Role

Laboratory Technician

Prepares samples, runs basic tests, and records results to support lab work and research.

11 chaptersAbout 2–4 months15–30 min a day13 skills1 projects
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Chapter 1 is free. No card needed.

Day 1 on the Laboratory Technician path.

What a Laboratory Technician does

Prepare samples, run routine tests, and record results so scientists and teams can make safe, accurate decisions.

  • Prepare and label samples following written procedures
  • Set up and operate basic lab instruments for routine tests
  • Measure, mix, and dispense chemicals and reagents safely
  • Record results clearly in logs or lab software
  • Clean, sterilize, and store glassware and equipment
  • Check supplies, track inventory, and reorder consumables
  • Follow safety rules and report spills, errors, or unusual results

A day in the life

  1. Review the test schedule and prep samples and reagents
  2. Run batches of tests, monitor instruments, and note issues
  3. Enter results, double-check calculations, and flag outliers
  4. Clean work areas, restock supplies, and dispose of waste safely

Tools you will use

Lab instruments: microscopes, centrifuges, spectrophotometerPipetting: micropipettes, tips, pipette aidsSterilization: autoclave, disinfectantsMeasurement: balances, pH meter, thermometersDocumentation: LIMS, electronic lab notebookSpreadsheets: Excel, Google Sheets

Your plan

Chapter by chapter.

1~1 wk

See laboratory technician work up close

StartFree
21–2 wks

Lab Procedures and Quality

Skills
31–2 wks

Lab notebook and SOP for a kitchen-chemistry titration study

Proof
41–2 wks

Instruments and Calibration

Skills
51–2 wks

Safety and Physical Awareness

Skills
6~1 wk

Meet working laboratory technicians

People
71–2 wks

Communication and Teamwork

Skills
81–2 wks

Learning and Adapting

Skills
91–2 wks

Choose your laboratory technician route

Decide
101–2 wks

Prepare for laboratory technician interviews

Interview
11on your timeline

Apply for laboratory technician roles

Apply

By the last chapter

This is what you can show.

Things you've made

Lab notebook and SOP for a kitchen-chemistry titration study

Skills you can prove

13 skills, each rated on work you actually did.

People you've talked to

4 people who do the job, with a message ready for each.

Questions you can answer

19 interview questions and a mock interview, with feedback.

Credentials

4 credentials compared, so you can pick one, or decide you don't need one. None is required.

Ways in

There is more than one route.

Ways to study

  • Certificate or diploma in laboratory technology or applied science
  • Associate degree in biology, chemistry, or medical laboratory science
  • Bachelor degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related science
  • Employer training plus safety courses for entry lab roles

How people get their first job

  • Apply for lab assistant or sample prep roles in schools, clinics, or factories
  • Seek internships or work placements in research or testing labs
  • Earn safety training such as chemical hygiene and biosafety basics
  • Build a small portfolio of lab-style reports with methods and results
  • Volunteer in a school lab to practice labeling, logging, and cleanliness routines

Life skills on this path: Networking · Job interviews · Job search

How the work is changing

What AI is doing to this role

How AI is changing this role · one of 6 tasks we track

Log data and generate results reports

Sped up a lot

What AI does

LIMS pulls instrument data into finished reports without retyping.

Still yours

You review for errors and sign off. Accuracy is on you.

Reviewed September 2026

In the app · Premium

The rest is in the app

  • How AI affects the other 5 tasks
  • Whether this job is growing or shrinking
  • How hard the first job is to get
  • Similar roles that are easier to get into
  • Updated every month, with sources
See it in the app →

How we rate a job →

Already working

Already a Laboratory Technician?

Plan your move to Senior Laboratory Technician: 8 chapters that end with a strong case for your next review.

Grow in the role →

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Questions

Questions about this path

How long does it take to become a laboratory technician with Welica?

The path is 11 chapters, 2–4 months at 15 to 30 minutes a day. You can go faster or slower; the plan moves with you.

Do I need a degree?

Not always. Common routes are certificate or diploma in laboratory technology or applied science, associate degree in biology, chemistry, or medical laboratory science, bachelor degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related science, or employer training plus safety courses for entry lab roles.

What is free?

Chapter 1, See laboratory technician work up close, is free for good. Premium unlocks the rest of the path.

Start the Laboratory Technician path.

Chapter 1 free. About 15 to 30 minutes a day.

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