Teaching laboratory technician

As a teaching laboratory technician, you'll support the practical experimental work of science teachers, lecturers and their students in educational institutions, including secondary schools, further education colleges and universities.

You will provide technical support, ensuring that equipment is functioning properly and is ready to use, and that the right materials are available for particular lessons. You will also work to make sure teachers and students:

• make the best use of the time they spend in the laboratory
• use equipment safely
• accurately record the results of their work.

You may sometimes work closely with students to explain or demonstrate experiments or how to use equipment and you may also support individual students on research projects.

The work of a scientific laboratory technician is similar to the teaching technician role but they tend to work more in government-funded research institutions, environmental agencies, hospitals and industry.

Working as a teaching laboratory technician

Tasks vary depending on the size and type of educational institution. For example, experiments tend to be less complex in schools than in universities. However, you'll generally need to:

• support the work of teachers in classes and laboratory sessions, give technical advice to staff and students, and support individual students on research projects
• liaise with academic staff to discuss timetables, equipment requirements and work plans
• run trials of experiments prior to classes and then demonstrate techniques for experiments
• prepare equipment and chemicals before lessons - from test tubes to state-of-the-art microscopes, and turn laboratories and classrooms around in between practical sessions
• maintain and repair equipment and laboratory apparatus, ensuring that equipment is properly cleaned and that chemicals, drugs and other materials are appropriately stocked and stored
• keep records of students' practical sessions, for example, tracking methods and results and make records available when requested
• contribute to high-level research, if working at university level
• ensure that all health and safety procedures are understood and followed correctly
• coordinate work in the laboratory to ensure efficient use is made of expensive pieces of equipment.

Senior and lead technicians tend to take on more managerial work. This may include budgeting and ordering resources, conducting risk assessments and carrying out staff supervision and training.

Teaching laboratory technician salaries

• Starting salaries for teaching laboratory technicians are £24,000 to £29,000, depending on the type of institution, location and level of responsibility.
• Senior or lead technicians typically earn in the region of £34,000 to £40,000.
• Salaries in universities are often higher than those in schools and colleges, particularly for specialist or senior technical roles. Very experienced technicians and technical specialists in universities have the potential to earn more than £40,000. Management roles may pay more.

Many posts in schools and colleges are part time or term time only. In these cases, the advertised salary may be pro rata and lower than the full-time-equivalent salary.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Typical working hours for a teaching laboratory technician

Working hours are usually regular and tend to be around 35 to 40 hours per week, depending on the setting. You'll often need to start before 9am to have everything ready for early classes. You may also need to stay behind at the end of the day to ensure equipment is put away, cleaned or recorded.

You may occasionally have to work at weekends or evenings to assist with demonstrations at parents' evenings or open days at independent schools or universities. Out-of-hours work may also be necessary in higher education institutions, for example, supporting a research student who needs to monitor results at unusual times or on field trips.

What qualifications does a teaching laboratory technician need?

Although you don't need a degree to work as a teaching laboratory technician, the following degree, HND or foundation degree subjects may improve your chances:

• biology
• biomedical science
• biotechnology
• chemistry
• environmental science
• forensic science
• materials science/technology
• pharmacology
• physics.

Any degree that has a technical, IT or scientific element is useful.

Entry without a degree is common as many posts ask for GCSEs in English and maths, as well as a GCSE, A-level, T-level or equivalent in a related science subject. An interest in science or practical technical experience is also useful.

Relevant vocational qualifications may also provide a route into the profession, including NVQs and SVQs in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities.

You can also find work as a laboratory technician through an apprenticeship. Relevant options include the Level 3 laboratory technician advanced apprenticeship and the Level 5 technician scientist higher apprenticeship. Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study, allowing you to train on the job.

Entry requirements are likely to be more demanding in higher education, particularly at research-intensive universities, where a relevant degree may be useful. Some teaching laboratory technicians have postgraduate science qualifications, although these aren't essential.

For any job that involves working with children, you'll need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (or the equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

Key skills for a teaching laboratory technician

You'll need to have:

• practical and organisational skills to manage your workload, prepare equipment and materials, and respond to changing priorities
• scientific and technical knowledge, including IT skills, to support practical classes, use laboratory equipment and maintain accurate records
• written and verbal communication skills to communicate with teaching staff, students and other technicians
• teamworking skills to work effectively with teaching staff and technical colleagues
• attention to detail, with a thorough, meticulous approach to setting up experiments and record-keeping
• problem-solving skills to deal with equipment issues, unexpected experiment results and last-minute changes to experiments
• knowledge of health and safety to follow safe working practices and help maintain a safe laboratory environment.

Teaching laboratory technician work experience

Pre-entry experience is useful and helps you develop the necessary practical skills, as well as showing your interest and commitment to the field. Some degrees offer a placement year, which can be a good opportunity to see what it's like to work in the sector.

You could also try to secure part-time work in a laboratory or scientific setting, or approach employers to see whether shadowing someone in their organisation would be possible.

As well as laboratory skills, it's also useful to have experience of working with children or within further or higher education. To help with this, you could carry out voluntary work with children and young people or consider joining groups or committees at university, especially those related to scientific work.

It's also helpful to stay up to date with developments in the sector. You can get membership or access to useful resources and news from organisations such as:

• The Association for Science Education (ASE)
• CLEAPSS
• Institute of Science and Technology (IST)
• STEM Learning

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who are the main teaching laboratory technician employers?

Teaching laboratory technicians are employed by:

• schools
• sixth form colleges
• further education colleges
• universities and other higher education institutions.

Education providers in both the public and independent sectors offer technician posts. Some schools and colleges specialise in science and may offer particularly relevant opportunities.

Larger institutions, particularly research-intensive universities, may have extensive laboratory facilities and employ larger technical teams. Roles in these settings can involve more specialised equipment and technical work and may offer opportunities to progress into senior, specialist or management roles.

Look for job vacancies at:

• CLEAPSS - Technician Job Service
• Jobs.ac.uk
• TES Jobs
• THE Unijobs

Local council websites can also be a good source of jobs, and universities produce regular online vacancy lists and sometimes have temporary posts attached to particular research grants.

What are the career prospects and opportunities for professional development for teaching laboratory technicians?

In schools and colleges, you may progress from assistant technician to technician, senior or lead technician and, in larger departments, team leader or laboratory manager roles. In higher education, progression can include senior, specialist, supervisory and laboratory management posts. Job titles and career structures vary between institutions, and you may need to move employer to access some promotion opportunities.

With experience, you may move into other laboratory or technical roles in areas such as industry, research, health and safety, technical training or departmental management. Some technicians also train to become teachers.

Training is usually provided on the job with support from experienced colleagues, although larger or specialist laboratories may have more structured training programmes. You'll usually receive training in health and safety, laboratory procedures, equipment, techniques and IT systems.

Continuing professional development (CPD), including courses, events and technician networks, is available through organisations such as ASE, CLEAPSS, IST and STEM Learning. CLEAPSS, for example, offers specialist training for school science technicians. ASE and the IST are also licensed by the Science Council to award Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) status, while IST is also licensed to award Registered Scientist (RSci) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) status, which may become relevant as you gain experience and take on greater responsibility.