The Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively in healthcare settings.

Program Overview:

Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) play a crucial role in the healthcare system. They are responsible for conducting lab tests ordered by doctors and other healthcare providers. MLAs work with human bodily fluids and tissue samples to determine diagnoses and identify abnormalities. Their work is instrumental in determining the correct diagnoses for patients.

Work Environment:

MLAs often work in hospitals, medical or diagnostic laboratories, research organizations, or government agencies like the police service and the military.

Skills and Qualities:

MLAs must have an eye for detail, good manual dexterity, and stamina. They need to understand and operate complex machinery, collect and analyze data, and work precisely with microscopic material1.

Opportunities for Advancement:

Medical lab Assistants often advance to become medical laboratory technologists—professionals who perform more complex laboratory work and may assume leadership roles.

They can also transition into senior or administrative roles, or switch fields to work as veterinary, biologic, or chemistry lab technicians.

Employment Prospects:

Upon qualifying, MLAs will have job opportunities working closely with healthcare teams in community clinics, government/private laboratories, and hospitals.

They perform medical laboratory procedures to identify pathogens and diseases to initiate treatment and other diagnostic reasons.