MLAs collect samples and prepare specimens. The job is not regulated, but graduates of BCSLS-approved programs get preferential hiring by health authorities and LifeLabs.
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Not regulated; BCSLS certification (graduates of BCSLS-approved programs get preferential hiring by health authorities and LifeLabs) | source |
| Exam | Not needed for BCSLS-approved program grads; others need MLPAO or CSMLS MLA certification plus 120 lab hours and ECG competence | source |
| Pay | HEU Facilities Lab Assistant I, II, III (SD15): $29.52/h ($4,797/mo) from first pay period after Apr 1, 2026; II(A) $31.06; IV $32.31 | source |
| Other pay data | WorkBC median $28.00/h | source |
| Funding 1 | StudentAid BC full-time loans (B.C. and Canada Student Loans): interest-free; at least 60% of a full-time course load (40% with a permanent or prolonged disability) or 20 instructional hours/week; school and program must be StudentAid BC-designated; repayment starts 6 months after studies end | source |
| School and city | Program and approval | Length | Intakes | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria College Victoria · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Cambria College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Not published | Not published | not published source | Not listed |
| Camosun College Victoria · Public | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| CDI College Burnaby · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Edison College Victoria · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Excel Career College Victoria · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Stenberg College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Thompson Rivers University distance · Public | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford · Public | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Vancouver Career College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Vancouver Community College Vancouver · Public | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| West Coast College of Health Care Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Western Community College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | Listed on official registry: BCSLS recognized MLA programs | not published source | Not listed |
| Western Community College Abbotsford · Private (PTIB) | Medical Laboratory Assistant BCSLS approved source | Not published | Not published | not published source | Not listed |
We could not confirm these on an official page, so we left them out: Program length, Program cost, Intakes.
Not by law. BCSLS says graduates of its approved programs get preferential hiring with health authorities and LifeLabs.
You need MLPAO or CSMLS MLA certification, plus 120 lab hours and ECG competence, to get BCSLS certification.
The HEU facilities rate for Lab Assistant I, II and III is $29.52 an hour from April 2026. WorkBC lists a $28.00 median.
Sources disagree. Accreditation Canada lists Kamloops; BCSLS lists distance education. Ask TRU.
This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.