Cert in Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician is a certificate in Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences programme taught at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Canada. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,476 per year (CAD 3,452 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 3,452 / year
International tuition: CAD 15,476 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician program will prepare you with the skills and abilities to perform pre-analysis components of medical lab work under direct supervision of medical laboratory technologists in hospitals, physician's offices, and private medical laboratory settings. Through a combination of theoretical, practical, simulated and clinical learning experiences, this one-year, three-term certificate program will help you become proficient in the collection of blood samples, processing of clinical samples, performing ECGs, the use of laboratory equipment, and being fluent in medical terminology. Communication and interpersonal skills are also developed in the program for patient interaction. In the final level of the program, you will complete a four-week hospital rotation that will emphasize clinical procedures and acquaint you with hospital operation and administration. Graduates are eligible to write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) exams.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Conestoga's Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician certificate requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), or University/College (M) level, or completion of the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas certificate. Required subjects: Grade 12 English (ENG4U, ENG4C, EAE4C or EAE4U) or Conestoga's Preparatory Communications course; Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U) at a minimum of 65%; Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U) at a minimum of 65%, ideally completed within five years; and Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U) at a minimum of 65%. Ten bonus marks are added for each Advanced-level, OAC, U, U/C or post-secondary course used. Applicants whose prior education was not in English must demonstrate proficiency under Conestoga's general policy. The program also requires Intermediate (Standard) First Aid certification, a Vulnerable Sector Screening police check, and complete immunization and TB-testing records.
Application Details
Start Date:January and May
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca (college code CONS): for the Fall 2027 intake the online application opens 26 September 2026, the equal consideration date is 1 February 2027, offers may be issued from 1 November 2026, and accepted offers must be confirmed by 1 May 2027; most oversubscribed programs stop accepting applications after 1 February 2027, though many programs remain open afterward. Conestoga does not publish a separate equal-consideration date for its January intake. International applicants apply directly to Conestoga and are assessed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until each program fills; no fixed international closing date is published. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
