Medical laboratory technicians in Canada has good employment outlook because it is a vital part of the Canadian healthcare system. There are about 20,500 medical laboratory technicians working in hospitals, public and private laboratories, university research facilities, pharmaceutical laboratories, veterinary research clinics, community health clinics and biotechnology companies across the Canadian provinces.
The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3212. Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are medical laboratory technician, phlebotomist and medical laboratory assistant.
Is medical lab technician a good career in Canada?
Employment prospects for medical laboratory technicians are good in Canada after the Covid-19 pandemic. The government forecasts that there will be a shortage of workers in this profession soon.
As job openings and job seekers are projected to be relatively similar over the 2019-2028 periods, the labour shortage conditions seen in recent years are expected to continue over the projection period. Job openings are projected to result from both expansion demand and retirements.
Similar to most health occupations, employment growth is expected to be stronger than the average for all occupations, but lower than the average of health-related occupations. The growing number of seniors will lead to an increase in the demand for diagnostic services for various diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Slightly less than half of the job openings will result from retirements. The retirement rate in this occupational group is expected to be similar to the national average as these workers have a similar age profile to the rest of the occupations.
How much do medical laboratory technicians make in Canada?
The average salary for medical laboratory technicians is $24.94 per hour in Canada. According to BizTalk’s latest resources, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Alberta at $27.00 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario at $20.33 per hour.
The 2020 full-time average hourly wage rate for technical occupations in health, which includes medical laboratory technicians, is $29.87. The 2020 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $1,094 giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment sector of $57,000.
What are the duties of an MLT/A?
- Take bodily fluid samples from patients, such as urine, tissue, and blood.
- Coordinate with lab technicians to analyze samples.
- Recording data and clinical results in patient records.
- Using automated equipment to perform many tasks at once.
- Keeping and recording any abnormal findings.
- Learn and get trained by lab technicians
How do I become a medical lab technician in Canada?
To pursue a medical lab technician career, one must have a high school diploma and professional diploma or associate degree. In addition to primary education, one has to achieve certification from the regulatory body. In Ontario, medical lab technicians must clear MLPAO certification.
How to apply for the Medical Lab Technician/ Assistant course in Canada?
Apply to Biztech college that focuses on the students’ job readiness and offers short duration, cost-effective, and career-oriented diploma and certificate programs in healthcare.
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician diploma at the college equips students with in-depth medical lab safety procedures, medical terminology, anatomical pathology, phlebotomy, how to perform and interpret electrocardiograms (ECG), and more. Hands-on training with qualified professionals during clinical placements will prepare applicants to pursue a rewarding career.
Talk to our admission advisors to know about career opportunities, financial aid, and more. Contact us.
