Medical Laboratory Technicians
Job description
Medical Laboratory Technicians perform routine laboratory tests.
Pathology Assistants help with autopsies and surgical sampling. They may also perform autopsies under the supervision of a pathologist.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Hazardous chemical
- Biological agents
Main tasks
Medical Laboratory Technicians
- 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.
Pathology Assistants
- Prepare autopsies (obtain medical records, order X-rays, etc.).
- Assist with autopsies and sample examinations, or perform them under the supervision of the pathologist.
- Dissect, examine, weigh, and photograph organs and samples.
- Analyze tissue samples and record results.
- Destroy samples according to established procedures.
- Clean and maintain instruments, equipment, and materials.
- Prepare bodies to be sent to the funeral home after the autopsy.
- Supervise and train interns and mortuary attendants.
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 2019 to 2021.- Minimum
- $18.55
- Median
- $28.00
- Maximum
- $35.50
Job prospects for 2022-2026
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Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2022-2026
Job prospects
All of Québec
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2021
All of Québec
5,000
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 75% Female
- 25% Male
Not available.
- 75% Female
- 25% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2015
All of Québec
$50,000
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
Not available.
-
NAICS 621, 622, 62364% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541711% of jobs
-
NAICS 617% of jobs
-
NAICS 915% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3254% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 621, 622, 62364% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541711% of jobs
-
NAICS 617% of jobs
-
NAICS 915% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3254% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in laboratory Technology (Analytical Chemistry) 
Code : 210AB
Placement rate: 64.9%
29.7% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in laboratory Technology (Biotechnology)
Code : 210AA
Placement rate: 53.3%
42.2% 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 3212
Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
Job titles
- Laboratory Technicians
- Medical laboratory aide
- Biological technician - medical laboratory
- Medical laboratory technician
- Histology technician
- Community health technician - medical laboratory
- Phlebotomy aide
- Medical laboratory helper
- Technical assistant - medical laboratory
- Pathology assistant
- Medical laboratory technical assistant
- Technical assistant - pathology
- Laboratory assistant - medical
- Epidemiology worker - medical laboratory
- Medical laboratory assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Morgue attendant supervisor
- Blood bank technician
- Combined laboratory and x-ray technician
- Biochemical technician - medical laboratory
- Cytology technician
- Hematology technician - medical laboratory
- Clinical laboratory technician
- Renal technician
- Cancer research technician
Skill type
Health
Last update: March 27, 2023
