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Academic Calendar 2023-2024

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Health Sciences

Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate

Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate - students looking in microscropes

Credential

Certificate

Duration

Fall 29 weeks
Winter 42 weeks

Location

-Main Campus

The Program

The Accredited Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to produce health care professionals who have the basic technical and theoretical skills to work in healthcare 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.

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.

Two Intakes Available - Fall Term (29 weeks in duration) and Winter Term (42 weeks in duration)

The Fall Term intake of the program is completed over 29 weeks. This program includes classroom, online, and laboratory courses and ends with a 7-week practicum off campus for clinical laboratory training. Learning includes daytime learning on main campus with some online learning opportunities integrated within the program as well.

The Winter Term intake of the program is completed over 42 weeks. The program includes online and laboratory courses and ends with a 7-week practicum off campus for clinical laboratory training. Learning (with the exception of the practicum) includes online learning in the evenings during the week and laboratory classes on weekends at the main campus.

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

Program Content

INTP 104 Healthcare Communication I
MLA 105 Infection Control Practices
MLA 114 Integrated Medical Terminology
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

Delivery Options

Fall Accelerated | Daytime main campus with some online learning
Winter Extended | Evenings online and weekends on main campus

Program Cost Estimates

Admission Requirements

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
Keyboarding skills (two three-minute assessments - minimum 30 net words per minute (netWPM) with a minimum of 97% accuracy on each assessment).

Non-academic Requirements:

Site Tour [Waived for 2023 - 2024 Applicants]
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.

Other Requirements

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 these 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.

Graduation Requirements

You must pass all required courses including clinical practicum and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Due to the changing nature of health care, students must complete all required courses within the program within 2 academic years from the term when they were first admitted.

Related Careers

Medical Lab Assistant

Special Fees and Expenses

Practicum Expenses:
The RDP 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.

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