available 5 days a week (40 hours) during the allocated PEP, and must be prepared to undertake a range of shifts – morning, evening and nightshift, which may include weekends, as per roster provided by the healthcare agency. Students may be expected to relocate and are expected to travel to where PEP is available. To be eligible to undertake PEP, all students must be ‘Verified’ as meeting College of Health and Medicine PEP Safety in Practice Compliance as per the Course Entry Requirements.
Students who cannot or do not comply with these requirements will not be allocated PEP and therefore will not be able to complete this unit.
PEP dates MAY differ from University of Tasmania calendar semester dates.
Introduction
Medical Laboratory Placement 1 & 2 (CXA412, CXA425) are two of three professional experience placement units (PEP) undertaken off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. You will experience core and specialised areas within a modern diagnostic pathology laboratory and develop a holistic view of the role of the diagnostic pathology laboratory in the health-care industry. You will further develop practical laboratory skills and learning (by observing and performing) and apply three years of undergraduate theory (university learning) to professional practice. You are subject to the rules and regulations of the host laboratory and supervised by laboratory staff. CXA412 comprises 4 weeks of PEP and CXA425 comprises 12 weeks of PEP. These units, along with CXA401 (Medical Laboratory Practice) comprise a full semester unit weighting You are responsible for managing your assessment workload during the 4th year semester, fitted in around full-time attendance at your hosting laboratory.
Summary
| Unit name | Medical Laboratory Placement 1 |
| Unit code | CXA412 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Health School of Health Sciences |
| Discipline | Health Sciences |
| Coordinator | Ms Jane Pittaway |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Honours |
Sustainable Development Goals
The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 |
|
|
|
|
| Online | Semester 2 |
|
|
|
|
| Online | Trimester |
|
|
|
|
- Key:
On-campus- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.
Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 22/2/2026 | 16/3/2026 | 19/4/2026 | 13/6/2026 |
| Trimester | 1/11/2026 | 23/11/2026 | 23/12/2026 | 13/2/2027 |
| Semester 2 | 5/7/2026 | 27/7/2026 | 30/8/2026 | 24/10/2026 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse workplace procedures & protocols and evaluate the clinical and diagnostic significance.
- Reflect upon the effect of your work placement on your personal and professional presumptions and attitudes.
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019901 | $1,192.00 | $1,192.00 | not applicable | $2,862.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
CXA315, CXA300 and CXA301 Integrated Laboratory Medicine and [(CXA332 and CXA333) or (CXA342 and CXA343) or (CXA352)]Co-requisites
CXA401 and CXA425Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | At host Laboratory: Clinical or Professional Practice (35hrs x 4 times); Writing weekly journal entries (2hrs x weekly) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Discussion Posts – pre & post-placement (5%)|Student Journal – Critical Incident Analysis reviews (15%)|Laboratory Supervisor Assessment (40%)|Student Journal - weekly entries (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Your host laboratory will have required reading material that you will read before and during your placement. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Lecture, tutorial and practical notes and texts previously used during the professional units of the course. |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.