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Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants (3211)

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

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Qualification and skills most often required

Le diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) en technologie d’analyses biomédicales est demandé. L’adhésion à l’Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec est obligatoire pour porter le titre et exercer les activités réservées. La capacité de travailler en équipe, le sens des responsabilités, la dextérité, une bonne acuité visuelle, la rigueur, l’autonomie, la minutie et la patience sont des qualités recherchées.

Reason for labor demand

Le vieillissement et la croissance de la population créent un besoin en matière d’analyses et de tests médicaux, ce qui entraîne une demande de techniciens et de techniciennes. La demande vient des établissements du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux, des centres de recherche clinique ainsi que des cliniques médicales. La relève est insuffisante pour répondre aux besoins en main-d’œuvre.

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Job titles

  • anatomical pathology technologist
  • assistant chief medical technologist or assistant chief laboratory technician (health and social services network)
  • assistant-pathologist/assistant-forensic pathologist (Quebec public service)
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, private clinics, research institutions and universities. Pathologists' assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens or perform autopsies under a pathologist's supervision. They are usually employed in hospitals. Medical laboratory technologists who are also supervisors are included in this unit group.

Fields of interest

  • Providing others with care and assistance

Main duties

  • Medical laboratory technologists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Conduct chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebro-spinal and other body fluids
  • - Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
  • - Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
  • - Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
  • - Perform blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
  • - May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers
  • - May perform the duties of a pathologist's assistant in some hospitals.
  • Pathologists' assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations
  • - Assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision
  • - Dissect, examine, weigh and photograph organs and specimens, collect tissue specimens for chemical analysis and record findings
  • - May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies
  • - May train junior resident pathologists and train and supervise morgue attendants
  • - May perform the duties of a medical laboratory technologist in some hospitals.
  • * Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, immunohematology and cytotechnology.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Medical laboratory technologists require a bachelor of science or medical laboratory science degree
  • or
  • A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology
  • and
  • A period of supervised practical training.
  • * Registration with a regulatory body is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
  • * Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is available for medical laboratory technologists and is usually required by employers.
  • * Pathologists' assistants require a bachelor of science degree orTraining and experience as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or medical laboratory technologist andSpecialized on-the-job training.
  • * Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science may be required for pathologists' assistants.

Skill type

  • Health occupations

Skill level

  • Technical

Job titles - Classified elsewhere

  • * Physical and life science technologists in non-medical laboratories (in 222 Technical Occupations in Life Sciences)
  • * Medical Laboratory Technicians (3212)
  • * Physical and life science technologists in non-medical laboratories (in 221 Technical Occupations in Physical Sciences)

Professional associations

  • Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ)
  • 281, avenue Laurier Est
  • Montréal, QC
  • H2T1G2
  • Toll free: 1-800-567-7763
  • Phone: 514-527-9811
  • Fax: 514-527-7314
  • Email: info@optmq.org