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Train to Become a Medical Laboratory Assistant
Develop the skills to collect and handle laboratory specimens with precision in fast-paced clinical settings. Gain hands-on experience to work confidently in hospitals, clinics, and labs.
BCSLS Approved
Graduates are eligible to apply for BCSLS Medical Laboratory Assistant certification.
Scholarship
Up to $5,000* available for eligible students, until June 30, 2026. *Terms apply.
Campus Availability
Surrey
Increase Your Income Potential
Median wage for Medical Laboratory Assistants in BC is $28/hr. Jobbank.gc.ca., 2026.
Program Overview
Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate
Enter a fulfilling healthcare career with a comprehensive certificate program that prepares you to work in diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, and medical clinics. Vancouver Career College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program is approved by the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS), aligning your training with industry-recognized standards.
Gain hands-on training in specimen collection, phlebotomy, laboratory procedures, and patient interaction while developing the accuracy and attention to detail required in clinical environments. Through real-world clinical placement experience, you’ll build the practical skills employers expect in fast-paced laboratory settings.
Graduates of this BCSLS-approved program are eligible to apply for a Medical Laboratory Assistant certificate through the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS).
Recognition
Training that meets industry and regulatory standards
Our programs are designed to meet established industry and provincial requirements, helping ensure your education is respected by employers and aligned with current workforce expectations. This commitment reflects our focus on quality training, accountability, and career-ready outcomes.
Program approved by the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS)
Program is approved by the Registrar of the Provincial Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU)
Program Requirements
Speak With Admissions
Admission & Requirements
Admissions advisors will guide you through each step
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Proof of high school graduation or equivalent (General Education Development or BC Adult Basic Education)
OR
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Mature student status (19 years of age upon starting classes)
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Pass the College’s General Math Exam with a passing score of 50%
AND
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Keyboarding 40 wpm
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Proof of English Language proficiency
Administrative Requirements for Admissions:
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Interview with the campus director, program coordinator, or designate
Note: Transcripts from an institution outside of Canada must be verified by an international education credential
evaluation service, such as WES or ICES.
Practicum, Clinical Placement or Preceptorship Requirements:
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Criminal record check (in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act)
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Up-to-date immunization report (form provided by college)
Making Your Education Accessible
Financing your educational journey shouldn't hold you back. At Vancouver Career College, our dedicated team of Student Financial Planners is available to guide you through available financial option, depending on what you may qualify for.
Potential Funding Options
Government Student Loans: Government of BC-sponsored loan assistance for eligible students.
Student Lines of Credit: Offered through financial institutions, allowing you to borrow as needed.
Grants, Bursaries and Agency Funding: You may qualify through federal or provincial retraining programs, including WorkSafeBC and other government agencies.
Personalized Financial Support: Your Student Financial Planner will help you explore potential funding sources and identify options based on your situation.
Scholarships
We've awarded over $1 million in scholarships to students across all backgrounds. Talk to your campus Student Financial Planner to find out what you may qualify for.
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Average of at least 70% in each course of the program, as well as a minimum mark of 70% on all final practical and theory examinations
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Successful completion of all Practical Skills and Clinical Placement requirements as well as the hours of the Career and Employment Strategies course
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Standard First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate (Level C – Basic Rescuer) which must be attained before starting any Clinical Placement
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Must pass comprehensive theory and practical exam.
Career Paths for Medical Laboratory Assistant
Your MLA certificate opens doors across BC's healthcare and diagnostic sectors, from hospitals and clinics to public health labs and physician offices.
- Private Diagnostic Testing Laboratory
- Public Health Laboratory
- Hospital Laboratory
- Quality Control Laboratory
- Physician’s Office or Clinic
Find market-ready opportunities with guidance from Career Services.
What You'll Learn
Graduate With Practical Skills
Gain practical, job-ready skills in laboratory procedures - from hematology and ECG to specimen collection, lab safety, and professional ethics - preparing you to work with accuracy and confidence in clinical and diagnostic lab settings.
