The College of New Caledonia promoted its Medical Laboratory Technology Science program with a tour Thursday as part of National Medical Laboratory week.
The program works closely with the Northern and Interior Health Authorities to help with teaching the students, as well as keeping them working in Northern BC once they are done school.
Instructor Michelle Lui says this, along with the industry-standard equipment, is vital for making sure students are able to easily transition into the workforce in the north.
“It’s absolutely essential that they get the practical experience to get some practice on analyzers and real samples to practice on before they go to work on real patient specimens.”
Lui notes that the number of vacancies is increasing in the field due to a higher retirement rate, meaning the need for more lab-technicians is also higher.
“We’re fulfilling a need in BC for employment, our students are very employable, they can work anywhere across Canada,” she explains.
“We have a really high retirement rate in the lab-tech field right now and so we are anticipating that need.”
Lui says training facilities from Prince Rupert to Fort St. John and Dawson Creek help them fill positions of need in rural areas of Northern BC.
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