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Medical laboratory assistants work in a laboratory setting directly with other health care providers and patients. Job duties include collecting health information and medical specimens from patients, entering clerical data, processing specimens, and assisting with basic laboratory activities. It’s a job that requires attention to detail, good communication and people skills and the ability to work in a high paced, professional team environment. There is currently a high demand at hospitals, health clinics, medical offices, research and pharmaceutical labs, veterinary clinics, chiropractic, and physiotherapy offices and more, for medical lab assistants.
The Medical Laboratory Assistant program is a 32-week certificate program offered jointly with Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Course delivery is a combination of in-class/in-lab, remote/online, and clinical placement. Labs and clinical experience is a big part of the program, which provide students the opportunity to experience hands-on training in:
- anatomy and physiology
- basic lab procedures
- histology and cytology
- infection control and safety
- microbiology
- specimen collection and handling
This program is fast-paced and physical, which may involve long period of standing when doing laboratory activities, simulations and during clinical placements. Clinicals will be for a total of 8 weeks supervised training, which will provide the students experience in specific areas: histology, specimen management, phlebotomy, and microbiology. Clinical placements will be at various locations across the province.
After successfully completing this program, you will receive a Saskatchewan Polytechnic Medical Laboratory Assistant certificate.
The Government of Saskatchewan provides incentives and bursaries for various health care programs, please see Incentives for Health Care Professionals | Health Human Resources | Government of Saskatchewan for more details.
