Lab Assistant Career Path
Are you thinking of becoming a Lab Assistant or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Lab Assistant, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Lab Assistant job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
How to Become a lab assistant
If you're considering starting your Lab Assistant career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Lab Assistant and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Lab Assistant career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Lab Assistant career path, a Associate's Degree in Labratory Science or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Lab Assistant internship may be required to earn your Associate's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.Based on resume data from Glassdoor users who reported working as a Lab Assistant in the United States.
What type of degree should you pursue to become a Lab Assistant?
45% of people working as a Lab Assistant earned a Associate's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Lab Assistant?
- Critical Thinking
- Excellent Communication
- CPR
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal and Communication
- ASCP
- Protocols
- Effective Communication
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Lab Assistant, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Lab Assistant field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Lab Assistant specialty.
3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Lab Assistant
Once you've acquired a Associate's Degree in Labratory Science or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Lab Assistant. In general, you can become a Lab Assistant after completing your 3 year Associate's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Lab Assistant role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified phlebotomy technician i.
4
Advance in Your Lab Assistant Career
Following entry-level, there are several Lab Assistant career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Lab Assistant to progress to the supervisor lab assistant position. Each advanced Lab Assistant position requires approximately 8 years of experience at each level to advance in your Lab Assistant career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Lab Assistant career path.
5
Continued Education for Your Lab Assistant Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Lab Assistant career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Labratory Science can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Bachelor's Degree typically make $47,613 compared to $26,462 for those without that type of degree.
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