The Medical Laboratory Assistant Diploma Program provides both a theoretical foundation and a practical skill set. This in-demand and career-focused program includes courses on medical terminology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, ECG, and phlebotomy training for the application of current medical laboratory procedures.
This Medical Lab Assistant Program prepares graduates to work as Medical Laboratory Assistants at a medical laboratory within a variety of institutions, both in public (hospitals) or private settings (such as LifeLabs, etc.). The duration of this diploma program is 36 weeks, including a 6-week practicum at Lifelabs Clinic or Vancouver Island Health Authority. The graduates are prepared to meet the competency requirements and are qualified to register with BCSLS after program completion.
LifeLabs and Vancouver Island Health Authority have entered into a unique partnership to help Edison College students from the coastal communities study, train, and work in their communities. This Medical Lab Assistant Course is accredited and designated by PTIRU Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, as well as recognized and affiliated with BCSLS and LifeLabs, and Vancouver Island Health Authority, who will provide a 6-week practicum at their clinics.
Enroll today in this Medical Laboratory Assistant Course from Victoria, British Columbia, and start your health care career with Edison College.
Medical laboratory assistants work in laboratories and handle patients’ blood and other body fluid samples for different kinds of tests. This program prepares students to not only work in high-end laboratories but also excel in their careers.
Upon completion of this Medical Laboratory Assistant Program BC, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
• Work in an ethical and safe manner as a medical laboratory assistant, interacting with coworkers and members of the public.
• Provide professional medical laboratory services, efficiently and effectively use medical laboratory equipment, etc.
• Perform a variety of blood collection methods, using proper techniques and standard precautions.
• Collect, handle, and process specimens for analysis, following accepted standards and procedures for the operation of medical laboratories, and perform cardiac monitoring tests, properly recording the results.
• Fulfill administrative requirements and perform related tasks.
Every time a physician orders bloodwork, a urine analysis, or a diagnostic specimen collection, a medical laboratory assistant is part of the team that makes diagnosis and treatment possible. Medical laboratory assistants are the front-line professionals who collect patient samples, process specimens, perform routine laboratory tests, and maintain the equipment that clinical laboratories depend on — and their role in B.C.’s health care system is both essential and growing.
In B.C., WorkBC has designated medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations as a High Opportunity Occupation. Medical laboratory assistants (NOC 33101) in B.C. can expect approximately 2,210 job openings between 2025 and 2035, with average annual earnings of $47,733. WorkBC
British Columbia’s population is growing and ageing, which is increasing the demand for health care services and professionals. With a large number of workers expected to retire over the next few years, the need for medical laboratory assistants will increase — and additional openings will come available due to worker turnover. WorkBC This demographic momentum makes the MLA field one of the most structurally secure entry points into B.C.’s health care sector.
What distinguishes Edison College’s MLA program is a partnership that sets it apart from any other MLA program in the Victoria region: the program’s 6-week practicum is completed at LifeLabs clinics or Vancouver Island Health Authority facilities, with LifeLabs and Island Health directly affiliated with the program. This means graduates don’t just complete their practicum in a generic clinical setting — they train inside two of the most significant medical laboratory employers in B.C., building the professional relationships and demonstrated competency that often lead directly to employment offers.
In B.C., medical laboratory assistants must be graduates of BCSLS-approved MLA training programs. Completion of these programs can lead to certification by the BCSLS, which is voluntary but may be preferred by employers. WorkBC This program is BCSLS-affiliated, meaning graduates are qualified to register with the BC Society of Laboratory Science immediately upon completion — a professional credential recognized by laboratory employers across the province.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 33101 | Government of Canada Job Bank — MLA BC
Graduates of the Medical Laboratory Assistant diploma are prepared for technical support roles across the full spectrum of clinical laboratory settings in B.C. — with skills in phlebotomy, ECG, specimen processing, hematology, microbiology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis that directly match the competency requirements of B.C.’s major laboratory employers. Career opportunities include:
Clinical Laboratory Roles:
Setting-Specific Roles:
Technical & Support Roles:
Medical laboratory assistants work for medical laboratories in hospitals, clinics, research facilities, post-secondary educational institutions, and government research laboratories. WorkBC In the Victoria region specifically, the primary employers are LifeLabs (the practicum partner), Island Health (including Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, and community sites), and private physician clinics requiring on-site laboratory services.
