Medical Laboratory Technologists
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Job description
These individuals take various types of samples from patients who have a medical prescription. They analyze biological products (blood, urine, etc.) in a laboratory, thereby enabling physicians to diagnose and treat diseases and to provide patients with the appropriate follow-up care. They work in:
- Hospitals
- Local community service centres (CLSCs)
- Clinical and private laboratories
- Test and research centres
- Colleges and universities
Environment
- Hazardous chemical
- Biological agents
- Odours
Main tasks
- Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment.
- Determine blood groups and types and compatibility for transfusions.
- Study tissues under the microscope to identify key characteristics.
- Establish methods for sample analysis and laboratory experiments.
- Ensure the quality of test administration techniques.
- Interpret and validate biomedical analysis results.
- Compile data and draft reports.
- Supervise and train, as required, technical staff, trainees, and laboratory assistants.
- Update existing techniques or develop new techniques.
Advancement and mobility
- These individuals work mainly in one of the following sectors: blood banking, biochemistry, molecular biology, cytogenetics, cytology, haematology haemostasis, immunology, serology, microbiology, anatomical pathology, parasitology, or sampling.
- Experience leads to senior positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $23.97
- Median
- $33.59
- Maximum
- $38.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 81.3% Female
- 18.7% Male
- 81.3% Female
- 18.7% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for men
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for men
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 621, 622, 62391% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54173% of jobs
-
NAICS 611% of jobs
-
NAICS 911% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3251% of jobs
-
Others3% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 621, 622, 62391% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54173% of jobs
-
NAICS 611% of jobs
-
NAICS 911% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3251% of jobs
-
Others3% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in biomedical Laboratory Technology
Placement rate: 83.4%
14.6% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in laboratory Technology (Analytical Chemistry)
Placement rate: 64.3%
33.3% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in laboratory Technology (Biotechnology)
Placement rate: 57.8%
37.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ [Quebec Order of Professional Medical Technologists]).
Sometimes required
- Practical training under supervision may be required.
- A Medical Technologist's licence in medical biology is required to obtain a Medical Technologist's licence in cytopathology.
- Certificate of training from a prescribed course in pharmacology is required to administer (intravenously or not) drugs or other substances.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Critical thought
- Reading comprehension
- Information processing
- Result evaluation
- Active learning
- Oral expression
- Science
- Written expression
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
- Monitoring operations
Abilities
- Near vision
- Digital dexterity
- Hand-arm stability
- Information organization
- Awareness of issues
- Written comprehension
- Processing flexibility
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Deductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Selective attention
- Classification
- Manual dexterity
- Colour perception and distinction
- Control accuracy
- Inductive reasoning
- Speech clarity
- Written expression
- Speech recognition
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Capacity to be discrete
- Capacity for synthesis
- Respect others
- Knowledge of biology
- Knowledge of medicine or dentistry
Interests
- Work manually
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
- Teach or educate
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Official name of the NOC 32120
Medical laboratory technologists
Job titles
- Medical laboratory technologist
- Medical technologist
- Medical laboratory technologists supervisor
- Medical technologists supervisor
- Combined laboratory and x-ray technician
- Combined laboratory and x-ray technologist
- Medical laboratory charge technologist
Skill type
Health
Last update: January 29, 2026