HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A typical pathway starts with secondary school courses in science, especially biology and chemistry, plus math and strong attention to detail. Many students then take a college or other postsecondary program in medical laboratory assistance or a related health-science field, though program names and length can vary. Some enter through employer training or gain experience in a lab or health-care setting. Early work often includes collecting and labelling samples, preparing them for testing, setting up equipment, and helping with routine tests under supervision. Requirements can vary by employer, province, and workplace setting.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Collect blood or other samples from patients
- Receive tissue samples from patients
- Log patient samples and prepare them for testing
- Set up medical laboratory equipment
- Conduct routine laboratory tests and sample analyses
- Clean and maintain medical laboratory and medical laboratory equipment.