Medical laboratory assistants work in some of the most technically precise and clinically important environments in B.C.’s health care system — settings where accuracy, professionalism, and infection control discipline directly impact patient outcomes:
Hospital Laboratories: The largest employer category for MLAs in B.C. — Island Health’s hospital network across Vancouver Island employs MLAs in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and specimen collection departments. Most medical laboratory assistants work 35–40 hours per week, with those in hospitals often rotating shifts to work on weekends and holidays, and some on-call work required to cover emergencies. WorkBC Island Health’s Victoria-area hospitals — Royal Jubilee and Victoria General — are direct practicum partners through this program.
LifeLabs Clinics: LifeLabs is Canada’s largest community laboratory services provider, operating collection sites across B.C. and serving millions of patient specimens annually. As a named practicum partner and affiliated organization of this program, LifeLabs provides Edison College students with direct, supervised clinical experience in one of B.C.’s most active specimen collection environments — and a meaningful connection to one of the province’s largest MLA employers.
Community Health Clinics & Physician Offices: Community-based collection sites and physician office laboratories employ MLAs for specimen collection, point-of-care testing, and ECG services — typically offering more predictable hours than hospital shift work, and representing a significant proportion of the overall MLA job market in B.C.
Private & Specialty Laboratories: Beyond LifeLabs, private diagnostic laboratories, specialty clinics, and health authority outpatient facilities employ MLAs in specimen processing, routine testing, and technical support roles — particularly in the Lower Mainland and larger urban centres.
Research & Educational Institutions: Graduates may also work in private laboratories, community health clinics, public health facilities, university research labs, biotechnology companies, and specialty labs WorkBC — providing career pathway options beyond direct patient-facing clinical work for those interested in research or applied science environments.
Workers in this occupational group generally work in clean, bright, and well-ventilated medical laboratories, clinics, or offices in hospitals. WorkBC
A career as a medical laboratory assistant in B.C. offers reliable, professionally meaningful compensation — supported by collective agreements across most publicly funded health authority settings, and with strong advancement potential for those who pursue further certification or specialization.
In British Columbia, medical laboratory assistants (NOC 33101) typically earn between $20.50 and $31.00 per hour Job Bank — with wages at the higher end of this range reflecting collective agreement rates for MLAs employed within B.C.’s health authorities.
WorkBC reports average annual earnings for medical laboratory assistants in B.C. of approximately $47,733 WorkBC — a solid health care professional income accessible within 36 weeks of starting the program, including the 6-week practicum.
For graduates employed directly by LifeLabs — the practicum partner for this program — compensation is competitive with health authority rates. LifeLabs laboratory assistants in British Columbia earn an average of approximately $27.51 per hour Indeed — a reliable, above-average entry-level rate that reflects LifeLabs’ position as a major B.C. employer in the specimen collection and laboratory services sector.
For graduates who wish to advance, the MLA credential provides a recognized foundation for progression toward Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) status — a role requiring additional post-secondary training that commands significantly higher compensation. Many workers are attracted to this occupation as a step towards more skilled positions, and for assistants who have taken specialized training, turnover rates are generally low WorkBC — confirming the career stability available to MLAs who invest in building their professional credentials over time.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 33101 | Government of Canada Job Bank — MLA BC | Indeed — LifeLabs BC
"Graduating from this program as a Mental Health and Addiction Community Support Worker has been a truly impactful experience. The education I received provided me with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges in a meaningful and compassionate way.
The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable, and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the learning feel relevant and applicable. I especially valued the focus on trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, and building genuine connections with clients.
This program helped me grow not only professionally but personally. I left feeling confident, prepared, and motivated to make a difference in my community. I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in mental health and addiction support
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"I had a great experience completing my Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant program at Edison College. The course was practical, easy to follow, and really helped me feel prepared to work in the field. I would definitely recommend it to others."
"My experience at Edison College Canada has been very rewarding. The Community Support Worker program, especially the Mental Health and Addiction specialization, has helped me build confidence and real-world skills to support vulnerable individuals in my community. I feel more prepared for my future career."
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