Medical technologists play a crucial role within the healthcare sector. From analyzing a variety of biological specimens, performing tests on blood, fluids, and tissues to help diagnose diseases, and discovering new ways to cure them, your skills will be in high demand as this booming sector grows. The good news is that there are several medical technologist programs for students looking to become medical technologists.
A medical technologist program covers a well-rounded skill set that comes in from diagnosing, and treating patients, as well as preventing diseases. Obtaining a degree in this field will leave you with plenty of job opportunities to choose from such as working in a laboratory, working in a hospital, teaching, or working as a medical copywriter.
It is important that prospective students choose institutions that offer quality education, training, and research in the discipline. Therefore, in this article, I will provide a list of the best universities in Canada that offer medical technologist programs for undergraduates and postgraduates.
I have conducted extensive research before writing this article. I am going to put these programs in two separate categories — undergraduate and graduate programs.
If you live in Ontario, see 8 Best Medical Technologist Programs in Ontario.
Top 5 Best Undergraduate Medical Technologist Programs
Without further ado, here are some of the best universities in Canada offering medical technologist programs.
Campion College
Campion College offers some of the best medical technologist programs. It is a private Jesuit Catholic university college federated with the University of Regina and affiliated with the Jesuit.
The college is a renowned leader in high-quality undergraduate Medical technology education. The degree program covers courses in metabolism, biometrics, cell biology, biomedical ethics, enzymes, and management communication.
Students of the program will participate in computer-assisted research, statistical analyses of medical experiments and data, safety practices and infection control, and professional communication.
The medical technologist program offered at Campion College includes the following:
- Metabolism
- Biometric
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical ethics
- Enzymes
- Management Communication
University of British Columbia College of Health and Life Sciences
University of British Columbia, College of Health and Life Sciences is widely renowned for its medical technologist program. It is one of the leading universities in Canada with remarkable programs.
The university offers a two-year bachelor of medical laboratory science, which includes supervised clinical and research practices at UBC Hospital.
The University of British Columbia is reputable for providing students with practical, hands-on experience in a variety of lab techniques, including diagnosing diseases and analyzing specimens. The curriculum bridges numerous fields of health science study by enabling you to work across interdisciplinary boundaries.
The medical technologist programs offered at the University of British Columbia include the following:
- Medical laboratory science
- Medical radiology
- Biomedical engineering technology
- Food safety
Ontario Tech University
Ontario Tech University, Located in Oshawa, Canada is widely renowned for its medical technologist programs. The university is, without a doubt, one of the best in Canada.
The institution offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory science, which includes training in simulation laboratories. Students will gain fundamental knowledge and skills in biological, physical, and health sciences.
Ontario Tech University is reputable for providing students with hands-on experience in diagnosing and analyzing. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science’s national certification examination.
Medical technologist program offered in Ontario Tech University:
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
- Transfusion science
- Microbiology
- Histotechnology
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Science offers a medical laboratory science undergraduate program that aims to produce highly skilled and competent medical laboratory technologists. It is one of the best universities in Canada that offers a medical technologist program.
The degree of Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) is offered through the faculty of science in partnership with the New Brunswick Community College in Saint John. The program covers a wide range of topics.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is a reputable institution with a high-quality undergraduate program in Medical laboratory science. It is another top university in Canada that offers medical technologist programs.
The Bachelor of Science degree in MLS is a four-year professional degree designed to provide a well-rounded education with multiple opportunities for advanced study in laboratory medicine disciplines, as well as research.
The curriculum is designed for students to acquire a BSc in medical laboratory science and a general certification from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, enabling graduates of the program to practice across Canada and have an excellent reputation locally, nationally, and internationally.
Top 5 Best Postgraduate Medical Technologist Programs
Below are some of the best universities in Canada offering medical technologist programs.
University of Calgary
With its extensive medical education and cutting-edge research, The University of Calgary has been recognized as one of the leading providers of medical technologist programs.
