Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants

What they do?

Pathologists' assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

A. Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations

B. Assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision

C. Dissect, examine, weigh and photograph organs and specimens, collect tissue specimens for chemical analysis and record findings

D. May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies

E. May train junior resident pathologists and train and supervise morgue attendants

F. May perform the duties of a medical laboratory technologist in some hospitals.

G. Conduct chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebro-spinal and other body fluids

Where they find work?

1. Health care and social assistance - 87.0%
2. Educational services - 4.0%

What education do I need?

1. To work in this field, you must have a post-secondary qualification and you may need certification by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science.

2. To be a medical laboratory technologist, you need either a bachelor of science or medical laboratory science degree or a two- to three-year college program in medical laboratory technology. You must also have a period of supervised training.

3. To be a medical laboratory technologist, you must be registered by a provincial regulatory body in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

4. To be a pathologists' assistant, you must have either a bachelor of science degree or training and experience as a registered nurse, registered nursing assistant or medical laboratory technologist. You must also have specialized, on-the-job training.

5. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree.

High School Subject that will help:

1. Math
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. Biology

What can you expect to make:

The average hourly wages for Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants is $24.17/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the health sector and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.

Unemployment:

2% of Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants are unemployed. This rate is below the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.

Current Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants is considered Above Average because:

1. Employment grew at an above-average rate.

2. Hourly wages ($24.17) are above the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average.

3. The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Future Job Prospects:

Your job outlook will continue to be Above Average because:

1. The employment growth rate will likely be above average because of ongoing trends--a growing and aging population that requires more health services, new technologies that improve the ability to diagnose disease, increased government funding for health ca

2. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.

3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Highest Concetration:

The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants are found in Manitoba and Nova Scotia while the lowest concentrations are in Quebec and Prince Edward Island.

Unionization Rate:

The unionization rate (59%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations.

Useful Experience:

1. Business procedures

2. Interpersonal skills

Age Demographics

Age Demographics:

Self Employed

Self Employed:

Men vs Women

Men vs Women: