Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate is a certificate in Health Sciences programme offered by Vancouver Community College in Vancouver, Canada. The programme runs for 6 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 2,500 per total for local students.
The certificate teaches the collection and preparation of blood and other biological samples through phlebotomy, performing electrocardiograms, and building effective communication with patients and the wider health care team. The first level combines practical laboratory work with varied instructional activities such as guest speakers, workshops, assignments and online sessions, audio-visual presentations, lectures and site tours. Successful completion of this level leads into a four-week practicum placed within a medical laboratory.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Academic entry is Grade 12 graduation or an equivalent, English Studies 12 at a minimum 'C+' grade or an equivalent, and Anatomy and Physiology 12 at a minimum 'C-' or an equivalent. There is also a keyboarding standard: 40 gross words per minute at 98 per cent accuracy, demonstrated on a proctored five-minute test. On acceptance you must clear a criminal record check carried out to VCC's instructions — a result indicating risk to vulnerable populations prevents you from completing practicums or graduating, submit a negative tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray dated within six months of the start, and complete the School of Health Sciences immunisation record, without which a clinical or practicum placement can be refused. VCC states this programme is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and directs international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes open to them. College-wide rules also apply: applicants must be 16 or older or a secondary-school graduate, with some exceptions, and official transcripts and every required supporting document must reach VCC before the application counts as complete.
Application Details
Start Date:January and May intakes. VCC's academic year runs in three terms: Winter (January to April), Spring/Summer (May to August) and Fall (September to December).
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply through EducationPlannerBC. VCC publishes this programme's windows term by term on its When to Apply page: Spring/Summer 2027 entry (May start) — open 1 June 2026, close 1 February 2027. Seats go to eligible applicants in the order their applications are completed, so the programme can close before the listed end date once it fills. The Winter 2027 (January) window is shown as already closed, which is normal for this programme once its seats are taken. VCC's page for this programme states it is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and points international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes and intakes open to them; there the application periods open on 1 February, 1 June and 1 October of the previous year for the Winter, Spring/Summer and Fall terms, with no fixed closing date — a programme accepts applications until roughly three to four months before classes begin, or until its seats are gone.
