Education · 1 of 5
The path
There is no license and no single route. What gets you hired is hands-on time with real instruments.
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High school
Grades 11 and 12
Biology and chemistry above everything, plus any class that lets you use real equipment. Ask a local college lab whether they take volunteers.
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Two-year or four-year degree
2 to 4 years
An associate degree in biotechnology or laboratory science gets you in the door. A bachelor's in biology, biochemistry or microbiology opens more of the industry jobs and is what most research labs now ask for.
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Get into a lab early
During school
Work-study in a campus lab, a summer internship or a co-op placement. Employers care far more about this than about your transcript.
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First bench job
After graduation
Usually titled research assistant, lab technician or technologist. You will spend the first six months learning one lab's procedures in detail.
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Specialize
2 to 5 years in
Pick an instrument or a technique and become the person who runs it. That is how this job stops being entry level.