Medical Laboratory Assistant

You must meet all entrance requirements to be accepted to the program. View the entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

All students entering this program are also expected to have basic computer skills. This means knowing how to run programs in a Windows environment, and having basic Internet, word processing, and spreadsheet skills.

A minimum keyboarding speed of 40 net words per minute is also required. You can register for a keyboarding assessment through Assessment Services. We recommend using free online keyboarding resources such as typing.com to develop your skills.

Supporting documents

Once you have applied to the program, you will need to submit the following:

1. Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening

A satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for practicum. Complete the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector using access code CACJXKC5VT.

After making the fee payment, you will receive an online receipt from the Ministry of Justice. Your results are sent directly to the School of Continuing Education and will be kept confidential.

2. Immunization Record

The BC Health Authorities require you to be up to date on your immunizations in order to work or study in a healthcare setting. Review the Health Practicum Student Immunization Checklist for a list of the immunizations you must have. You must provide one of the following: 

a. The Health Practicum Student Immunization Checklist, completed and signed by your doctor.

OR

b. Your immunization records indicating that you are up to date on all the immunizations listed in the Health Practicum Student Immunization Checklist. BC health records can be accessed through Health Gateway.

Your immunization records or the completed, signed checklist must be submitted to cepracticum@ufv.ca by the deadline below.

Note: COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required. However, if public health orders change, students are expected to update their immunizations as required.

How to submit the above documents 

Your Criminal Record Check will be automatically sent to Continuing Education upon completion, but you will need to submit your immunization records by email by the deadline below.

To submit your documents, email cepracticum@ufv.ca and attach your immunization records and/or the completed Health Practicum Student Immunization Checklist signed by your doctor.

• These documents must clearly display your name and be legible. Unclear documents will not be accepted.
• Label the email subject line as: MLA Documents, Lastname, First Initial
• All documentation must be submitted by the deadline in order to be eligible for practicum.

Submission deadlines

All supporting documents must be received by the School of Continuing Education by the deadline given.

Practicum

At the end of the MLA program, you will complete a four-week practicum that provides meaningful work-like experience and exposure to a medical laboratory setting. To qualify for practicum, you must successfully complete all courses within the program and meet the grade and attendance requirements. 

If you live in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland, UFV will arrange a practicum placement for you, leveraging our network of partner organizations and professional contacts. If you reside outside this region, you are responsible for locating a suitable practicum site within your area. Once you have identified a potential site, please submit the details to cepracticum@ufv.ca for approval to ensure it meets our program's standards and requirements.

View the MLA Practicum Handbook or visit the practicum webpage for more information.

Graduation

When you've successfully completed all required courses, including the practicum, you can apply for graduation by following the instructions here. Please note there is a graduation application fee. 

Once your graduation application is approved, the Office of the Registrar will contact you by email when your parchment is ready to be picked up. For more information on parchments, see the Graduation documents and transcripts page.

Graduating students are welcome and encouraged to participate in UFV's next Convocation ceremony, held every June. See the Convocation webpage and review the Convocation Student Checklist for more information.

Withdrawal deadlines

See the School of Continuing Education's refund and withdrawal schedule.

Employment facts

See WorkBC’s career overview for medical laboratory assistants for more information on career outcomes.

Current employment opportunities: 

• Fraser Health job postings 
• Provincial Health Services Authority job postings 
• Government of Canada Job Bank
• BC Medical Journal's classifieds 

To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.

Computer requirements 

You will need a computer or laptop (PC or Mac) with reliable internet access and up-to-date software in order to access your online classes. View UFV's technical requirements for online classes here. 
 

Additional supplies 

You will need scrubs and appropriate footwear for your practicum, and you may need a lab coat (available through the UFV Bookstore). You will also need basic school supplies such as notebooks and pens.