Definition: Technician/Laboratory Technician Job Description

What are the missions of the Laboratory Technician? What training courses to follow to exercise this profession? What are his outlets and his salary? The answers are provided to you by this laboratory technician job sheet.

Laboratory technician profession

An essential link in the proper functioning of a laboratory, discover the profession of medical analysis laboratory technician in detail: mission, salary, possible training, retraining.

Several types of laboratory assistants should be distinguished:

The medical analysis laboratory technician

The medical analysis laboratory technician performs the biological examinations requested by a doctor so that he can establish his diagnosis. For this, he takes samples of blood, cell tissue, urine, smears… and analyzes them before writing the report of the results.

These results are then validated by a biologist or a doctor before being transmitted to the patient. To carry out his missions, he uses various advanced biochemical devices on a daily basis. Depending on his place of practice, he may be specialized in a specific field such as hematology, virology, etc. but in general, laboratories are versatile.

This profession can be practiced in a hospital, in a research institute or in a private laboratory.

The agrifood, pharmaceutical or cosmetic laboratory technician

Here, the professional’s mission is to ensure the smooth running of the manufacture of a product, whether medical, cosmetic or food. To achieve this, he will carry out all kinds of analyzes respecting very specific and above all very supervised techniques. Physico-chemical and microbiological analyzes, etc. make it possible to ensure that the product meets standards and specifications.

At each stage of the design, the laboratory technician takes samples to test and analyze.

In addition to this charge, the professional also ensures the maintenance of devices and the development of protocols.

The laboratory technician works in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agrifood companies.

The Technical and Scientific Police Technician

The technical and scientific police technician seeks to identify the perpetrators of offenses. It is therefore an essential link in police investigations and contributes to the fight against terrorism, organized crime and petty and medium delinquency. When he works in a laboratory, he assists engineers in scientific analyzes and examinations.

Qualities to become a laboratory technician

Considering the very mission of the laboratory technician, he must show extreme rigor and be very methodical. Indeed, the slightest error in interpretation or in the protocol could have disastrous consequences.

Consequently, the professional must absolutely have the spirit of analysis. This skill will allow him to quickly detect anomalies in the samples.

Knowing how to communicate both orally and in writing, having good interpersonal skills and working in a team are also highly appreciated qualities.

Training to become a laboratory technician

To become a laboratory technician, following a qualifying and diploma training course is compulsory in order to acquire the essential knowledge. Several solutions are available to you, accessible both within the framework of initial training and that of continuing training, allowing easy professional retraining as a laboratory technician.

Initial training

Licence level

• State diploma (DE) in biomedical analysis technician. Accessible to any holder of a baccalaureate (or equivalent qualification) or who can prove a professional experience of at least five years, you must be at least 17 years old to prepare for this diploma in three years.
• BTS analyzes of medical biology. It takes two years to prepare and is accessible to any holder of a Graduate STL, a Graduate ST2S or a Graduate S.
• DUT in biological engineering, option in biological and biochemical analyzes. It takes two years to prepare and is accessible to any holder of a baccalaureate: graduate S, graduate STL (biotechnology)

After graduating, you can prepare the certificate of ability to take blood samples.

Continuing education

As part of a professional development or reorientation, it is possible to become a laboratory technician through continuing education by preparing most of the diplomas mentioned above or the title of laboratory technician in chemistry, biochemistry, biology (via the CNAM).

Like all health professionals, medical analysis laboratory technicians have an obligation to receive regular training throughout their careers.

Salary of a laboratory technician

The average net monthly salary of a salaried laboratory technician is around $ 2,000 for a man and $ 1,900 for a woman (around 27,000 employees in France).

(Source: Insee statistics).

Careers and evolutions of the laboratory technician

Laboratory technicians generally work in private medical analysis laboratories but they can also work in public hospitals or clinics, research centers or industrial laboratories.

The national education also recruits some to assist the professors of the scientific disciplines in the course of the practical works, especially in the large schools.

The development prospects of the laboratory technician are quite limited but if they work in a commercial firm, they may be offered a technical sales position after a few years of experience. In the industrial sector, he can also be entrusted with the supervision of a team, or even become a laboratory manager.