Certificate in Medical Laboratory Assistant

Medical laboratory assistants work directly with other health care providers and patients and in the exciting laboratory setting. You collect health information and medical specimens from patients, but you also enter clerical data, process specimens and assist with basic laboratory activities. It’s a job that requires good people and communication skills, a professional yet caring attitude and a commitment to teamwork and excellence, as well as attention to detail. Medical lab assistants are in demand in many areas. Look for jobs in hospitals, community clinics, medical offices, research and pharmaceutical labs, veterinary clinics, chiropractic and physiotherapy offices and more.
Medical Laboratory Assistant is a nationally accredited 32-week certificate program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon campus . Some classes are also available through distance education. Labs and clinical experiences are a big part of the program, so expect hands-on training in:
anatomy and physiologybasic lab procedureshistology and cytologyinfection control and safetymicrobiology specimen collection and handling

• Minimum 25 net words per minute keyboarding speed with 90% accuracy (5-minute testing report to be submitted with transcripts)
  • Gross words per minute minus errors per minute indicates net words per minute.
  • Testing is available through Saskatchewan Polytechnic Testing Services. A completed Keyboarding Test Results Form must be submitted to Enrolment Services.
• Grade 12 with a minimum grade of 70% in each of English Language Arts A30, English Language Arts B30, Foundations of Math 20 or Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30, Health Science 20 or Biology 30, and Physical Science 20 or Chemistry 30
• Completion of studies at a Canadian or U.S. high school (secondary education)
  • Completion of grades 10, 11, and 12 English, in sequence, as part of three full academic years in a high school using provincially-accredited Canadian or state-accredited U.S. curriculum with a minimum grade of 70% in English Language Arts A30 and English Language Arts B30 or equivalent. English as a Second Language courses will not be considered.
• Completion of studies at an English-speaking post-secondary school
  • Successful completion of a minimum of two full years (minimum 24 credits) from an accredited program at a recognized institution or a combination of accredited programs at institutions recognized by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, where English is the official language of instruction and examination with a grade point average of 60% or equivalent.