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Diploma
Diploma of Medical Laboratory Technology
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
- Calgary, Canada
- 2 years
- English
- Hybrid
- Diploma
About the program
A two-year diploma training medical laboratory technologists, Accredited through Accreditation Canada.
Program highlights
- Internship available: yes
- Placement support: yes
- Work during study: yes
- Post-study work rights: yes
- PR pathway friendly: no
What you will learn
- Demonstrate concepts and methods in Medical Laboratory Technology to solve relevant problems. Develop competence in safety and infection control
- Laboratory procedures and mathematics. Present findings clearly and consider professional or research ethics.
Career outcomes
- Hospital laboratories
- Research laboratories
- Phlebotomy clinics
- Blood services agencies
- Independent laboratories
- Quality assurance
- Pharmaceutical and biological sector
- Laboratory equipment sales representative
Curriculum
- Two-year accelerated full-time diploma with anatomy and physiology
- Safety and infection control
- Laboratory procedures and mathematics
- Specimen processing and phlebotomy
- Clinical chemistry
- Hematology
- Transfusion medicine
- Microbiology and histotechnology. Includes an 11-week practicum
- Graduates prepare for the national certification exam.
Entry requirements
Academic
- Educated in Canada (with English proficiency): with a combined average of 75%: at least 70% in Math 30-1 or at least 75% in Math 30-2
- at least 70% in English Language Arts 30-1
- at least 70% in Chemistry 30
- at least 70% in Biology 30 You must also achieve a mark of at least 50% in the School of Health and Public Safety's entrance testing process. Educated outside Canada: international document assessment proving the programme requirements
- plus proof of English proficiency. Requires the School of Health and Public Safety entrance testing process.
Accepted academic background
Canadian-educated: typically at least 50% in Math 30-1 or 30-2 and 50% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 60% in 30-2 (example: Business Administration diploma), with programme-specific course and average requirements. Educated outside Canada: international document assessment (https://www.sait.ca/admissions/documentation/international-document-assessment) proving the programme's admission requirements, plus English proficiency. Some health programmes need entrance tests (CASPer 40 CAD + 16 CAD per score distribution; programme-specific assessment 20 CAD).
Language tests
- IELTS 6.0 in each skill
- TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new 1-6 scale
- PTE Academic each category)
- Duolingo PTE Academic 53
- Cambridge Duolingo 115 (at least 95 in each subscore)
- Oxford Test of English Cambridge 169 in each skill
- IELTS Academic 6
Documents you’ll need
- Academic Transcripts
How to apply
- Check the programme page for admission requirements
- entrance testing and intakes
- the international deadline (Winter 2027 closes 30 Oct 2026; Spring 2027 closes 5 Feb 2027; Fall 2027 to be announced) at Apply online as an international applicant (175 CAD application fee). Submit transcripts
- an international document assessment and proof of English proficiency. Complete health program entrance testing if your programme requires it. Accept the offer and pay the tuition deposit (3
- 500 CAD). Use the letter of acceptance and the provincial attestation letter to apply to IRCC for a study permit (and TRV or eTA if needed). Register for classes about six weeks before the start and pay tuition.
Other costs
| Tuition per year | $32,093 CAD |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $175 CAD |
| Deposit | _ |
Program details
| Campus | Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | School of Health and Public Safety |
| Department | _ |
| Teaching language | English |
| Credit value | 88 |
| Study pace | Fixed |
| Post-study stay | _ |
| Scholarship note | Institutional scholarships or awards may be available to eligible applicants. Confirm program-specific eligibility, funding and application deadlines. |
Intakes and deadlines
Program starts
January 2027
Applications closed
30 Oct 2026
ClosedProgram starts
May 2027
Apply by
No deadline listed
Program starts
September 2027
Apply by
No deadline listed
Frequently asked questions
The program takes 2 years.
Tuition is $32,093 CAD per year. The application fee is $175 CAD. The estimated living cost is $23,448 CAD.
Accepted language tests: IELTS 6.0 in each skill, TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, PTE Academic each category), Duolingo PTE Academic 53, Cambridge Duolingo 115 (at least 95 in each subscore), Oxford Test of English Cambridge 169 in each skill, IELTS Academic 6.