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 Accredited Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to produce health care professionals who have the basic technical and theoretical skills to work in heathcare laboratories.  Their duties consist mainly of sample collection, specimen processing and various clinical laboratory procedures.  Graduates will attain all the specified MLA competencies that are outlined by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).  They will be eligible to write the CSMLS MLA exam and obtain national certification. 

The program is completed over 29 weeks and includes classroom and laboratory study on campus and a 7 week practicum off campus for clinical laboratry training.  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. During practicum experience, students will address a selection of competencies in simulation labs.

Program outcomes are designed to enable successful transition to the role of the Medical Lab Assistant, assisting students to:

• Perform safe work practices according to established safety protocols, guidelines, and legislation.
• Verify relevant data and patient information to ensure that appropriate specimens are collected and handled correctly.
• Perform pre-analytical procedures and laboratory testing on a variety of specimens through the use of equipment according to established protocols.
• Apply a variety of communication strategies, teamwork skills, and inter-professional collaboration to effectively and respectfully build positive relationships with patients/clients and other healthcare professionals.
• Practice and promote the principles of quality management systems.
• Practice in a legal, ethical and professional manner, demonstrating conduct that meets expectations of laws and regulations governing the profession.
• Exhibit empathy, respect, and appreciation of diversity, while protecting the patient's right to a reasonable standard of care.
• Apply critical thinking skills to constructively investigate, evaluate, and problem solve to engage in self-reflective practice, self-care, and lifelong learning.

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

Academic Requirements

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 five-minute timings - minimum 30 words per minute with a maximum of 5 errors)
3. Basic computer literacy exam (word processing)

Non-academic Requirements:

Site Tour

Applicants must visit a hospital clinical laboratory. Completion of a Site Tour confirmation form must be signed by the tour lead. The Site Tour form specific to the Medical Laboratory Assistant program is required and can be found in the Forms Index on the RDC website.

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

Note: Admission requirements are under review. Applicants are advised that the following will be required for admission to Fall, 2020:

1. Minimum average of 60% and no mark below 50% in: English 30-1 or 30-2, Chemistry 20, Biology 30, and Mathematics 10C or Mathematics 20-2
2. Keyboarding skills (two five-minute timings - minimum 30 words per minute with a maximum of 5 errors)
3. Basic computer literacy exam (word processing)

Note:  Health Sciences workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards. As a student of a Health Sciences program you also are required to meet these standards of practice. These Health and Safety Requirements do not need to be submitted as part of your application. You are encouraged to become familiar with the requirements as soon as possible to ensure completion prior to program start and before the first day of classes. Once you have been accepted into your program please start submitting these Health and Safety Requirements.  See full information at Health & Safety Requirements .

Note: In order to proceed into the clinical practicum course, you must show evidence of the required specific schedule of immunization prior to program start date. A form will be provided the college.

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.

INTP 102 Healthcare Anatomy and Physiology
INTP 104 Healthcare Communication I
MLA 104 Medical Terminology
MLA 105 Infection Control Practices
MLA 117 Medical Lab Testing and Professional Practice
MLA 119 Specimen Collection, Handling and Quality Lab Processes
MLA 121 General Lab Procedures and Urinalysis
MLA 115 Clinical Practicum

Practicum Expenses:
The RDC Medical Lab Assistant certificate program includes a 7 week clinical practicum placement during the winter semester. All students are expected to travel to clinical sites throughout the Alberta Health Services Region for their clinical practicum and are responsible for travel and living costs.

Every effort is made to consider student preferences for practicum location. However, due to practicum availability, students may be required to travel to locations outside of their preferences in the province of Alberta in order to complete the practicum requirements.