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Science technicians

This page outlines the career structure and new qualifications recommended for science technicians by the Association for Science Education (ASE).
The ASE encourages schools to adopt the following career structure for science technicians:

  • assistant technician (level 1) - providing general assistance and information
  • technician (level 2) - co-ordinating the use and maintenance of practical resources and, for example, assisting in demonstrations
  • senior technician (level 3) - as for a technician but providing technical or health and safety advice and, for example, supervising assistant technicians
  • team leader technician (level 4) - reporting to the head of science and supervising colleagues. Involved in setting up and monitoring systems for managing resources, including budgets.
For more information about the career structure and role of science technicians, go to the ASE website. You can also download the leaflet A career structure for science technicians in schools and colleges from this page. ASE can also give you more information about apprenticeships, foundation degrees and the new NVQ in laboratory and associated technical activities (LATA) (levels 1-4).

The CLEAPSS School Science Service offers a careers guide for technicians, which you can download here.

As a science technician, you may also be interested in becoming a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA). Follow the link on the right-hand side for more information.