Medical Laboratory Assistant - Program Courses
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and study techniques to help foster effective learning and a positive educational experience. This course explores many different theories on learning and studying and how these theories can be applied to each student’s individual studying methods in order to develop a method that is both effective and efficient. Effective study habits and productive note-taking are key topics in this course, as well as the importance of values and goals. Through active participation in learner-centred activities, students will explore and practice strategies for setting personal goals, prioritizing tasks, managing time, and managing the stress that arises in school or work situations. This course will also equip students with a sound understanding of matters related to finance, credit, and debt and the critical implications they have on our lives. Students taking this course will complete the Enriched Academy program, which provides comprehensive coverage of financial and money management skills that will allow them to better save, budget, and manage their money and financial situations.
This lab is a broad-based, self-directed introduction to using a personal computer. It teaches the fundamentals of an
operating system and the most popular application software including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.
You will also learn about the internet, web browsers, electronic mail, and antivirus software. The course is based
on the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office 2013, and a variety of popular software programs for internet- and
security-related applications.
Extensive hands-on exercises throughout the course will allow you to practise and reinforce the skills you acquire, while
progress check questions at the end of every module will give you the opportunity to test your knowledge of the presented
material.
Using a computer is essential in today’s office environment. This module offers the students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a standard keyboard. For the advanced keyboarder, the module focus is to increase typing speed and accuracy.
This course will provide the student with the fundamental notions necessary to the understanding of the components of medical terminology. The students will learn the basic anatomical structures of the body and identify commonly used abbreviations in the healthcare field. The emphasis of this course is placed on the proper use of the elements of medical terminology, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Medical terminology is a vast field that cannot be taught completely in one course. This course will serve as a foundation for the continuous learning of medical terminology that will continue throughout the remainder of the program.
This course gives the student an overview of the human anatomy and the terminology associated with each body system. Understanding new words becomes easier with the discovery that many of these terms are made up of interchangeable word parts that are used in different combinations. The text used in the course is designed to make the process as simple as possible.
Why Choose This Program
Why Students Choose Our Medical Laboratory Assistant Program
Built for outcomes, not just credentials
From your first class to your clinical placement, the focus is on building hands-on, job-ready skills. Learn from experienced instructors, develop precision in laboratory procedures, and gain real-world experience preparing you to work in diagnostic healthcare environments.
- BCSLS-approved program aligned with industry standards
- Supervised clinical placement (120 hours) in a real laboratory setting
- Hands-on training in phlebotomy, specimen collection, and diagnostic procedures
- Instructors with real-world laboratory and healthcare experience
- Career and employment support available for up to six months post-graduation
Still have questions? Book a campus visit and talk with our Admissions team.
Taking the program was a great experience for me. A big part of that was my instructor...who showed up every day ready to teach and made the classes fun, interactive, and engaging. She created a supportive environment that made learning feel more personal and approachable.
(Our instructor) taught us a lot...and shared her real-life experiences in healthcare settings. She also guided us on how to manage tasks and handle details effectively.
The program provided both strong theoretical knowledge and practical training that prepared me well to work in the health care field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Laboratory Assistant Program FAQs
Vancouver Career College is approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. For more information, visit the PTIRU site here.
Our campuses offer a variety of start dates, in some cases, every two weeks. To learn more about our upcoming start dates, please reach out to your campus of choice HERE
Our experienced Student Financial Planners can provide further details on program funding. Refer to the Financial Options webpage for more information.
Programs may be available in a variety of modalities. Please refer to the specific program page to learn more. If you have additional questions about learning online, please click HERE to learn more about admissions.
You can find our tuition listed HERE.
The length of this program is listed in the Program Overview section on this page. Have questions? Click here to connect with an Admissions Advisor.
Start Your Career in Medical Laboratory Assistant
For over 30 years, Vancouver Career College has delivered trusted career training. Explore how our programs can support your goals. Connect with an advisor today.
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