Laboratory technician apprenticeships

Science and research

Laboratory technician apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

a university course

a college course

an apprenticeship

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree course in:

biology
chemistry
physics
forensic science

You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science and 3 A-Levels or equivalent.

College

You could take a college course, to help improve your chances of finding work. Courses include:

Level 2 Certificate or Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science
Chemistry, Physics or Biology A Levels
T Level for Laboratory Technicians

You'll usually need:

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course or a T Level

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

Level 3 Laboratory technician
Level 5 Technician scientist

You'll usually need:

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science for a Level 3 apprenticeship
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-Levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Experience in a lab can help when looking for work. You can get this by:

doing a year in industry as part of your degree
applying for part-time work in a laboratory whilst studying

Laboratory technician apprenticeships - what it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
knowledge of biology
the ability to work well with your hands
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to use your initiative
the ability to work well with others
administration skills
maths knowledge
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Laboratory technician apprenticeships - what you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will work safely, following strict guidelines. You could do routine or one off tests and will:

set up experiments and investigations
carry out risk assessments
collect and analyse samples
prepare solutions, cultures or specimens
record and present data
order and control stock
dispose of chemicals and waste products safely
clean and maintain equipment

Working environment

You could work in a laboratory. You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression - Laboratory technician apprenticeships

With experience, you could progress to team manager or lab supervisor, or specialise in complex analysis work. With a degree and experience you could move into a research technician role.

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Considering an Apprenticeship?

There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

Paid Training
Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
Range of career opportunities
There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
Earn & learn
As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
Great career prospects
Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
Learn on the job
There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

Start searching for Apprenticeships Near You

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