Medical Laboratory Technicians
Job description
These individuals perform routine medical laboratory tests. They ensure the technical validity of the results for diagnostic purposes or research. These tests include laboratory analyses and examinations on specimens. They work in laboratories for:
- Hospital centres
- Clinics
- Research facilities
- Government research
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Hazardous chemical
- Biological agents
Main tasks
- Collect samples from patients (blood, tissue samples, etc.).
- Record patient samples and prepare them for testing.
- Perform laboratory tests and analyze samples.
- Ensure quality control of test administration techniques.
- Set up, clean, prepare, and maintain the laboratory and its equipment.
Advancement and mobility
- Laboratory Technicians work primarily in any of the following areas: blood banking, biochemistry, molecular biology, cytogenetics, cytology, hematology-haemostasis, immunology, serology, microbiology, anatomical pathology, parasitology, or sampling.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2020 to 2022.- Minimum
- $19.98
- Median
- $32.00
- Maximum
- $41.00
Job prospects for 2023-2027
sr.comparaison-region.titre
Job prospects for 2023-2027
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2022
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 76.5% Female
- 23.5% Male
- 76.5% Female
- 23.5% 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, 62370% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541710% of jobs
-
NAICS 915% of jobs
-
NAICS 614% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3252% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 621, 622, 62370% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541710% of jobs
-
NAICS 915% of jobs
-
NAICS 614% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3252% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
College
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
Sometimes required
- Accreditation by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Information processing
- Data collection
- Active listening
- Reading comprehension
- Oral expression
- Critical thought
- Science
- Quality control analysis
- Teaching
- Result evaluation
- Written expression
- Time management
- Solving complex problems
- Monitoring operations
- Active learning
- Coordination
- Judgment and decision-making
- Service oriented
- Social perception
Abilities
- Near vision
- Verbal skills
- Information organization
- Awareness of issues
- Oral comprehension
- Written comprehension
- Digital dexterity
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Manual dexterity
- Written expression
- Colour perception and distinction
- Control accuracy
- Deductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Processing flexibility
- Hand-arm stability
- Basic numeracy
- Inductive reasoning
- Mathematical reasoning
- Perception speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
- Versatility
- Rigour
- Commitment to quality
- Knowledge of biology
- Knowledge of chemistry
Interests
- Work manually
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
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 33101
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Job titles
- Laboratory Technicians
- Medical laboratory aide
- Medical laboratory technical assistant
- Technical assistant - medical laboratory
- Histology technician
- Clinical laboratory technician
- Phlebotomy aide
- Medical laboratory assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Blood bank technician
- Medical laboratory technician
- Renal technician
- Community health technician - medical laboratory
Skill type
Health
Last update: February 14, 2024