Foundations of the degree programme

The degree programme in Biomedical Laboratory Science leads to the Bachelor of Health Care degree; the qualification title is “bioanalyytikko (AMK)” (Biomedical Laboratory Technologist). The extent of the degree studies is 210 ECTS credits. It takes 3.5 years to complete the degree studies. Competence provided by the degree meets the standards of higher education generally defined in the European Union, which enables the mobility of labour and experts.

A biomedical laboratory technologist acts as an expert in clinical laboratory work in multiprofessional groups of health care (Government Decree 352/2003 on Polytechnics), develops and promotes evidence-based clinical laboratory work and participates in societal decision-making in accordance with sustainable development. Professional expertise comprises comprehensive skills and knowledge for acting in expert tasks of the field (Act 351/2003 on Polytechnics, section 4). A biomedical laboratory technologist’s area of core competence is the management and development of the laboratory test process. After completing the studies, he or she is expected to have basic competence in clinical physiology and isotope medicine, clinical neurophysiology, clinical haematology, immunohaematology, clinical histology and cytology, clinical immunology, clinical biochemistry, clinical microbiology, cell biology and molecular biology. Furthermore, he or she is expected to have competences in customer service, methodology, information technology, occupational safety and customer safety, information management, communication and languages. A biomedical laboratory technologist generates reliable laboratory test results, which will be used for evaluating the customer’s medical condition and for health promotion. Clinical laboratory work is governed by the values and ethical principles as well as national and international provisions and instructions of clinical laboratory work.

Granting a licence to practice as a health care professional

Upon application the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA) shall grant the degree holder a licence to practice as a licensed health care professional. For granting a licence it is required that the degree programme in Biomedical Laboratory Science has the extent of 210 ECTS and covers the contents of the curriculum. The professional qualifications of a biomedical laboratory technologist are governed by Level 6 descriptors of knowledge and skills of the European Qualifications Framework (2006) and by the recommendation of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (Arene) on the application of the National Qualifications Framework (2010) and the common competences of qualifications at universities of applied sciences. The university of applied sciences shall verify that the graduating health care professional’s competence meets the requirements for professional skills.

We reserve the right to make changes to the curriculum due to the need to update the content being studied.