Medical Laboratory Technology

Applications to this program are no longer being accepted for fall 2012.

Please consider other relevant programs in the School of Health and Public Safety such as Medical Laboratory Assistant.  Applications for the fall 2013 intake for Medical Laboratory Technology will open in October 2012.  We encourage you to apply early.

• Two- year diploma
• Fall start
• Includes clinical practica
• Graduates in high demand

Program Description

As integral members of the health care team, medical laboratory technologists are trained to perform a broad spectrum of laboratory testing and procedures, playing a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Based in large part on the national competency profile issued by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS), this program trains students to become skilled in applying the scientific, technical, and medical principles needed to perform and evaluate laboratory testing in a health care setting. As part of Canada’s third largest group of health care professionals, medical laboratory technologists play an integral role in our health care system.

The first year of the Medical Laboratory Technology program consists of classroom instruction, laboratory training, and clinical site tours. The second year consists of theory instruction, laboratory training and an extensive clinical practicum at affiliated sites in Calgary, other cities in Alberta or potentially sites outside of Alberta. Sites for 2009/10 included Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Kelowna. The practicum provides a range of clinical experiences where students are given opportunities to develop and integrate the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes in a practical setting. During the last week of the term, students will attend SAIT to write practice competency-based exams in preparation for challenging the national CSMLS certification exam.

Students in this program require access to a personal computer and the Internet to facilitate completion of online courses.

Your Career

Graduates find work as medical laboratory technologists in hospital or high-volume laboratories, as well as in research labs and scientific supply companies.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent, with the following admission requirements or equivalents:

• At least 60% in Pure Math 30 or Math 31 or Math 30-1, or at least 70% in Math 30-2, AND,
• At least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1, AND,
• At least 60% in Chemistry 30, and at least 60% in Biology 30.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please see English Proficiency.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted prior to January 31. Applications received after January 31 may not be considered for selection.

• Selection is done on a continuous basis. The first round of selection will start December 1. Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
• Applicants who apply after the program has been filled will be placed on a waitlist and may be invited to complete the selection process if a seat becomes available.
• There will be 48 seats offered for the fall intake.

Selection Process

In order to best select our students, the department will forward a selection package to those that meet the Admission Requirements.

The program will use email as the primary source of communication. Applicants must ensure their email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications.

Applicants will be ranked monthly according to the following criteria:

• Overall average in the admission requirements
• Interview  

Due to the high number of applications received, not all applicants will be offered an interview. Those with higher academic averages will be offered an interview first. Following the interview, applicants with a composite score of 40/50 or more will be offered a seat in the program based on the selection decision date until the program is full.

Starting February 1, the remaining applicants will be considered for positions in the program based on highest composite score and the selection decision date. All other qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist and contacted if a seat becomes available.

Due to limited practicum placements you may be required to relocate outside of Calgary for year two of the program. We currently regularly place students in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.  Applicants must sign a practicum awareness agreement prior to final acceptance into the program.

Applicants who are successful in gaining admission will be requested to provide proof of the following prior to the start of classes/practicum:

1. Updated Immunization Records. Details are included in the pre-orientation website for successful candidates.
   Please note: Most practicum sites require students to demonstrate updated immunization status prior to attending practicum. Failure to do so could jeopardize a student’s ability to complete the practicum portion of his/her program.
2. Security Clearance: According to the Protection for Persons in Care Act, our practicum sites require that students obtain a criminal records check prior to going on practicum. Any criminal code offence for which a pardon has not been received, may be a deterrent to a student’s entry into practicum, and therefore will result in an uncompleted program, or non-graduating status.
3. In compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test, students are fit-tested for respiratory masks prior to their practica. Fit-testing is available on campus. Failure to adequately fit an N-95 mask may result in a restricted practicum and\or limited employment. Facial abnormality/hair may result in unsuccessful fit testing.

Program Specific Selection Package

The applicant is solely responsible to ensure the information in the selection package is legible, articulate and best reflects the candidate. Falsifying information will result in the application being removed immediately from the selection process.

Due to the significant number of applications that the program receives the selection process can take some time.  We appreciate your patience in this process and we will notify you of our decision concerning your application status as soon as possible. You can also log on to mysait.ca to check admission decision status.

Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applicants, we cannot provide any assistance or follow-up.

Additional Resources

• Medical Laboratory Technology Selection Package (for reference only - do not submit)

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs.
• The program delivery is very intensive. To be successful students must be prepared to attend 30 hours per week of classroom activities and spend approximately 30 hours per week outside of class studying.
• Students who experience success in this program have effective communication skills in English.
• Health care practitioners are detail oriented in the care they provide and enjoy working in a team environment.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

• After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology.
• Graduates are eligible to challenge the CSMLS exams to obtain national certification as a medical laboratory technologist, which will allow national portability.

Accreditation

This program is accredited with the Canadian Medical Association.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practicum including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.
• National Association dues for students are approximately $75.
• National Certification Exam costs are approximately $499 for members.
• Provincial College dues for 2011 are approximately $400 for recent grads.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Books and supplies are approximately $1,600 for the entire program.
• Students are required to have access to a personal computer with the specifications listed in Fees and Expenses.

Program Outline

• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. One or more courses in the Medical Laboratory Technology program are offered fully or partially online.
• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.

Information: 403.284.8500
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
Web: School of Health and Public Safety
Program Chair: Sonja Chamberlin

Transfer with Diploma to…

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Canadian Forces
• Charles Sturt University – Ontario
• Memorial University
• NAIT
• SAIT Polytechnic
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of Alberta
• University of New Brunswick, Saint John
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety
• Student-For-A-Day
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition