Register Your Interest - Laboratory Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Occupation Summary

A laboratory technician may carry out both routine and one-off laboratory testing and perform a variety of technical support functions across the organisation. Working safely and ethically is paramount and many companies operate under highly regulated conditions because of the need to control the quality and safety of products. Laboratory technicians are expected to work both individually and as part of a laboratory team, able to work with minimum supervision, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that is undertaken.

Typical job roles may include:

• Analytical Support Chemist
• Technical Support Scientist
• Microbiology Support Scientist
• Process Development Technologist
• Laboratory Assistant
• Senior Laboratory Technician
• Technical Specialist
• Quality Control Laboratory Assistant
• Laboratory Co-ordinator
• Technical Laboratory Assistant
• Laboratory Analyst
• Laboratory Research Assistant

Knowledge

The knowledge that a Laboratory Technician will acquire is centred around building an understanding of workplace procedures and scientific theory that go into maintaining a safe and productive laboratory environment. To this end, the Laboratory Technician will develop an understanding of quality standards and health & safety requirements (including, but not limited to: risk assessments, COSHH, HASWA, display screen equipment and manual handling). The Laboratory Technician will build an understanding of the context of their role, including their role within their organisation, ethical practice, codes of conduct, and the regulatory requirements pertinent to their employer’s sector. They will also develop theoretical understanding of the scientific subject relevant to their role. For a full list of knowledge that the apprentice will need to develop, view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Skills

The skills the Laboratory Technician will develop centre around applying their knowledge gained in order to operate a safe and functional laboratory environment. This involves compliance with health and safety requirements, maintaining excellent housekeeping, maintaining equipment and reporting faults, controlling laboratory stocks and managing laboratory resources, keeping accurate records and contributing to reports. For a full list of skills that the apprentice will need to demonstrate, view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Behaviours

The Laboratory Technician will be working as part of a team, and so will need to develop effective communication and teamworking skills. They will need to develop an understanding of the impact of their work on others, demonstrate reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality. For a full list of behaviours that the apprentice will need to develop, view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Entry requirements

• Typically apprentices will hold Level 2 qualifications, equivalent to 5 GCSE’s above Grade C/4 providing the appropriate background to support learning at Level 3.
• Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to endpoint assessment.
• For those with an education, health and care plan, the English and maths minimum requirement is entry Level 3.

Progression routes

• At the end of this apprenticeship apprentices will have achieved a BTEC in Applied Sciences.
• Following successful completion of endpoint assessment the apprentice will operate as a Laboratory Technician.
• The apprenticeship is aligned with professional registration at RSciTech with Science Council.
• Further apprenticeships and academic learning supporting roles at Level 5 & 6 for Laboratory Scientist or Healthcare Science Practitioner.
• The successful apprentice may then progress onto a higher level apprenticeship, either the Level 6 Scientist or Level 5 Technician Scientist, depending on employer capacity.

Key information

• Level (At end of programme): Level 3 (equivalent to BTEC/A-Levels)
• Maximum Duration: 24 months
• Available Funding: £21,000 funding band maximum available through the Apprenticeship Levy. Employers that do not pay the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum
• Targeted for new entrants to your business or up-skilling staff to a good Level 3 qualifications in applied science
• Recommended training provider(s): CSR Group
• Start date: TBC

Register Your Interest

To be the first to know once applications open, register your interest today!