Fast-track your career as a laboratory technician
This two-year program provides you the opportunity to become an entry-level medical laboratory technician and gain employment in Australia’s expanding pathology industry, working in hospital and private pathology laboratories.
- * Duration note: Students commencing in Semester 2 will take 2.5 years, some semesters can only be taken part-time.
This two-year program provides you the opportunity to become an entry-level medical laboratory technician and gain employment in Australia’s expanding pathology industry, working in hospital and private pathology laboratories.
Medical laboratory technicians conduct clinical investigations dealing with an understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. In this program, you’ll learn to perform medical laboratory tests on blood and other bodily fluids and tissues, which assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and clinical disorders.
Being a medical laboratory technician might suit you if you:
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are good at observing, receiving, and obtaining information from all relevant sources;
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can communicate well, giving your full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate;
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want to keep up-to-date technically and apply new knowledge to your job.
Most medical laboratory technicians are generalists, skilled in all areas of the pathology laboratory. In this program, you’ll develop technical skills in physiology, pathophysiology, haematology, histology, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, blood banking, and medical microbiology.
You’ll undertake industry placements where you’ll be trained by experienced medical laboratory scientists and technicians to handle human specimens and use modern laboratory equipment for conducting pathology testing.
As a graduate of this program, you will receive full credit towards the Bachelor of Biomedical Science which you can complete with only one additional year of study, further expanding your career opportunities.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking industry placement courses, students must obtain and provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation and a BlueCard. Refer to Program requirements.
Career opportunities
Medical laboratory technician positions in pathology services and laboratory technicians in scientific and educational technical services.
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
COR109 Responding to Diversity and Inclusion
LFS100 Teaching Arts in Primary Schools
MLS101 Teaching Health and Physical Education and Technologies in Primary School
SCI105 Communication and Thought
LFS112 Cell Biology
MLS110 Foundations in Medical Science
MLS121 Chemistry
MLS131 Human Physiology
Developing and Graduate courses (8) 96 units
BIM203 Haematology
HLT221 Histology
LFS251 Medical Laboratory Placement 1
LFS261 Blood Banking and Transfusion Sciences
MLS210 Human Pathophysiology
MLS231 Biochemistry
LFS262 Microbiology
MLS211 Advanced Haematology
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 192
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100) coded courses.
In order to commence industry placement you must:
- Before undertaking industry placement courses, students must provide proof of vaccination against Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis and Varicella (Chickenpox).
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
- Hold a valid USC Blue Card for working with children.
- Students must undertake mandatory online orientation courses for the organisations where they will be placed, and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding patient information.
- Students will be required to complete placement(s) in rural/regional locations. Students will be required to fund the cost for travel, accommodation, fuel etc. associated with placement. USC scholarships and bursaries are available for students to apply to supplement these costs.
For information about how to complete Post-admission requirements, visit Medical Laboratory Science (Placements) - Mandatory requirements.
Program notes
- Follow the program structure for your year and semester of commencement unless advised otherwise
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence. Please be aware that if commencing in semester 2, the duration will be 2.5 years and some semesters can only be taken part-time.
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- Concurrent study with the Bachelor of Biomedical Science is not permitted.