The Lab Interpretation Course for Nurse Practitioners

Trusted by over 1,000 clinicians across North America

Build confidence in lab interpretation with a clear, step-by-step, evidence-based approach — by nurse practitioners in collaboration with leading clinical experts.

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Meet the creators

  • Aliya Hajee

    Nurse Practitioner
    Course Creator & Instructor

  • Claudia Mariano

    Nurse Practitioner - Retired
    Expert Reviewer

  • Alix Consorti

    Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Reviewer

  • Kathryn Flanigan

    Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Reviewer

  • Dr. Ziad Solh

    Hematologist
    Expert Reviewer - Module 2

  • Dr. Supriya Joshi

    Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist
    Expert Reviewer - Module 3 & 5

  • Dr. Daniel Schwartz

    Nephrologist
    Expert Reviewer - Module 4

  • Dr. Akshay Jain

    Endocrinologist
    Expert Reviewer - Module 6 & 7

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We’ve got you covered

  • Developed in collaboration with leading clinical experts

  • Built for primary care with real-world relevance

  • Evidence-based, step-by-step interpretation framework

  • Self-paced, on-demand online modules with lifetime access

  • Private community forum for discussion and peer support

Course overview

  • What’s Inside

    Interpreting lab results can be complex. Numbers alone rarely tell the full story, and confident interpretation requires both structure and clinical reasoning.

    This course helps clinicians develop a clear, evidence-based framework for interpreting laboratory results accurately and confidently. It was created by nurse practitioners in collaboration with leading clinical specialists to strengthen clinical reasoning and support safe, informed patient care.

    You will learn a practical, evidence-based framework that guides you through every stage of interpretation, from confirming a result to evaluating the clinical context, ordering targeted tests, and recognizing when referral is required. This structured process helps you act with confidence and integrate laboratory data effectively into clinical care.

    The curriculum incorporates Canadian, U.S., and international guidelines, ensuring relevance across North America and beyond. Both metric and imperial units are used throughout.

    Who It’s For

    This program is designed for clinicians in primary care who want to strengthen their confidence in lab interpretation and clinical decision-making. It welcomes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physicians, physician assistants, naturopathic doctors, and other licensed healthcare professionals involved in ordering, interpreting, or managing lab results in practice.

    What You’ll Learn

    By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

    • Apply a structured approach to interpreting lab tests

    • Recognize normal and abnormal results in clinical context

    • Identify critical findings that require urgent action and know when referral is appropriate

    • Select appropriate follow-up investigations

    • Integrate lab results into clinical reasoning and management

    Program Format

    The program is self-paced and fully online, offering lifetime access (no subscription required), over 7 hours of recorded video lessons, and more than 200 pages of downloadable, evidence-based material.

    Click below to explore each module.

  • Establish a strong foundation and a structured, repeatable process for accurate and efficient lab interpretation.

    • Ordering labs with purpose and accuracy

    • Understanding test accuracy and reference ranges

    • Interpreting labs in clinical context

    • Recognizing critical lab values and urgent results

  • Learn a systematic, clinically focused approach to interpreting the CBC and understanding what each finding means for patient care.

    • Introduction to CBC and peripheral smear assessment

    • Approach to anemia (microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic)

    • Approach to polycythemia

    • Approach to neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia

    • Approach to thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis

  • Interpret iron and deficiencies using a structured, evidence-based method.

    • Ferritin, TIBC, TSAT, and serum iron interpretation

    • Differentiating iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease, and iron overload

    • Approach to vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies

    • Integrating findings to guide next steps

  • Evaluate kidney function and electrolyte disorders using a systematic approach to identify when further testing or referral is needed.

    • eGFR, creatinine, BUN, urine ACR, and urinalysis

    • Distinguishing AKI from CKD and staging CKD

    • Approach to abnormal eGFR and creatinine

    • Approach to hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, and hypercalcemia

  • Identify and interpret abnormal liver test patterns to guide diagnosis and management.

    • Introduction to liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin, INR)

    • Hepatocellular, cholestatic, and isolated hyperbilirubinemia patterns

    • Synthetic function and clinical implications

    • Hepatitis B and C interpretation

    • MASLD and fibrosis risk assessment

  • Apply a consistent framework to interpret thyroid, reproductive, and adrenal tests across clinical contexts.

