Laboratory Technicians and Technologists

Laboratory technicians often advance by returning to school to earn a bachelor’s degree and becoming laboratory technologists.

Technicians and technologists advance by gaining more responsibility while retaining their job title. For instance, with experience, these workers can be promoted to supervisory positions or other positions assigning work to be done by other laboratory workers. Laboratory technicians may also advance by training to do very specialized or complex laboratory or research work. With experience and additional education, they can become scientists or engineers. Others become clinical research associates, who oversee clinical trials of biopharmaceuticals.