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 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.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education classes and webinars are provided by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, 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. 

Certification or Licensing

Depending on what type of laboratory technician or technologist you want to be, you may need certification or licensing, at least in some states. Organizations that offer certification include American Medical Technologists, American Association of Bioanalysts, American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification, and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Check with your state’s occupational licensing board to find out if there are specific requirements for your area. Moreover, make sure any program or community college you are considering will provide the courses and experience you need for licensing.

Other Requirements

Laboratory technicians and technologists must have normal color vision.

Hands-on laboratory experience is recommended for aspiring lab professionals. You can obtain this experience through laboratory classes in high school and college, and by participating in internships at biotechnology employers.

Laboratory technicians and technologists must have good manual dexterity, the ability to follow instructions, and a tolerance for working under pressure. They should also like solving problems, have good computer skills (especially with database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs), be able to work both as a member of a team and independently, and have good organizational and communication skills (especially writing skills because their laboratory notes may be considered legal documents). Some employers may require workers to lift up to 50 pounds.

Laboratory technicians and technologists should be detail oriented in order to carry out laboratory procedures accurately. They must have a thorough knowledge of how to operate sophisticated laboratory equipment and understand the fundamentals of how to carry out experiments. Laboratory work must be written up by technicians in clear, concise reports that can be presented to physicians.