Laboratory Technicians and Technologists

High School

No specific kind of high school training is required; however, you must be able to meet the admissions requirements of institutions offering post-high school training. In general, courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, mathematics, English, physics, and computer science will be most helpful in a career as a laboratory technician or technologist.

Postsecondary Education

Laboratory technicians typically need an associate’s degree in biotechnology, biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. A one-year certificate program in one of these aforementioned fields is also offered to people with degrees in fields such as nursing. Technologists need a bachelor’s degree in the aforementioned academic majors. For both job categories, employers may also accept applicants with degrees in chemistry, environmental science, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, microbiology, food science, genetics, or related majors.

Laboratory automation specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, or engineering.

Cytogenetic technologists must have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, diagnostic genetics, microbiology, virology, molecular biology or pathology, medical technology, or clinical lab science. They also must complete a post-baccalaureate cytogenetics training program or obtain at least one year of on-the-job training.

Molecular genetics technologists need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology or pathology, medical technology, or clinical lab science.

Certification

Certificate programs are short-term educational opportunities that students enroll in to obtain a general introduction to a field or learn about specific topics (e.g., emerging technologies, new testing or laboratory operation practices) They are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats, and they typically last six months to a year. Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in biotechnology, molecular biology, biology, or biochemistry, and related topics. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education (CE) classes and webinars are provided by professional associations at the national, state, and local levels. For example, the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, offers webinars such as The Ever-Changing Landscape of Laboratory Informatics and Pre-examination/Pre-analytical Variables in Laboratory Testing, as well as a variety of other educational opportunities. Other organizations that offer CE opportunities include the American Medical Technologists, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Association of Bioanalysts, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Chemical Society, and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Contact these organizations for more information.