    • Thyroid function and antibody testing

    • Approach to hypo- and hyperthyroidism

    • Female hormone testing (FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, AMH)

    • Male hormone testing (total and free testosterone, SHBG, FSH, LH, prolactin)

    • Approach to PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, infertility, and adrenal insufficiency

  • Connect lab interpretation to cardiometabolic health and long-term preventive care.

    • Screening for type 2 diabetes and identifying type 1 red flags

    • Lipid interpretation and cardiovascular risk assessment

    • Evidence-based targets and metabolic syndrome

    • Approach to elevated creatine kinase

  • Interpret inflammatory and autoimmune markers to support diagnosis and guide appropriate referral.

    • Approach to elevated ESR and CRP

    • Approach to positive rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP

    • Approach to positive ANA and anti-dsDNA

    • Recognizing autoimmune patterns and systemic disease indicators

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Reviewed by NPs

  • “This course is valuable for both new and experienced NPs. The content is comprehensive, well-organized, and directly relevant to clinical practice. It really helps build confidence with lab interpretation—something that’s so important but often under-taught. I would highly recommend it to any NP looking to strengthen these skills.”

    Alix Consorti, MN, BScN, NP-PHC, MSCP

  • “This lab interpretation course is an outstanding resource for NPs looking to strengthen their diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making. It offers a much more thorough and practical approach to interpreting lab results in everyday practice. This level of lab interpretation isn’t always taught in our training, and this course helps fill that gap.”

    Claudia Mariano, MSc, BScN, PHCNP

  • “This course is an excellent review for both NP learners and experienced clinicians. It walks through why certain labs are ordered, what conditions might be causing abnormal results, and how to interpret that. The self-paced format makes it easy to access when needed. I highly recommend it!”

    Kathryn Flanigan, MN, BScN, NP-PHC

  • Ready to feel confident interpreting labs?

    Join a community of clinicians building confidence in lab interpretation.

    ✔ Learn through a fully online, self-paced course you can start anytime
    ✔ Watch over 7 hours of expert-led video lessons created by NPs in collaboration with clinical experts
    ✔ Access more than 200 pages of downloadable, evidence-based material for immediate use in practice
    ✔ Connect with peers through a private discussion space for collaboration and support
    ✔ Study anywhere using your desktop, laptop, or mobile device
    ✔ Enjoy lifetime access with a one-time payment and no subscription

    Register now

Testimonials

  • “Understanding labs & appreciating proper management of those labs, can be a knowledge gap for many providers. The NP Circle's Lab Course is a self-paced program that efficiently reviews almost 80 different lab values, and discusses complications, and management. The course is beautifully laid out with a standardized approach for labs, and quickly gets to the heart of the topic with each lab review completed in under 5 minutes. It is the perfect course for the provider that is short on time, but struggling with lab interpretation. This course is by far the most valuable course I have ever taken.”

    Meagan Beavers, MSN, RN, BA, FNP-C, CEN
    Nurse Practitioner - CA, ON

  • “As an experienced nurse practitioner, I found this lab interpretation course to be both refreshing and incredibly valuable. The content is concise yet comprehensive, covering everything from basic panels to more complex diagnostics in a clinically relevant way. It’s clear the course was designed with real-world application in mind — bridging the gap between textbook knowledge and what we actually see in practice. Whether you’re newly licensed or have years under your belt, this course sharpens your diagnostic skills and boosts confidence in managing complex lab results. Highly recommend for anyone looking to elevate their clinical acumen.”

    Kristen Carey, MN, NP(F)
    Nurse Practitioner - SK, BC

  • "As a new graduate, NP Circle has been a life changer for me. I feel extremely empowered by the community, the trainings, and the knowledge I’ve gained so far. The Lab Interpretation Course has made a huge difference in my confidence and was exactly what I needed. I love the short videos, how the course is divided, and how clear and easy everything is to understand. It’s already changing my day-to-day practice!"

    Marianne Leblond, MN, IPSPL
    Nurse Practitioner - QC

  • "NP Circle’s Lab Interpretation Course is an amazing resource for both new and seasoned NPs. It’s self-paced with lifetime access and is conveniently delivered in short sections that can be completed at any time as schedules allow. The hard work put into the development of this course is evidenced by the comprehensive content and expert review. This is an outstanding and much needed resource for all NPs contributing to a gap in NP education. Thank you NP Circle!"