The school’s medical education is thesis-based, requiring students to submit and defend an original research thesis. It is a two-year master of science program, offering specializations ranging from cancer biology and critical care to molecular and medical genetics.
The school’s medical education is easily one of the best in the country. It has a student success rate of 90%, but admissions are highly competitive, as it has an acceptance rate of 7%.
University of Montreal
The University of Montreal is among the best medical schools in Canada that offers a medical technologist program. It is a French-speaking school with over 140 years of experience.
The school’s medical education is a 12-month master of biomedical science program focused on the areas of biomedical sciences to help students develop skills in applied clinical research or basic research in the clinical setting. The program allows its students to initiate research in one or other of the various fundamental, clinical, evaluative, and epidemiology aspects of human health while developing skills in oral and written scientific communication.
Queens University
Queens University is a global leader in medical education, with over 160 years of experience in health sciences.
The school’s biomedical and molecular science is a thesis-based PhD and MSc degree program focused on the areas of biomedical and molecular science to help students develop necessary skills.
in this program, you will have the opportunity to choose from one of the following fields of study: Biochemistry and cell biology, experimental medicine, reproduction and developmental sciences, and microbes, immunity, and inflammation. The program consists of coursework, seminars, a research project, and a thesis.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology is widely renowned for its medical technologist program.
The university offers a two-year, full-time professional master’s graduate program in laboratory medicine which aims to teach students biomedical science, fluency in biomedical terminology, and critical evaluation of biomedical literature.
The program is focused on educating clinical laboratory medicine scientists in one of two fields in laboratory medicine: pathologist assistant (PA) or Clinical embryology (CE).
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a large public university in Nova Scotia, Canada, and a global leader in medical education. It is also one of the leading universities in Canada that offers medical technologist programs.
The school has a reputation for excellence in all of its medical courses. It offers a MSc and PhD medical research program which is designed for students who will become clinical specialists. The program allows MD graduates to concentrate primarily on thesis research in medical sciences and to bridge the gap between clinical and basic medical research.
How Long are Undergraduate Medical Technologist Programs?
It takes four to five years to earn a bachelor’s degree in medical technology if you want to complete a full-time bachelor’s degree program. However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you may be able to accelerate your studies.
What is the Salary of Medical Technologists?
A medical technologist makes an average of $40 per hour in the United States. Pay rates may vary depending on various factors, including level of experience, education, and location.
What is the Difference Between a Lab Technician and a Medical Lab Technologist?
Although both work together in a lab and have similar tasks. However, there are some differences between a lab technician and a medical lab technologist when it comes to responsibilities, duties, and expertise.
Lab technicians and medical lab technologists work together in performing tests on biological samples.
However, medical lab technologists have more education and advanced training than lab technicians and can perform many complex tests and diagnoses on certain diseases. Unlike lab technicians who have less training and education and are unable to perform and diagnose certain diseases. Lab technicians are only able to run tests and examinations on basic cases, while medical lab technologists handle more complicated samples.
What are the Skills of a Medical Technologist?
To be considered as a qualified medical technologist, you must possess the following skills:
- Ability to stand for long periods
- Problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Research and analytical skills
- Ability to closely read instructions
- Strong understanding of Biohazard Guidelines
What are the Duties of a Medical Laboratory Technologist?
A medical laboratory technologist is responsible for finding, testing, and analyzing body fluids to generate data that helps physicians determine the best cure for certain diseases.
Objectives of this role include Performing laboratory tests, Researching and analyzing specimens, keeping statistical records of laboratory records, operating and maintaining laboratory equipment such as microscopes and automated cell counters, and preparing biological samples for testing, including tissue, blood, urine, and fluids.
Conclusion
Enrolling in an institution that offers a medical technologist program will help you in the long run to achieve your dreams. Notwithstanding, this article has featured some of the best medical technologist programs for undergraduate and postgraduate. This list will serve as a guide to help you decide the best medical technologist program for you.