Medical laboratory assistants work in a clean and protected work environment. If you have skills like active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring, then you can consider a career as a medical laboratory assistant. In this blog, we will talk about all the important aspects of this field so that you can have a complete understanding of it.
What Is A Medical Laboratory Assistant?
A medical laboratory assistant is someone who works in a laboratory and handles patients’ samples. Medical laboratory assistants are essential frontline healthcare professionals that deliver high-quality patient care.
What Do Medical Laboratory Assistants Do?
Medical lab assistants collect blood samples and other kinds of bodily fluids and help doctors and medical laboratory technologists in performing tests. They also prepare documents and maintain patients’ records of those who come to the laboratory for different kinds of tests and maintain stock levels of laboratory supplies. They follow strict safety procedures and healthcare guidelines to protect patient samples and dispose of hazardous waste. They handle and prepare patient samples, do urine and ECG tests, and carry out some point-of-care testing procedures.
Skills That Can Help You In This Career
According to WorkBC, there are 10 skills that can help you to have a prosperous career as a medical laboratory assistant. These skills are as follows: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, service orientation, social perceptiveness, monitoring, writing, coordination, and instructing.
How To Become A Medical Laboratory Assistant?
You basically need to have a good high school certificate to become a medical laboratory assistant. Some colleges also require a minimum 60% marks in English, Math, Chemistry, and Biology in grade 12. For international students, a minimum test score of the International English Language Testing System requirement (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. Some colleges also require criminal record checks, typing speed, documented proof of vaccinations, etc. For instance, Edison College requires keyboarding skills of 40 words per minute (WPM).
Edison College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant Diploma Program is a 36-week course, including a 6-week practicum at a LifeLabs Clinic. This comprehensive program provides a combination of both theoretical foundation and market-oriented skills so that students can easily start their careers. The courses in this diploma include medical terminology, clinical chemistry and microbiology, urinalysis, ECG and phlebotomy training, etc.
Is Medical Lab Assistant A Good Career?
Yes, a medical laboratory assistant career is definitely a good one. Medical laboratory assistants can also get more education and training and take up supervisory roles, and it is also not difficult to become a medical laboratory technologist once you get some experience. Medical lab assistants usually work in private laboratories, university research laboratories, biotechnology companies, etc.
Prevailing Wages In This Career
The median wage of a medical laboratory assistant in Canada is $26.35 per hour, while the low wage is $18.00 per hour and the high is $37.81 per hour, according to the Government of Canada Job Bank. Alberta and Quebec have higher median salaries, which are $28.62 per hour and $29.80 per hour, respectively. When it comes to job prospects, Alberta again tops the list along with Saskatchewan, as these two provinces have ‘very good’ job opportunities over the next three years.
Meanwhile, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec have ‘good’ job prospects over the next few years. Job prospects of medical laboratory assistants are also bright because of the aging and growing population of Canada. Moreover, many workers move upwards by learning new skills so that they can have higher salaries and management positions once they have more experience.
Conclusion
As we have discussed in detail here, if you have skills like attention to detail, active listening, and critical thinking, then you should opt for this program. A laboratory assistant program is also an excellent way to get into the healthcare industry of Canada. This program is not only short but also provides an opportunity to work in a clean and nice working environment. Due to a growing and aging population, the prospects for medical laboratory assistants are expected to remain bright in the future. We have also talked about the salary range in this blog, and you can notice that the median salaries of medical laboratory assistants are not only high but also attractive in some provinces. Contact us today if you want more information about this diploma or you have any confusion about it.
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