    Kimberly Harkness, MN, NP-PHC, NP-Adult, GNC(C)
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • “NP Circle creates the best educational opportunities I’ve come across in my NP career thus far. Hearing from the industry’s top specialists about tips and tricks on how we can manage many illnesses and conditions that we often refer for in primary care is motivating, empowering and can significantly reduce the volume of referrals sent and wait times for patients.”

    Brooke Wagner, MN, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • "I am so incredibly grateful and happy that NP Circle exists! I’ve always felt that NPs in Canada haven’t previously had structured and high quality resources available to help foster continuing education after graduation, and NP Circle has really superseded my expectations. Every course I’ve attended has left me with a wealth of invaluable and practical knowledge, and the “Resource” section on this website is full of high-quality and practical resources! I also love the questions and answers that NPs accross Canada are able to contribute to, it’s such a helpful learning resource. I can’t thank Aliya enough for creating this space for all of us!"

    Andrea Mayne, MN, AGPCNP
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • “This is a wonderful platform. I actually left primary care about a year ago because I was a new grad and felt so overwhelmed by all the knowledge gaps I had. But since I’ve been watching all of these webinars and doing my own studying to fill in my learning gaps, I went back to primary care a couple of months ago. I’m sure you know this, but you are making such a massive difference for NPs!”

    Kelsey MacNeil, MN, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • “These are the most important education sessions you can attend as a nurse practitioner in primary health care. You leave with tangible tools to better serve your patients and minimize unnecessary referrals and long specialist wait times. Sessions are organized with sufficient time for questions and some specialist even provide post-session written materials.”

    Alexandra Milne, MN, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • "I’m loving being a part of NP Circle! The courses are taught by MDs and NPs who are the best in their field. I’ve had so many great takeaways for my practice. All the resources I need for practice are easily accessible. It’s also been nice to receive updates on relevant news to NP practice and to learn from difficult cases posted by other NPs. Any questions I have related to daily practice or career advancement I can post on there and someone always has helpful advice/information. All in all it’s a great one stop shop for all my NP needs!"

    Helen Nicolle, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON, NB

  • “I’m so happy this exists! I would highly recommend these events to any primary care provider who is looking to gain knowledge from some of the best specialists and improve their everyday practice. I’ve already been able to implement some of the knowledge I gained from the first session into my practice and prevent an unnecessary referral! 5/5 stars”

    Bri Smith, MN, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • "As a recently retired NP, I have experienced firsthand the diverse facets of our profession, from clinical expertise and advocacy, to leadership , scholarship, and research. Now more than ever, it's crucial to be part of a supportive community of like-minded NPs. Being connected in this way empowers us to grow both individually and collectively, enhancing our ability to elevate patient care to new heights."

    Claudia Mariano, MSc, PHCNP
    Retired Nurse Practitioner - ON

  • “Could not be happier with my decision to attend this event. For ~$20 per session, you get evidence-based and relevant clinical tools from medical specialists. The majority of the sessions are held after a standard work day and recorded for later viewing as well, which is super convenient. After attending each session, I take away valuable knowledge that will enhance the care that I provide my patients.”

    Claire Smith, MN, NP-PHC
    Nurse Practitioner - ON

Registration is open

Join 1,000+ building confidence in lab interpretation

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 FAQs

  • We are in the process of obtaining continuing education accreditation to formally recognize that this program meets the highest standards of professional development and educational quality. Participants will be notified as soon as accreditation is approved.

  • The course integrates Canadian, U.S., and international clinical guidelines, making it relevant for clinicians across North America and beyond. Lab values are presented in metric units, with imperial units included where applicable.

  • Yes. While most participants are based in North America, healthcare professionals worldwide are welcome to register.

  • No. The course is fully online, self-paced, and on-demand, allowing you to begin whenever you’re ready and progress at your own pace, in the way that best fits your schedule.

  • Yes. All participants can request a certificate of completion once they finish the course.

  • No. While this course was created by and for nurse practitioners, it is also open to physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, pharmacists, midwives, naturopathic doctors, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals interested in strengthening their lab interpretation skills.