Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate
About the Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate
Pursue your love of science and technology and join the health care field by becoming a Medical Laboratory Assistant. Through collecting and processing patient specimens, you will provide a critical aspect of a patient’s medical care.
This Accredited Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to produce healthcare professionals who have the basic technical and theoretical skills to work in healthcare laboratories.
Our simulation labs and enhanced practicum & learning experiences will prepare you to enter the workforce and start making a difference in the lives of others.
You will learn how to
collect, process, and prepare patient specimens
provide medical data entry
perform clerical & reception services
perform electrocardiograms & urinalysis
carry out basic laboratory procedures.
Graduates will attain all the specified MLA competencies that are outlined by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).
Work-integrated Learning
Students will participate in one week of simulated labs on campus and a six-week offsite practicum within Alberta.
Further Study
Graduates will be eligible to write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) MLA exam for certification that allows you to work as a medical laboratory professional throughout Canada.
Related Careers
Medical Lab Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technologist (with further study)
Meet the Faculty
At Red Deer Polytechnic we are proud of our faculty members and staff who are experts in their disciplines and subject areas.
Intakes
Fall (Domestic) - Start Date: Sep 04, 2024
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Fall (International) - Start Date: Sep 04, 2024
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Winter (Domestic) - Start Date: Jan 07, 2025
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NOTES:
- International students have to pay their tuition deposit to receive their letters of acceptance
- Important dates may change
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admission Requirements page for detailed group descriptions.
International Students: If you are an international student or have completed your high school education outside of Alberta, please refer to our International Course Equivalencies page for information on how your coursework may align with our admission requirements.
Eligibility for admission to the Medical Laboratory Assistant program at Red Deer Polytechnic requires applicants to meet minimum academic requirements. Qualified applicants who meet all minimum requirements will be offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Academic Requirements
Students applying to Medical Laboratory Assistant must have an average of 60%, with no mark below 50%, in the following courses or their equivalents:
English 30-1 or 30-2
Chemistry 20
Biology 30
Mathematics 10C or Mathematics 20-2
Additional Requirements
English Language Proficiency
Applicants who declare English as a first language are exempt from ELP requirements. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) for admission to credit programs by providing official documentation to the Office of the Registrar after an online application has been submitted. All ELP tests must have been obtained within two years of the date their program starts. ELP requirements are in addition to the other admission requirements noted above.
Study Permits
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.
Health & Safety
Health workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards.
For clinical and practicum placements, as a student of a Health 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. However, failure to submit the required documents will affect your progression in your chosen program.
View details about health & safety requirements for work-integrated learning (clinical and practicum) placements, including document submission deadlines.
Practicum
The RDP Medical Lab Assistant certificate program concludes with a 6 week full-time clinical practicum placement where students receive on-the-job training in a working medical laboratory. All students must attend an assigned clinical site within the province of Alberta for the duration of their clinical practicum and are responsible for making and managing their own travel and living arrangements and any associated costs. This placement occurs from the last week of February to the first week of April for the Fall Intake and the last week of October to the first week of December for the Winter Intake.
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.
Prior Learning and Transfer
Students presenting courses from other recognized post-secondary institutions may be granted transfer credit towards the Medical Laboratory Assistant program, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning and Transfer Credit page to learn more.
Program Cost
These costs are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year.
NOTE: Additional fees apply. View here for a detailed, estimated breakdown of tuition, non-instructional mandatory fees, health and dental plan costs, and estimated textbooks and supplies costs.
These costs are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year.
NOTE: Additional fees apply. View here for a detailed, estimated breakdown of tuition, non-instructional mandatory fees, health and dental plan costs, and estimated textbooks and supplies costs.
Financial Aid Options
Student life can be very expensive, and few individuals have enough money to pay up-front for their post-secondary education.
Program Content
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 6-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 6-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.
Fall Accelerated | Daytime main campus with some online learning
Winter Extended | Evenings online and weekends on main campus
Program Courses
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.
Continuing and Professional Education
Further your career by advancing your existing skills through flexible courses, micro-credentials and programs.