If you think you would enjoy working in a laboratory setting, this could be the career for you. Lab technicians play a vital role in:
- helping to ensure the lab runs smoothly
- maintaining laboratory supplies and equipment
- setting up routine experiments
Medical Lab Technicians in the NHS also:
- sort and label patient samples
- enter patient data
- make up general chemical solutions for the lab
As you gain more experience in the lab as a lab technician, you can progress to more senior posts, perhaps managing a technical laboratory, such as a medical testing facility in a hospital or a high-throughput screening unit at a pharmaceutical company. Alternatively, you might specialise in one area of research or technology providing expert advice to other researchers.
Lab Technician and Lab Assistant roles can also help you to gain further practical experience in the lab before committing to a PhD or further study.
The national careers service has further information on Lab Technician roles.
What skills do I need?
Although some Lab Technician and Lab Assistant roles require a BSc degree, not all do. Employers often ask for GCSEs in science subjects, but this is not always the case. It is worth exploring role descriptions in this area to find out what the requirements are for the jobs you are most interested in.
Work experience in a lab setting can help you get a job as a Lab Technician.
Technician Commitment is an intiative that aims to ensure the status, profile and opportunity for technicians. Follow them on Twitter @TechsCommit.