Pursue your love of science and technology and join the health care field by becoming a Medical Laboratory Assistant. Through collecting and processing patient specimens, you will provide a critical aspect of a patient's medical care.
This Accredited Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to produce health care professionals who have the basic technical and theoretical skills to work in health care laboratories.
Our simulation labs and enhanced practicum and learning experiences will prepare you to enter the workforce and start making a difference in the lives of others. You will be trained to collect, process, and prepare patient specimens, enter data, perform clerical and reception services, perform electrocardiograms and urinalysis and carry out basic laboratory procedures.
Graduates will attain all the specified MLA competencies that are outlined by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).
Work-integrated Learning
Students will participate in one week of simulated labs on campus and a six-week offsite practicum within Alberta.
Further Study
Graduates will be eligible to write the CSMLS MLA exam and obtain national certification.
Related Careers
Medical Lab Assistant
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
Expected May, September 2025
Start date
January 2025
School of Health and Wellness
Red Deer College, 100 College Boulevard,
Alberta (AB),
T4N 5H5, Canada
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
Expected May, September 2025
Start date
January 2025
School of Health and Wellness
Red Deer College, 100 College Boulevard,
Alberta (AB),
T4N 5H5, Canada
Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admission Requirements(link is external) page for detailed group descriptions.
Have completed your high school education outside of Alberta.
Eligibility for admission to the Medical Laboratory Assistant program at Red Deer Polytechnic requires applicants to meet minimum academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
Students applying to Medical Laboratory Assistant must have an average of 60%, with no mark below 50%, in the following courses or their equivalents: English 30-1 or 30-2
Chemistry 20
Biology 30
Mathematics 10C or Mathematics 20-2
English Language Proficiency
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
RDP offers students with industry-relevant programming, fostering applied research opportunities and close industry ties.