Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma in Toronto
Train as a Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician in Toronto — in-class. This program covers laboratory safety, ECG and Holter monitoring, and cytology, includes real-world clinical placement, and you graduate ready for a career in Toronto's medical laboratories.
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma Summary
The Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma in Toronto offered by ABM College of Health and Technology is designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This career-focused program includes courses such as Laboratory Safety, CPR and First Aid, Heart, ECG, and Holter Monitor, Cells, Cytology, Anatomic Pathology, and Clinical Experience to let them learn the practical skills. This program prepares students to work as Medical Laboratory Assistants in medical laboratories, whether public or private.
The MLA program in Toronto includes a 4-week practicum, during which students will be placed in actual workplaces (walk-in clinics and laboratories) related to their field of study and expected to act as regular employees to gain the valuable real-world experience that so many employers seek. This in-class medical laboratory assistant program will prepare graduates to provide professional medical laboratory services, efficiently and effectively use medical laboratory equipment.
Training for the Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Role in Toronto
ABM College's Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma is a 55-week, in-person program at our Scarborough campus, with hands-on lab training and a 4-week practicum in clinics and laboratories. Graduates are prepared for front-line lab support work — specimen collection, phlebotomy, ECG procedures, and core lab skills — the day-to-day tasks covered under the Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician title.
This diploma is not the same credential as a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) license, which in Ontario is separately regulated by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) and requires its own accredited pathway and certification exams. This program does not provide CMLTO registration or MLT licensure.
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Course Highlights
Students will explore the role of microorganisms in human health and disease with a focus on diagnostic procedures and laboratory protocols commonly employed in medical settings.
The medical laboratory assistant/technician diploma in Toronto emphasizes the importance of blood bank operations, including blood collection, storage, compatibility testing, and the handling of blood products for transfusion.
Students will gain a thorough understanding of blood collection tube identification, requisition form interpretation, and the ethical considerations inherent in this crucial health care practice.
Students also acquire proficiency in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) usage and vital skills for immediate and life-saving intervention.
Career Opportunities
According to the Canadian Job Bank, Medical Laboratory Assistants face a strong risk of labour shortage nationally over the 2024–2033 period — employment was 33,400 in 2023, 30% of workers are aged 50 or over, and the median retirement age is 64. In the Toronto Region specifically, the job outlook for this occupation (NOC 33101) over the next three years (2025–2027) is rated Moderate, driven by employment growth and a moderate number of retirements.
Role
Work Setting
Key Duties
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Hospitals, private laboratories, clinics
Collect, label, sort, and prepare blood, tissue, and other samples from patients
Medical Laboratory Aide
Hospitals, medical laboratories
Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment; assist with routine test preparation
Draw blood samples, verify patient identification, label specimens for testing
Phlebotomy Aide
Clinics, community health centres
Support phlebotomists, prepare collection supplies, assist with patient flow
Specimen Processing
Hospital and private laboratories, research facilities
Log and validate patient samples, prepare specimens for analysis, maintain records
Medical Laboratory Technician*
Hospital and private laboratories
Conduct routine laboratory tests and sample analyses, perform quality assurance, record results
*"Medical Laboratory Technician" here refers to the support-level role within NOC 33101 — the same non-regulated category as Medical Laboratory Assistant. It is not the same as the separately regulated Medical Laboratory Technologist credential (CMLTO-licensed in Ontario), which this diploma does not provide.
Salary Range
According to Job Bank Canada, the median wage of a Medical Laboratory Assistant is $27/hr, which varies from province to province. In Ontario, the median wage is $26.25, and the demand for this job is moderate in Ontario. In the Toronto region, workers in this occupation earn roughly $17.60 to $36.25 per hour, and Ontario's official 3-year outlook is rated "Moderate" for NOC 33101 over the 2025–2027 period, driven mainly by employment growth.
Our Toronto Campus - Scarborough
ABM College's Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma is delivered in-person at our Toronto Campus, located at 555 Ellesmere Rd, Scarborough, ON M1R 4E8 — with hands-on lab training and a 4-week clinical practicum placement.
Our Toronto campus is rated 4.3★ on Google.
Medical LaboratoryAssistant Diploma Information Kit
Download our free Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Course in Toronto Information Kit to learn more about our program.
Medical Laboratory Assistant Information Kit
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Course Curriculum
This course introduces the structure and daily operations of a clinical laboratory, including how departments are organized and why specific tests are ordered. Students learn 24-hour time notation, test directories, and the professional abbreviations used across lab settings.
This course builds a foundation in human body systems, from gross anatomy down to tissue-level histology. Students learn how the body regulates itself through homeostasis, and how to read medical terminology by its prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
This course covers the safety protocols, legislation, and WHMIS training that protect patients, coworkers, and staff in a lab environment. Students also complete hands-on CPR and AED certification.
This course covers clinical chemistry principles and the lab techniques used to interpret diagnostic results, with an emphasis on protocol and infection control. Topics include:
Enzymology and blood gas analysis
Electrolyte analysis
Urinalysis
Microbial identification
This course builds hands-on expertise in specimen collection, covering venipuncture and capillary puncture with an emphasis on precision, infection control, and patient comfort. Students also learn tube identification, requisition interpretation, and the ethics of blood collection.
This course covers cardiac anatomy alongside the monitoring devices used to track it, including electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-hour Holter Monitor procedures. Students practice electrode placement, lead hookups, and troubleshooting technical errors, including in unusual patient circumstances.
This course covers cellular and tissue anatomy, including cellular transport and reproduction, and the distinction between cancerous and non-cancerous growths. Students learn to identify samples and route them to the correct testing department.
This course covers the theory and hands-on practice of hematology and blood banking, including coagulation, hemostasis, and blood component formation. Students gain practical experience in:
Blood typing and transfusion medicine
Donor management
Complete blood counts and peripheral blood smears
Coagulation studies and blood bank operations
This course covers microbial structure, classification, and the identification and cultivation of clinically significant microorganisms. Students also learn sterilization, disinfection, and infection-control measures used in a lab setting.
This course prepares students for the job search, covering resume writing, cover letters, and interview skills. It's delivered online with ABM College's employment counsellor, using real exercises and interactive components.
This course covers the professional standards expected of a Medical Laboratory Assistant, based on the Standards of Practice published by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) and the Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario (MLPAO).
This course lets students apply their lab skills in a simulated clinical setting under the supervision of a medical laboratory professional preceptor. Practice areas include:
Microbiology, histology, and cytology slide staining
Culture media inoculation
Phlebotomy practice and urinalysis
Lab instrumentation
Students complete a real-world workplace placement in walk-in clinics and laboratories, functioning as regular employees. This hands-on placement lets them apply their theoretical knowledge and complete their competency profile.
Admissions Requirements
Ready to start your Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician course in Toronto? You must have:
Successful completion of Grade 12 or equivalent.
Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam.
Passing score on the Accuplacer Test.
Successful interview with ABM College Admissions.
Students will have to submit non-academic information before the start of the program such as:-
-Police Record Check -Specific Immunization Records (Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap), Tuberculosis (TB) Screening, Influenza (Seasonal Flu Shot), COVID-19)
To enroll in the Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician program in Ontario, you must have:
Applicants must be out of high school for at least two years.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age prior to admission.
Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam.
Passing score on the Accuplacer Test.
Successful interview with ABM College Admissions.
Students will have to submit non-academic information before the start of the program such as:-
-Police Record Check -Specific Immunization Records (Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap), Tuberculosis (TB) Screening, Influenza (Seasonal Flu Shot), COVID-19)
For any other program or region specific requirements, please contact one of our Admissions Advisors.
The Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma is a 55-week, in-person program at ABM College's Toronto campus in Scarborough, combining hands-on lab training with a 4-week practicum placement. It prepares graduates for front-line lab support work, including specimen collection, phlebotomy, and core lab skills.
No. Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician is a support-level role; Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) is a separately regulated title in Ontario, licensed by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO), with its own accredited education pathway and certification exams. ABM College's diploma does not provide CMLTO registration or MLT licensure.
The program runs 55 weeks, delivered in-person at the Scarborough campus, including a 4-week practicum — it is not a 6-month or online program. The hands-on lab and phlebotomy components require in-person attendance.
The program is delivered in-person at ABM College's Toronto Campus, 555 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, ON M1R 4E8 — the same campus and location used for the college's other Toronto-area health programs.
Yes. Phlebotomy and blood-drawing skills are a dedicated 140-hour component of the program, covering venipuncture, capillary puncture, specimen labelling, and requisition forms, alongside blood bank operations and specimen handling.
