Prepare for a high-demand, rewarding, and critical health care career.

Train to be a vital member of the health care team by becoming a laboratory technologist.  You’ll build your analytical, interpretation, and critical thinking skills to report patient results to provide clinicians with the vital information they need to provide the best courses of treatment for the patient. Through classroom learning, laboratory exercises, and clinical placements, you’ll learn to perform complex analyses necessary for diagnosis and treatment in a fast-paced laboratory environment. 
 
Prepare for entry-level medical laboratory technology practice in each of these five disciplines: 

  1. Clinical hematology - blood and blood disorders 
  2. Transfusion science - preparation and transfusion of blood 
  3. Clinical chemistry - determination of chemical substances in body fluids 
  4. Clinical microbiology - detection of bacteria 
  5. Clinical histotechnology - dissection and preparation of body fluids and tissues for microscopy 

When certified, you’ll discover a wide range of career opportunities, from hospitals to private and public labs. 

Program highlights 

  • Limited enrolment 
  • Practical fieldwork in an accredited hospital or private lab in Canada 
  • Grads are eligible to write the national certification examination administered by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) 
  • Accredited by Accreditation Canada 
  • Free tuition and funding supplies for eligible Ontario residents with Learn and Stay Grant 

Program of study for 2024-25 Academic Year 

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Credits
ENG 1121 Research & Writing/Health Sciences 3
MLT 1300 Quality 3
BIO 1311 Anatomy and Terminology 3
MLT 1301 Lab Equipment and Safety 4
MTH 1310 Lab Mathematics 3
One General Education courses. 1 3
 Credits19
Semester 2
MLT 1302 Molecular Techniques 3
MLT 1303 Lab Techniques - Microbiology 4
MLT 1304 Lab Techniques - Hematology 3
MLT 1305 Lab Techniques - Chemistry 3
MLT 1306 Specimen Collection and Handling 3
MLT 1307 Specimen Collection and Handling Lab 3
MLT 1308 Introduction to Transfusion 3
 Credits22
Semester 3
BIO 1301 Clinical Microbiology II 2
BIO 1302 Clinical Microbiology II Laboratory 3
CHM 1320 Clinical Chemistry II 2
CHM 1321 Clinical Chemistry II Lab 3
MLT 1310 Clinical Histotechnology II 2
MLT 1311 Clinical Histotechnology II Lab 3
MLT 1312 Transfusion Science II 2
MLT 1313 Transfusion Science II Lab 3
MLT 1314 Clinical Hematology II 2
MLT 1315 Clinical Hematology II Laboratory 3
 Credits25
Semester 4
BIO 1303 Clinical Microbiology III 2
BIO 1304 Clinical Microbiology III Laboratory 3
CHM 1440 Clinical Chemistry III 2
CHM 1441 Clinical Chemistry III Lab 3
MLT 1400 Clinical Histotechnology III 2
MLT 1401 Clinical Histotechnology III Lab 3
MLT 1402 Clinical Hematology III 2
MLT 1403 Clinical Hematology III Laboratory 3
MLT 1404 Transfusion Science III 2
MLT 1405 Transfusion Science III Lab 3
 Credits25
Semester 5
MLT 1031 Comprehensive Review I 1
MLT 1500 Clinical Placement I 12
One General Education Course. 1 3
 Credits16
Semester 6
MLT 1032 Comprehensive Review II 1
MLT 1600 Clinical Placement II 12
One General Education Course. 1 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits123
1

For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.

Admission requirements

For graduates of the new curriculum Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) curriculum or equivalent or mature student status, including:

  • Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
  • Any grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U)
  • Any grade 12 chemistry (C) or (U)
  • Any grade 11 (U) or (C) or grade 12 biology (U)

Additional admission requirements

Students will be required to provide proof of certain immunizations and non-medical requirements to work with samples in medical laboratories both at the college and on placement. 

Full medical requirements

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (adult dose on or after 18th birthday)
  • Measles Mumps Rubella (2 doses of vaccine or proof of immunity)
  • Varicella (vaccine or documentation of immunity status)
  • Polio (vaccine or documentation of immunity status)
  • Hepatitis B (documentation regarding immunity status)
  • Tuberculosis Screening (documentation of 2-step mantoux skin test, subsequent 1-step – required annually)
  • Influenza vaccine (obtained annually when vaccination becomes available)
  • COVID-19 Immunizations (2-3 doses)

Full non-medical requirements

  • Respiratory Mask Fitting N95-3M models (required every 2 years)
  • Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (required annually)
  • WHMIS Training (required annually)
  • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Certificate (AODA)
  • Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps (Bill 18)

Please note:  On-campus labs (Year one and two), students must provide proof of:

  • WHIMIS certificate
  • Tetanus
  • Diphtheria
  • Hepatitis B

Program delivery

2024-2025

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2024
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2025 
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2025
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 5:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 6:  Winter 2027

Accreditation

The Medical Laboratory Technology program is an accredited program with Accreditation Canada
 

Registration to practice / additional testing

Graduates are eligible to write the national certification examination conducted by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). Certification qualifies you for registration with the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) or other provincial equivalent which is a requirement to practice in certain provinces. 

Specific program pathways

College or university degree opportunities

If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information.

Employment opportunities

While most medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) work in public hospital laboratories, MLTs also find challenging employment in other areas. From industrial research and public health laboratories to forensic and pharmaceutical laboratories, the MLT’s analytical, scientific, and technical skills are a valuable asset. Other career options may include:

  • Consulting
  • Sales and marketing
  • Research and product systems
  • Laboratory information systems
  • Supervision / administration / management
  • Education
  • Public health / infection control
  • Technical support
  • Quality assurance / total quality improvement
  • Forensic biological sciences

Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.