What to expect from a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician or Technologist
Laboratory science is an important component of the medical industry. Professional laboratory technicians and technologists run diagnostic tests on tissue,
If you’re interested in starting a medical career and want to learn more about laboratory studies careers, here’s what you need to know.
Laboratory Studies Courses
Laboratory studies programs typically fall into one of these three categories:
- Medical Laboratory Assistant / Technician. Medical laboratory assistant and technician training
focuses on the pre-analysis components of medical lab work. Assistants and technicians are responsible for collecting and processing samples and specimens, performing ECGs and participating in limited sample testing. - Medical Laboratory Science. Three-year medical laboratory science programs prepare students for careers as medical laboratory technologists. Technologists are responsible for conducting diagnostic tests on blood, tissue, body fluids and other specimens to help detect and monitor medical conditions. Subject matter for medical laboratory courses includes a broad array of science and mathematics disciplines, as well as medical courses such as histotechnology, hematology, specimen preparation and more.
- Chemical Laboratory and Science Laboratory Technology. Chemical and science laboratory programs train students to perform
physical , microbiological and chemical analysis. Advanced science courses such as organic chemistry,macrobiology , bacteriology and more are coupled with laboratory practice and procedure courses to prepare students for work in chemical, research or educational labs.
General Laboratory Studies Program Requirements
Ontario college laboratory studies programs typically require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, which includes a grade 12 English credit. Additional academic requirements will vary by program, but will likely include a variety of senior math and science credits.
Laboratory Studies Jobs and Salaries
Whether you graduate as a laboratory assistant, technician or technologist, career opportunities will exist in a variety of disciplines, from research and development to medical diagnostics, and in a number of different facilities, from hospital, clinic or research labs to government agencies and consulting firms.
Salaries in laboratory studies jobs will depend on your particular role. Technologists are at the higher end of the pay scale, with an average starting salary of $50,000 a year. Technicians and assistants will see salaries between $30,000 and $35,000 a year to start.
Ontario Colleges Offering Laboratory Studies Programs
Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of laboratory studies programs at Ontario colleges.
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