Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide one of the following:

• Graduation from a Canadian high school with three consecutive first-language English courses/credits; or
• A Canadian university undergraduate degree, where instruction was provided in English; or
• Completion of an approved English Proficiency Test
  • Duolingo English Test: 130
  • IELTS Academic – International English Language Testing System: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 on each band score
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall, with at least 7 on each band score
  • TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language: 92 iBT or 580 PBT

Students with Study Permits who are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in the health service field must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month before the start of classes.

Health workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards

Students in a Health program are required to meet these standards of practice in clinical and practicum placements.

These health and safety requirements do not need to be submitted in your application. However, failure to submit the required documents will affect your progression in your chosen program.

The Medical Lab Assistant certificate program concludes with a 6-week full-time clinical practicum placement in a working medical laboratory. All students must attend an assigned clinical site in Alberta for the duration of their clinical practicum. This placement occurs from the last week of February to the first week of April for the Fall Intake, and the last week of October to the first week of December for the Winter Intake.

Students are responsible for coordinating their own travel and living arrangements and any associated costs.

Every effort is made to consider student preferences for practicum location. However, due to availability, students may be required to travel to locations outside of their preferences to complete the practicum requirements.

Students presenting courses from other recognized post-secondary institutions may be granted transfer credit towards the Medical Laboratory Assistant program.

Red Deer Polytechnic recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners. 

To increase participation of Indigenous Peoples, RDP will waive the application fee, and the CASPer test & Tuition Deposit requirements for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

The Medical Laboratory Assistant program has designated four (4) seats for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. After June 1 for the Fall term, October 1 for the Winter term, and February 1 for the Spring term (if applicable), unallocated seats will be released to the waitlist if one exists for the program.

Indigenous applicants must meet the admission requirements for the program as outlined in the Academic Calendar and qualify for the Waivers or a designated seat by:

• Self-identifying as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission.
• Providing proof of Indigenous ancestry

 Proof of Indigenous ancestry (one of the following): 

• Certified copy of a Status or Treaty card, Métis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, the band list of an individual band, or the Inuit roll.
• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
• Statutory Declaration by an applicant attesting to Aboriginal ancestry with supporting documentation. 

Other forms of proof may also be considered at the discretion of the Registrar.

For help with the process, please connect with Indigenous Student Services.