Standard admission requires Grade 12 completion (or equivalent), passing scores on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam and Accuplacer test, a successful interview with ABM Admissions, and pre-program submission of a Police Record Check and required immunization records (Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, TB screening, seasonal flu, and COVID-19). A mature-student pathway is available for applicants 18+ who have been out of high school 2+ years, with the same testing, interview, and clearance requirements.
According to the Canadian Job Bank, Medical Laboratory Assistants face a strong risk of labour shortage nationally over 2024–2033. In the Toronto Region specifically, the occupation's three-year outlook (2025–2027) is rated Moderate, driven by employment growth and a moderate number of retirements.
Completing the diploma does not itself grant certification or licensure. The curriculum introduces the Standards of Practice published by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) and the Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario (MLPAO) as part of an Ethics and Professionalism course, but graduates are not automatically registered with either body.
"MLA" stands for Medical Laboratory Assistant. At ABM College, the full ministry-approved credential name is "Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma," sometimes abbreviated MLA/MLT in casual searches — though that abbreviation is easily confused with the separately regulated Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) title (see next question).
It's a diploma. "Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma" is the ministry-approved program name on file with the Ontario Private Career Colleges registry — ABM College does not offer this as a separate "certificate" program.
No. Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician is a support-level role; Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) is a separately regulated title in Ontario, licensed by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO), with its own accredited education pathway and certification exams. ABM College's diploma does not provide CMLTO registration or MLT licensure.
The program includes a dedicated Phlebotomy and Blood Drawing Skills course (140 hours), specimen collection and processing, blood bank operations, ECG procedures, and an Ethics and Professionalism course covering the standards of practice published by CMLTO and the Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario (MLPAO) — all reinforced through a 4-week clinical practicum.
Medical Laboratory Assistant is a non-regulated occupation in Ontario (NOC 33101), so there's no separate certifying exam required to work in the role the way there is for MLT. The diploma itself — plus the practicum — is the credential employers in this field look for; it does not carry a separate "certified" designation from an external body.
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"ABM College is a great place to study. The environment is very friendly and collaborative. There is great communication between departments and everyone's door is always open. Very nice & pleasant environment. The programs are focused and practical.
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"Had a great year with the graphic design course through this college, the teachers are very understanding and helpful, and they made my first year in college an interesting and unforgettable one. Specifically, Mr. Christopher Arnold, who went above and beyond for me during my classes. He spent extra time teaching me lots of other ways to use the software. He Also worked with my timeline as I worked a full-time job during my course, which made it a lot easier to get everything handed in on time and made the material more understandable. I truly enjoyed my experience and all the staff who helped me along the way. I would highly recommend taking a class with this college."
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ABM College of Business & Technology is one of the leading private career training institutions in Alberta and Ontario. Since it was founded in Calgary in 2011, ABM College has provided domestic and international students with high-quality professional training with the right skill-sets to meet current employment market demand. With a particular concentration on the Health, Business & Technology sectors, our team is committed to ensuring our students land their dream jobs and have long-term, sustainable careers. Our students’ success is what motivates us, and we proudly maintain a high level of alumni employed within their chosen field.
ABM College strives to help graduates succeed and meet the needs of industry employers. Our students achieve their goals because we continuously develop up-to-date courses, use an operative educating style, and frequently make industry consultations. From the facilities and resources to the quality of instructors, we make it our mission at ABM College to successfully address individual student needs and provide quality education geared towards long-standing and successful careers.
ABM College of Business & Technology is one of the leading private career training institutions in Alberta and Ontario. Since it was founded in Calgary in 2011, ABM College has provided domestic and international students with high-quality professional training with the right skill-sets to meet current employment market demand. With a particular concentration on the Health, Business & Technology sectors, our team is committed to ensuring our students land their dream jobs and have long-term, sustainable careers. Our students’ success is what motivates us, and we proudly maintain a high level of alumni employed within their chosen field.
ABM College strives to help graduates succeed and meet the needs of industry employers. Our students achieve their goals because we continuously develop up-to-date courses, use an operative educating style, and frequently make industry consultations. From the facilities and resources to the quality of instructors, we make it our mission at ABM College to successfully address individual student needs and provide quality education geared towards long-standing and successful careers.
