Education · 1 of 4

The path

The shortest route into a hospital lab.

1. 1

   High school

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 biology and chemistry help. Most programs ask for a high school diploma and a science credit.

2. 2

   College certificate

   8 to 12 months

   Usually 8 months to a year. Phlebotomy (drawing blood), specimen handling, basic lab tests, ECGs (heart tracings), safety and patient care. NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), Mohawk, Fanshawe and many other colleges offer it.

3. 3

   Clinical placement

   5 to 8 weeks

   Several weeks in a real lab or collection clinic. NAIT's is 7 weeks. Unpaid, and often where you get your first job offer.

4. 4

   CSMLS (Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science) exam

   After graduation

   The national certification exam, written four times a year. Not legally required, but most hospitals ask for it.