Centennial College's Medical Laboratory Technician program will immerse you in the exciting and rewarding world of the medical laboratory, which offers a unique combination of technical employment and the satisfaction of working with a diverse client population.
The program's curriculum is based on the national (CSMLS) and provincial (OSMT) standards of practice for entry-level medical laboratory assistants/technicians (MLA/T). As such, it will focus on ensuring you become proficient in blood sample collection, performing ECGs, using laboratory equipment and medical terminology. Along the way, you'll also develop the professional attitude and demeanour for close patient contact as excellent communication and good interpersonal skills are essential.
The theoretical and practical portions of this Centennial College program will be completed within a year. The third and final semester will be a clinical internship field placement that will offer real-world experience. The compressed delivery format makes the Medical Laboratory Technician program an ideal choice if you wish to quickly enter the workforce.
An MLA/T works under the direction of a medical laboratory technologist and assists in various clinical laboratory procedures. His or her duties include specimen collection, performing ECGs, positioning Holter monitors and processing specimens. With the MLA/T's role expanding, there are opportunities for employment in clinics, private laboratories and hospital laboratories as well as in government, research and veterinary laboratories.
Please note:
Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency for admission.
A current criminal background check, including a vulnerable section screening, will be required prior to field placement.
Your health must be such that you can successfully cope with the program of instruction and the clinical placement experience and meet the health requirements of clinical placement settings.
Clinical placement may be located outside of Toronto.
Career opportunities for Medical Laboratory Technicians are typically within hospitals, private laboratories, public health laboratories, Canadian blood services, healthcare clinics, research labs. Areas of specialization may include:
Blood collection
Perform ECG and Position Holter Monitor
Core department of the medical laboratory
Clinical biochemistry
Diagnostic cytology
Hematology
Histopathology
Immunology
Clinical microbiology
Program Highlights
Faculty members within the Medical Laboratory Technician and have experience in hospitals and clinical laboratories.
Six weeks of clinical placement will provide you with experience in a real work environment.
Placement Partners
Clinical Placement Partners include:
Credit Valley Hospital
Hospital for Sick Children.
St. Joseph’s Hospital
St. Michael’s Hospital
Sunnybrook/Women’s College Hospitals
North York General Hospital
University Health Network ( General and Western sites)
The Scarborough Hospitals (General, Grace and Centenary sites) Hospital
Lakeridge Health (Ajax, Oshawa sites)
Michael Garron Hospital- Toronto East Health Network
York Central Hospital
Med. Health Laboratories
Hospitals outside the GTA as required or requested
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission (score of 170 or 171 is required for admission)
Please note: this program requires 3 years of study in English.
Biology Grade 11 or 12 C or U, or equivalent (official transcript or credential evaluation is required)
Note: Technicians employed in this sector should not be suffering from a mental or physical disorder that could affect their ability to practice in a safe manner.
Please note: Applicants to this program require three or more consecutive full years at a recognized secondary or post-secondary education institution in a school where English is the primary language of instruction and communication.
If you are applying through the Second Career Strategy, please apply at the Employment Training Centre for Second Career (Progress Campus). Second Career Strategy is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Second Career Strategy.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $95 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
Fall registration begins mid-July January registration begins mid-December May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on three semesters, beginning Fall 2020.
Student
Tuition (3 Semesters)
Ancillary Fees
Total
Canadian
$3,201.00
$1,390.15
$4,591.15
International
$18,706.00
$1,824.15
$20,530.15
Additional Fees:
MLPAO (Formally OSMT) exam application and fee - refer to MLPAO website
CSMLS exam application and fee - refer to CSMLS website
N95 mask fitting fee - $30.00
Vulnerable sector police record check cost - Approximately $20.00 - $45.00
Standard First Aid Certification and CPR level HCP (Health Care Provider): Approximately $100.00 - $175.00
Students are responsible for expenses related to placement, such as transportation and/or accommodations. These expenses will vary based on the location of the placement.
Clinical Pre-placement Immunization: Cost for immunization may vary by physician