Medical Laboratory Assistant Overview Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) work under the supervision of a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT), performing the practical components of sample analysis. MLAs sort, prepare, and sometimes process samples that will be tested and analyzed by a MLT. MLAs collect samples, such as blood, and will often be the laboratory professional that interacts directly with patients. The MLA is an integral member of the health care team who shares knowledge, promotes learning, and collaborates with other professionals in providing effective patient care Stenberg College works very closely with labs and community hospitals and strives at all times to maintain our reputation for producing highly skilled graduates who are rapidly employed. Want to know more about this exciting field? Read on... Sample Careers and Job Duties A medical laboratory assistant can perform a wide variety of tasks, depending upon the needs of the institute that is doing the testing. Some sample duties are the following: Perform phlebotomy (collect blood) Obtain, handle and distribute various blood and body fluids Perform electrocardiograms (ECGs) Perform basic preanalytical procedures such as preparing slides of blood samples for microscopic examination Interact directly with patients Work with other health care professionals to provide effective patient care Potential Employers Hospitals Communities and private laboratories Public health laboratories Private health insurance companies  Universities and other research institutions Wages and Career Outlook Long-term wage and career outlook information is difficult to predict. Unlike other occupations, opportunities in health care are driven by the current government policy rather than the business cycle. Talk to your program advisor. Based on employment statistics gathered by Stenberg College, the wage range of students who completed the Medical Laboratory Assistant program and are working in their field of study is $18.04 - $23.70 per hour. You can also get more information from the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science or the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science. Use the following sites to obtain more career information. The related national occupation classification number—a system used to group jobs—is "321”. Please realize that these figures are based on groupings of a large number of related jobs. Wages and career outlook may differ due to education level, job location and type of employer. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but it is a place to start: BC Work Futures Fraser Health Authority Vancouver Coastal Health Provincial Government Jobbank Mission Community Skills Centre Society Alberta Occupational Profiles Ontario Job Futures Is This Program for You? Most of the work will involve blood collection. Will you be comfortable taking blood from patients? Do you enjoy working with patients and the public? Do you enjoy answering phones? Will you enjoy working at a front reception desk? Can you work well under pressure? Can you follow detailed instructions? Are you interested in science subjects, such as chemistry and biology? Are you able to concentrate for long periods? Can you maintain confidentiality? Can you perform routine instructions accurately? Do you have excellent communication skills? Are you able to work within a team? There are a large number of career counseling programs that test interest and aptitudes. Many are free. You are urged to take them. See the Stenberg College career guide for more information. Note: This program would not be suited to those with an allergy to latex. Program Admission Requirements Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent Grade 12 Biology (minimum Grade C) Passing Entrance Examination with a score of 70% or more Passing formal entrance interview with a score of 70% or more Two years of customer service experience with the same employer or a minimum of 6 months of customer service experience with a reference letter from an employer Successful completion of a short written essay Passing Verbal Test of English if English is a Second Language Minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute Students must provide the following to their Program Advisor prior to program start: Acceptable criminal record check Acceptable medical examination report Negative TB test report or clear chest X-ray Immunizations as required by industry at time of application Duration and Financing Duration: 30 weeks including practicum Financing: You could be eligible for ELMS funding, government student loans and other financing options; the Stenberg College Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance. Quick Links: Medical Laboratory Assistant: Program Courses & Additional Certification(s) Medical Laboratory Assistant: Top Reasons to Choose Stenberg

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