Get the Skills to Become a Medical Lab Assistant

Medical Lab Assistant handling vials of blood. — As a Medical Lab Assistant, you would be a member of a laboratory that provides diagnostic services

35-Week^* Medical Laboratory Assistant Training Program in British Columbia

Medical Laboratory Assistants play a crucial role in healthcare by conducting laboratory tests that are essential to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They work behind the scenes in healthcare, providing valuable data that informs patient care.

If you’re a detail-oriented, communicative person interested in a rewarding career as part of a healthcare team, training to become a Medical Lab Assistant could be an excellent opportunity for you.

The best way to see if Cambria College is the right fit for you is to come in and visit the school. You can tour our facilities, and meet with both students and instructors. Book an Appointment Now or Get more info.

Medical Laboratory Assistant Overview

37-Week* Diploma | $53,204 median annual salary**

Expected Job Openings in BC (2023-2033): 1,620**
Graduates hired by private laboratories, community health centres & clinics
Advance into a Medical Technologist, Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Director and much more!

**https://www.workbc.ca/career-profiles/medical-laboratory-assistants-and-related-technical-occupations visited on May 30, 2024. Salary source for medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations in British Columbia with lowest 10% earning $45,760 to the highest 10% of workers earning $68,577.

Training to Become a Qualified Medical Laboratory Assistant

This diploma program focuses on preparing graduates to work as medical laboratory assistants in a variety of institutions or laboratories by providing a solid theoretical and practical foundation in the application of current medical lab theory, tools, processes, procedures, and practices.

Is a Career as a Medical Laboratory Assistant Right for You? Take the Cambria College “Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Training Readiness Quiz”

This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get Your Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Training Readiness Score Now >>

Practical On-The-Job Training

At Cambria College, we believe that you should not only complete training with theoretical knowledge, but with real experience in the industry. That’s why students in the Medical Lab Assistant program will complete a 120-hour practicum placement during their training.

Your practicum enables you to apply what you’ve learned in a real setting and gain not only experience to put on your resume, but also industry connections, references, and confidence.

Course Breakdown

Course No.	Course Name	Prerequisite	Hours
BCA100	Business Computer Applications	NA	20
MLA100	Health Care Communications	NA	20
MLA101	Medical Terminology	NA	40
MLA102	Laboratory Fundamentals	NA	80
MLA103	Phlebotomy	MLA101, MLA102	120
MLA104	Anatomy & Physiology	NA	60
MLA105	Professional Practice	NA	40
MLA106	Laboratory Information System	NA	20
MLA107	Specimen Collection & Handling	MLA101, MLA102	80
MLA108	Foundations in Laboratory Science: Reagent Preparation and Laboratory Math	NA	20
MLA109	Critical Thinking for Medical Laboratory Assistants	MLA102, MLA105	20
MLA110	Cardiac Procedures	MLA104	60
CS100	Career and Employment Strategies	NA	20
MLAWE	Work Experience	All of the above.	120
	TOTAL		720

Program Duration

Total Program Hours	720
Work Experience Hours	120
Total Program Weeks	35*

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements prior to acceptance into the program:

1. High School Graduation or equivalent OR mature student status (19 years or older prior to starting the program)

2. Meet one of the following English Language Proficiency requirements:

Minimum Grade 12 English (Domestic Students)
- For English as second language students;
  - International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band of 6.0 or higher, with a minimum 6.0 in each band,
  - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 60-78,
  - Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 or higher, with a minimum of 6.0 in all four skills,
  - Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Score of 60 or higher with no sub score less than 50,
  - Pearson Test of English (PTE): Score of 46 or higher,
  - Language Proficiency Index (LPI): Level 4 with an essay score of 26 or higher,

- Pass the College’s English Admission test with 60% or higher.

3. Clear Criminal Record Check Completion under the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP).

4. Applicants must have a keyboarding speed of 40 wpm.

This program is approved by the Private Training Institution Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to:

You will be able to practice safely, and ethically as a medical lab assistant.
You will be able to provide professional medical laboratory services.
You will be able to collect, handle and process specimens for analysis according to professional and accepted medical laboratory operating standards and procedures.
You will be able to use medical laboratory equipment effectively and efficiently.
You will be able to use a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques with standard precautions.
You will be able to perform cardiac monitoring tests.
You will be able to perform medical laboratory administrative tasks and requirements.

Program Fees

Domestic Students:

Application Fee: $250
Assessment Fee: $200
Tuition: $15,250
Textbooks: $1,055
Course Materials: $500
Others: $50

Total: $17,305

International Students:

Application Fee: $500
Assessment Fee: $250
Tuition: $19,850
Textbooks: $1,055
Course Materials: $500
Others: $50

Total: $22,205

Career Opportunities in Medical Laboratory Assistance

The Medical Laboratory Assistant course prepares graduates for medical lab careers in a variety of public and private:

Healthcare settings
Hospital laboratories
Private clinics
Industry laboratories
Phlebotomy clinics

Designed to prepare graduates for NOC 3212.

To be submitted before work experience:

Proof of a negative TB skin test or chest x-ray.
Immunization requirements: Pertussis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Chicken Pox, Hepatitis B, Influenza
N95 Mask Fit testing (prior to practicum placement)

^*This admissions requirement change is pending approval by PTIB.

This program is approved by the Private Training Institution Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Cambria College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program is approved by the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Sciences. Upon completion of this program, graduates may apply for BCSLS certification.

Discover If a Medical Lab Assistant Career Is Right for You

If you’re interested in learning more about a career as a Medical Lab Assistant and exploring whether Cambria College is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

For immediate questions, call your nearest Cambria College location today.

Richmond: (604) 242-4000
Surrey: (604) 416-5522
Vancouver: (604) 428-7500
Victoria: (778) 265-7547

*Program length when completed in normal time