Selkirk College is developing a new Medical Laboratory Assistant Program, supported by more than $400,000 in funding from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. The program will be delivered at its Trail Campus to respond directly to a critical shortage of medical laboratory assistants across Interior Health (IH) and the province.
"Our government is committed to training and expanding our health care workforce so that everyone in BC can access the care they need, when and where they need it,” says Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “When government, post-secondary institutions and health authorities work together, it means people can get faster, closer and more reliable access to care. Selkirk College’s new Medical Laboratory Assistant training will help reduce wait times for testing, speed up diagnoses and ensure patients across the Kootenay and Boundary regions and throughout BC can count on timely, high-quality care close to home.”
Ensuring a Stable Supply of Qualified Local Professionals
Medical laboratory assistants are essential members of the laboratory team. They support the smooth operation of diagnostic services by collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, performing routine tests and entering data. Providing training right here in our community is vital to ensure a stable supply of qualified professionals in the region.
“The development of the Medical Laboratory Assistant Program is an excellent example of what can happen when a community identifies a challenge and works collaboratively toward a solution,” says City of Trail Mayor Colleen Jones. “When concerns arose regarding laboratory staffing shortages and the future of outpatient lab services in Trail, it became clear that we needed to look beyond the immediate issue and focus on long-term solutions. One of the ideas I brought forward was the creation of a local training program through Selkirk College to help build a sustainable workforce for our region.”
Selkirk College is developing a program based on an accredited curriculum provided by Camosun College. This collaboration effort has saved significant time and resources, and will allow Selkirk College to welcome the first cohort of 24 students in the 2027/28 academic year.
“Selkirk College’s new Medical Laboratory Assistant Program is an important step in strengthening the local health workforce,” said Joanne Isber, program director, pathology & laboratory medicine at IH. “By training closer to home, graduates are more likely to stay in the region to help reduce wait times for lab collections and support the testing and care patients rely on every day across our region.”
Preparing for a High Opportunity Occupation
The one-year program includes three semesters of in-class learning followed by a regional practicum. It will prepare graduates to step directly into medical laboratory assistant roles within Interior Health and other health care settings.
“We’re proud to bring the certified Medical Laboratory Assistant Program to the West Kootenay and Boundary regions,” says Tammie Clarke, dean of Selkirk College’s School of Health and Human Services. “As the only program of its kind in our area, it’s a meaningful step toward strengthening local health care. We’ll be training skilled professionals right here in our communities, for our communities.”
The Province of British Columbia has identified medical laboratory assistants as a high-opportunity occupation, with more than 2,200 job openings expected over the next decade. This program positions Selkirk College to help meet that demand.