Medical Laboratory Assistant (MDLA)

Support medical professionals with confidence and patients with assurance

Gain essential skills to assist medical laboratory technologists in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and private labs in just one year. You’ll master blood sample collection, phlebotomy techniques, ECGs, and lab equipment operation. You’ll become fluent in medical terminology and develop the strong communication skills needed to put patients at ease. 

You’ll benefit from hands-on training by experienced faculty on campus, followed by a seven-week placement. Gain all the theoretical and lab training you’ll need to perform pre-analysis components of medical lab work under the direct supervision of medical lab technologists. 

Program highlights 

• Limited enrolment 
• Be job-ready in just one year 
• Seven-week placement in a lab setting 
• Theoretical and lab training in clinical hematology, transfusion science, chemistry, microbiology, and histotechnology 
• Accredited by Accreditation Canada 
• Graduates can apply to the Medical Laboratory Technology (MDLY) program at Cambrian College with advanced standing (minimum grade requirements apply in order to transfer credits). This process is competitive. Completion of the Medical Laboratory Assistant program does not guarantee acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Technology program. 

Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year

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For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.

Admission requirements

For graduates of the new curriculum Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) curriculum or equivalent or mature student status, including:

• Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
• Any grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U)
• Any grade 12 chemistry (C) or (U)
• Any grade 11 (U) or (C) or grade 12 biology (U)

Additional admission requirements

Students will be required to provide proof of certain immunizations and non-medical requirements to work with samples in medical laboratories both at the college and on placement. 

For our on-campus labs, students must provide proof of:

• WHIMIS certificate
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis B

To off-site clinical placements, students must provide proof of:

• WHMIS certificate
• Ministry of Labour Worker Health and Safety Awareness in Four Steps Training (Bill 18)
• AODA certificate
• Respiratory Mask Fit Testing (N95-3M models)
• Criminal record check, including vulnerable sector check (contact your program coordinator if you have a positive CPIC)
• Immunization requirements:
  • Varicella
  • Measles, mumps, rubella
  • Tuberculosis screening
  • Current tetanus – diphtheria – pertussis vaccination
  • Hepatitis B
  • Influenza vaccination
  • COVID-19 vaccination

Program delivery

2025-2026

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2025
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 3:  Spring 2026

Specific program pathway

Furthering your studies

Graduates can apply to the Medical Laboratory Technology (MDLY) program at Cambrian College with advanced standing (minimum grade requirements apply in order to transfer credits). Admission into the Medical Laboratory Technology program with advanced standing is not guaranteed. Admission with advanced standing into the Medical Laboratory Technology program is a competitive process based and is subject to space in the program.

Employment opportunities

Medical Laboratory Assistants/Technicians serve in urban and rural settings in the public and private sectors such as:

• Hospitals
• Physicians' offices
• Diagnostic labs
• Clinics
• Pharmaceutical research testing clinics
• Fertility clinics
• Specimen collection sites and blood centres such as Canadian Blood Services
• Research Facilities.