How to become a medical laboratory technologist
Official title: Medical laboratory technologists
Also called: Autopsy technologist, Medical technologist, Cytology technologist, Serology technologist, Histology technologist, Blood bank technologist, Histopathology technologist, Clinical genetics technologist, Medical laboratory technologist, Registered medical technologist, Clinical laboratory technologist, Medical technologists supervisor
Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, blood banks, community and private clinics, research facilities and post-secondary educational institutions. Medical laboratory technologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment
- Conduct and interpret chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal and other body fluids
- Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
- Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
- Perform and interpret blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
- Validate, document and report test results
- Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
- Conduct quality control assessment of testing techniques
How to become one
A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required and a period of supervised practical training may be required. Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers. Combined laboratory and X-ray technicians require completion of a combined laboratory X-ray technology program. Some employers may require a university science degree for specialized medical laboratory technologists.
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 16 universities in Canada
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 54% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions; Biology, general; Biological and physical sciences.
- Licence or registration: Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $76,050 a year The middle half earn $64,740 to $85,800.
- About 24,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 31,600 are projected by 2033. (+30%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Medical radiation technologists
- Medical sonographers
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Other medical technologists and technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a medical laboratory technologist?
A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required and a period of supervised practical training may be required. Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers. Combined laboratory and X-ray technicians require completion of a combined laboratory X-ray technology program. Some employers may require a university science degree for specialized medical laboratory technologists.
How much does a medical laboratory technologist earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $76,050 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $64,740 to $85,800.
Is a medical laboratory technologist a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 30% by 2033, from about 24,300 to about 31,600 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a medical laboratory technologist?
Not always. 43% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; Science degrees; College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03