Education · 1 of 5

The path

Short, science-heavy, and the jobs are waiting when you finish.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Grade 12 biology, chemistry and math. English too.

2. 2

   Accredited medical laboratory science program

   2 to 3 years

   A 2 to 3 year college diploma, or a 4-year degree at a few universities. You learn all five areas: chemistry, hematology, transfusion, microbiology and histology. The final months are a full-time unpaid clinical placement.

3. 3

   Write the CSMLS (Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science) exam

   After graduation

   The national certification exam, written a few times a year.

4. 4

   Register with your provincial regulator

   A few weeks

   In Ontario that is the CMLTO (College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario). Most provinces have a college.