Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma Program
This program provides students with knowledge and skills about human sample procurement processing and a variety of medical lab tests. Students will be able to work in hospital, medical clinics and clinical research laboratories. Advance Your Career with Our Online Medical Laboratory Technician Program!
Program Length
49 weeks instructor-led full-time training With Co-op (1080 hours)
Practicum Duration
200 hours Local Clinic and hospital co-op
Hybrid Learning with Practical Placement
Hybird – Online/Theory instruction combined with in-person laboratory training.
Credentials
Diploma
Start Your Career in Medical Laboratory Services !
Program Description
The Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician (MLA/T) Diploma Program prepares students for entry-level employment in medical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, specimen collection centres and other health-care settings.
Students develop the knowledge, practical laboratory skills, professional behaviours and patient-care skills required to work safely and effectively within the MLA/T scope of practice. The program combines theory, supervised laboratory training and clinical placement experience.
Graduates are prepared to support laboratory services through patient identification and preparation, specimen collection, specimen processing and handling, electrocardiography (ECG), laboratory procedures within the MLA/T scope of practice, documentation, quality and safety practices, and professional communication.
What You Will Study
The MLA/T curriculum includes:
- Professional Practice and Communication
- Medical Terminology
- Basic Biology, Anatomy and Physiology
- Laboratory Mathematics and Quality Control
- Laboratory Safety
- Specimen Procurement, Processing and Data Collection
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Laboratory Equipment
- Introduce Anatomical Pathology & Cytology
- Clinical Hematology
- Immunology and Transfusion Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry and Urinalysis
- Clinical Microbiology
- First Aid and CPR
- Comprehensive Review
- Clinical Placement
Hands-On Laboratory Training
Students participate in supervised laboratory and patient-care simulations throughout the program. Practical training includes specimen collection and processing, phlebotomy, ECG, laboratory equipment operation, solution preparation, quality control, safety and infection prevention, and pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical laboratory activities within the MLA/T scope of practice.
Students learn to follow standard operating procedures, maintain specimen integrity, document accurately, recognize errors and unsafe conditions, and work professionally as part of the health-care team.
The program prepares students for the MLA/T scope of practice. It does not prepare graduates to independently validate, authorize or clinically interpret laboratory test results or perform duties reserved for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs).
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; or
- Be 18 years of age or older on or before the program start date and pass the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT), Level D, with a minimum score of 60%.
No specific high-school courses or previous college or university education is required. Previous science or health-care education is helpful but is not required.
The program is taught in English. Students require sufficient oral and written English skills to communicate effectively, understand laboratory procedures and safety instructions, and successfully complete the program.
Clinical Placement
The program includes a 200-hour (5-week) clinical placement where students apply their knowledge and skills in a professional practice environment.
Clinical placement sites are assigned by the College and are generally located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) but may be located outside the GTA. Students are responsible for transportation and related expenses. Placement schedules may include early-morning, evening or weekend hours.
Before beginning clinical placement, students must meet applicable requirements, including:
- Vulnerable Sector Check;
- completed medical report include Immunization, TB and colour vision testing;
- Standard First Aid and CPR Level C valid through the clinical placement;
- any additional health, safety or documentation requirements required by the placement site.
Important: These are clinical placement requirements and are not conditions of admission. However, a student who does not meet the required clinical placement conditions may be unable to begin clinical placement and may therefore be unable to complete the program.
Physical & Professional Requirements
MLA/T education and employment involve practical laboratory and patient-care activities. Students should be prepared for activities requiring manual dexterity, prolonged standing, visual acuity and colour vision, safe handling of blood and other biological specimens, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), attention to detail, professional communication, time management and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
Students who may require accommodation are encouraged to discuss their needs with the College.
Certification and Professional Information
Medical Laboratory Assistants/Technicians are not currently a regulated health profession in Ontario, and there is no mandatory provincial MLA/T licence or registration requirement to practise. However, professional certification is required or preferred by many employers.
The program curriculum and Comprehensive Review support preparation for the:
- Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario (MLPAO) MLA/T Certification Examination; and
- Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Medical Laboratory Assistant Certification Examination.
Certification examination eligibility, requirements, fees and policies are established by the respective organizations and may change. Prospective students should review current certification requirements before applying.
Program Fees and Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available to eligible students, including OSAP, Better Jobs Ontario, College scholarships and bursaries, and other funding programs.
Prospective students receive information about tuition, laboratory and clinical placement fees, books and learning materials, and potential additional costs before enrolment.
For current program fees and financial assistance information, please contact the College.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may seek entry-level MLA/T employment in settings such as:
- hospitals and medical laboratories;
- clinics and specimen collection centres;
- public health and community laboratories;
- research and biomedical laboratories; and
- other health-care facilities that employ Medical Laboratory Assistants/Technicians.
Employment requirements vary by employer. Professional certification may be required or preferred for some positions.
Information for Prospective Students
Before applying, prospective students should review the College’s MLA/T Prospective Student Information Handout, Admission Requirements, Program Fee Information and Clinical Placement Requirements.
These documents provide important information about the profession, program expectations, certification, physical and psychological demands, costs and conditions that may affect a student’s ability to enter clinical placement or complete the program.
Program Consultation
For additional information about the MLA/T program, admission requirements, fees or clinical placement requirements:
Email: info@pharmamedical.ca
Phone: 416-821-4876 / 416-916-8786
Why Choose Pharma Medical for Medical Laboratory Technician Training in Canada?
From General Anatomy & Clinical Hematology to Immunohematology, Clinical Microbiology, and ECG - our curriculum covers every competency required to work in modern medical labs across Canada.
Students are placed in recognized facilities including CML Healthcare, LifeLabs, and hospitals for hands-on sample procurement, processing, and diagnostic testing experience.
Our program combines online theory instruction with in-person practical labs, making quality MLT training accessible for working adults and international students across Ontario.
Our Medical Laboratory Technician course in Canada is designed to accommodate internationally trained science graduates looking to enter the Canadian healthcare system.
With Canada's aging population, demand for qualified lab technicians continues to grow across hospitals, blood collection centres, public health labs, universities, and pharmaceutical research facilities.
Graduates pursuing certification are supported with resources aligned to the Ontario Society of Medical Technologists (OSMT) examination standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Medical Laboratory Technician Program is 49 weeks of full-time, instructor-led training with a co-op component. The program combines theoretical education, practical laboratory training, and clinical experience.
Applicants must have a Grade 12 level education and a university degree or college diploma from a science-related program. Applicants must also demonstrate competency in English.
Yes. The program includes a clinical co-op placement where students gain hands-on experience in a medical laboratory environment and apply the laboratory skills learned during their training.
Yes. The program combines hybrid classroom learning with practical laboratory training and an in-person clinical placement, giving students both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience.
Graduates may pursue opportunities in hospitals, medical laboratories, clinics, blood collection centres, public health laboratories, pharmaceutical and biomedical laboratories, research facilities, universities, and other healthcare settings.
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