Medical Laboratory Assistant

Career Diploma 12 months
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Online Medical Laboratory Assistant Program

With Penn Foster’s online Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Diploma, you’ll build the skills needed to work in clinical labs and take the next steps toward an in-demand job in healthcare. Our program balances online learning with hands-on training, including a practical venipuncture simulation kit and 120-hour externship.

  • Prepare for a rewarding, essential role in clinical labs, where your work supports accurate diagnoses and improved patient outcomes.
  • Helps prepare students for careers in a variety of healthcare settings, including doctors' offices, outpatient and urgent care clinics, and hospitals.
  • You’ll learn foundational lab skills and prepare to work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, diagnostic labs, and more.
  • Penn Foster’s Medical Laboratory Assistant Program can help prepare you to sit for two in-demand industry certifications: Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA) from AMT (American Medical Technologist) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) from NHA (National Healthcareer Association).
Accredited
Online
Self Paced

Save up to $400 Ends 9/30/2025

Cost of Program

$1,999

$2,399 Save $400

or

$69/month, Start for as low as $20

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1-800-523-0577 (9AM - 9PM ET)

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What You Will Learn

  1. Apply knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology to effectively communicate with healthcare professionals and understand laboratory test requisitions.
  2. Collaborate effectively with members of the healthcare team, including healthcare providers, nurses, and other allied health professionals, to ensure coordinated patient care and accurate laboratory testing.
  3. Accurately interpret and report lab test results, recognize abnormal findings, and understand the role of quality control in patient safety.
  4. Demonstrate proficiency in specimen collection techniques, including venipuncture, capillary puncture, and specimen processing for various laboratory tests.
Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Outcomes

Medical Laboratory Assistant

AVG SALARY**

$44,023/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

117,800

JOB GROWTH*

16%


Certified medical lab assistants can find jobs in a variety of settings, including private research facilities, government research facilities, hospitals, blood banks, and outpatient clinic laboratories (i.e. LabCorp, Quest)!

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information. Please review your state board requirements that are applicable to your field of study. State boards may impose a variety of different requirements, which vary from state to state.

Medical Laboratory Assistant Curriculum Details

  • Estimated completion time: 12 months
  • Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 117.6

In the Medical Laboratory Assistant Program, you have up to 12 months to complete your studies, including a 120-hour externship.


Through your online classes, you can prepare to sit for the American Medical Technologist’s Certified Medical Lab Assistant (CMLA) certification exam as well as the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam from NHA (National Healthcareer Association). Your program includes courses such as:


  • Anatomy and Physiology Essentials
  • Infection Control
  • Phlebotomy
  • Venipuncture Labs

Show Full Curriculum
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Medical Laboratory Assistant Externship

As part of your Penn Foster Medical Laboratory Assistant Training, you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you learned in your classes to real-world situations in a 120-hour externship! You’ll gain hands-on experience and will be eligible to receive the “full” certification credential upon passing the AMT exam. Without completing the externship, only provisional certification may be awarded.

 

You must successfully complete your externship to graduate from the program and sit for the CMLA exam. You will also be eligible for the CPT exam post externship.

Student Stories

Penn Foster’s Medical Laboratory Assistant courses can help you prepare for a career in several healthcare settings. Penn Foster programs have helped many students achieve their goals and kickstart their careers. Learn more about Penn Foster’s graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.
View Student Success Stories
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Vernaline J.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2024

“Earning an education with Penn Foster has meant development of my skills, boost of confidence and building on self-esteem.”

Looking for healthcare training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.
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Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Diploma Tuition

With Penn Foster, you can choose from one of our low-cost payment options below and get started on your way to a new career!

Option 1: Pay in full

Save up to $400 Ends 9/30/2025

Cost of Program1

$1,999

$2,399 Save $400

  • Best price. Best value.
  • Pay the full cost today
  • No monthly payments
Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program1

$2,399

  • Pay $69 per month
  • Start for $20 down
  • All major credit and debit cards accepted
Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program1

$2,399

  • Pay $69 per month
  • Start for $49 down
  • Mail your payments
Enroll Now

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

We're here to help. Call 1-800-523-0577 (9AM - 9PM ET)

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Our Medical Laboratory Assistant Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

  • Start anytime
  • No exam due dates
  • Self-paced  

Interactive

  • Digital study guides
  • Presentations and animations
  • Simulations, training kit, and videos

Connected

  • 24/7 access to online resources
  • Dedicated Learner Center
  • Stay up to date on social media

Supportive

  • Expert faculty
  • Dedicated learner support
  • Robust learning resources

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Online Medical Laboratory Assistant Career Diploma FAQs

How do I become a medical laboratory assistant?

To become a medical lab assistant, a high school diploma is expected by most employers. While not always required, certification is recommended, and additional training and credentials can help you stand out when applying for jobs. Our program includes a 120-hour externship for hands-on experience and prepares students to sit for the American Medical Technologist’s Certified Medical Lab Assistant (CMLA) certification exam as well as the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam from NHA (National Healthcareer Association).

What does a medical laboratory assistant do?

Medical lab assistants work on various tasks, including

  • laboratory equipment maintenance
  • preparing and processing specimens
  • performing phlebotomy
  • labeling
  • conducting basic tests
  • data entry
  • preparing and staining slides for analysis


How does the externship for the Medical Laboratory Assistant program work?

The externship for this program is 120 hours on site. You’ll gain hands-on experience through this externship, including the required minimum venipuncture and capillary sticks necessary to sit for the CPT certification exam. You’ll also gain the knowledge and skills to sit for the CMLA certification exam. Students are responsible for finding their own externship site, pending approval from our skilled externship team.

Where can I work as a medical lab assistant?

Medical lab assistants are able to put their skills to use in a variety of settings, including private research facilities, government research facilities, hospitals, blood banks, and outpatient clinic laboratories (i.e. LabCorp, Quest)!

How much do medical lab assistants make?

The average yearly salary of a medical laboratory assistant is $44,023 as of 2025.** Pay can vary based on where you live, your experience, and your employer.

What is the job outlook for medical lab assistants?

The medical field has excellent growth potential. Medical lab assistants specifically have a projected 16% growth, with 117,800 openings expected.*

Sources:

*Zippia. "Job Outlook for Medical Laboratory Assistants in the United States." Zippia, Accessed June 5, 2025.

**PayScale. “Average Laboratory Assistant Base Salary” Payscale.com. Accessed June 5, 2025.

Statements found from Zippia and Payscale are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Disclaimers:

1 Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.