1 year

There is a high demand for Medical Lab Assistants in Central Alberta, as well as in other areas provincially and interprovincially. Medical Laboratory Assistants find employment in hospitals, community health centers, and public or private clinical laboratories.

The program is designed so that students complete sixteen weeks of classroom and laboratory study at RDC followed by a seven week practicum of clinical laboratory training. The Medical Lab Assistant certificate includes four major areas of study: phlebotomy, urinalysis, histology, and microbiology. Students are trained to collect, process, and prepare patient specimens, enter data, perform clerical and reception services, perform electrocardiograms and urinalysis, and carry out basic laboratory procedures. Graduates of the MLA program are eligible to write the Canadian Society for Medical laboratory Science MLA national certification examination.

During practicum experience, students will address a limited selection of competency in a simulation lab. The remainder of the unpaid practicum occurs in settings whose staffing includes Medical Laboratory Assistants. The available practicum sites are located primarily in central Alberta.

All students are expected to travel to clinical agencies throughout Central Alberta Health Services Region for the clinical practicum. Students require access to reliable transportation that will enable them to complete the requirements for the clinical practicum. During the clinical practicum students may also be required to arrange alternate accommodation for up to 7 weeks during the winter semester. Students are responsible for costs associated with this travel.

Note: There is one annual intake in Fall for the MLA program usually beginning in October.

1. Minimum average of 60% and no mark below 50% in: English 30-1 or 30-2, Chemistry 20, Biology 20, and Mathematics 10C or Mathematics 20-2
2. Keyboarding skills (two-tests - minimum 30 words per minute with 90% accuracy)
3. Basic computer literacy exam (word processing)

A completed Career Investigation report that documents a visit or job shadow in a clinical laboratory or blood collection site

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Career Investigation:

Applicants are required to complete a Medical Laboratory Assistant Program Specific Career Investigation Report Form. A visit to a clinical laboratory or collection site and completion of a Career Investigation form specific to the Medical Laboratory Assisting program are required.

Non-academic Requirements / Immunization Requirements

Once accepted into the Medical Laboratory Assistant program, students will be given an immunization requirement form to be completed by their physician, public health nurse or health professional. Your immunization must be up to date prior to orientation. Your completed immunization requirement form must be submitted at your program's orientation in September.

Don't wait-start updating your immunization today. You will need immunization against tetanus and diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) and hepatitis B (including Hepatitis B titre). You will also be required to undergo tuberculosis screening within a specified time prior to practicum placement. Failure to do so will prevent you from participating in program activities and clinical placement. A copy of your records may be obtained from your public health clinic or physician's office.

Note: While not an admission requirement for the program, applicants are advised that they will be required to provide a Police Information Check (also known as a Criminal Record Check) including a Vulnerable Sector Check to most agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of police information or a criminal record may prevent practicum placement, program completion, professional licensure and therefore affect future employment prospects. It is the decision of each agency or institution to accept or reject a student for placement or observation experience based on the results of the police information check.

Note: Students with Study Permits that are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching or health service field occupations must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month prior to the start of classes.

You must pass all required courses including clinical practicum and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Year 1 Oct-April (irregular term)

• MLA 100  Professional Relations
• MLA 101  Basic Electrocardiography
• MLA 102  Quality Management
• MLA 103  Basic Anatomy and Physiology
• MLA 104  Medical Terminology
• MLA 105  Infection Control and Safety
• MLA 106  Blood Collection & Handling
• MLA 107  Introduction to General Laboratory Procedures
• MLA 108  Introduction to Medical laboratory Testing
• MLA 109  Miscellaneous Specimen Processing
• MLA 110  Urinalysis
• MLA 115  Clinical Practicum