Laboratory & Associated Technical Activities

 

 

Overview

 

These occupational competence qualifications will provide learners with the knowledge and skills to work as a laboratory technician within a range of environments.

 

Laboratory technicians support scientists and help carry out tests, research and investigations. Work would be likely to involve testing and analysing samples and could be in a variety of industries or an educational environment.

 

Qualification Content

 

The qualifications contain Mandatory Units covering generic knowledge and skills including Health and Safety and efficient working relationships.

 

Optional Units cover areas such as testing, sampling, stock control, preparing resources and equipment, and providing technical support.

 

Who Can Take these Qualifications?

 

The Level 2 qualifications are intended for learners who are new entrants to the Science sector and wish to develop their knowledge and skills to enable safe progression into the workplace/employment.

 

The Level 2 and 3 qualifications will benefit learners who are already in employment within a laboratory environment but require additional knowledge and skills as part of an existing job role or to enable career progression.

 

There are no prerequisites to achieve these qualifications but they must be achieved in the workplace.

 

Available Qualifications

 

• PAA\VQ-SET Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities - 501/1868/7

• PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities - 501/1869/9

• PAA\VQ-SET Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities - 501/2291/5

 

• PAA\VQ-SET SVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (Education Science) at SCQF Level 6 - GP47 46

• PAA\VQ-SET SVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (Education Science) at SCQF Level 7 - GP48 47

• PAA\VQ-SET SVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (Industrial Science) at SCQF Level 7 - GP49 47

 

Potential Job Roles

 

Learners may be employed, or seeking employment, in a laboratory within job roles, such as:

 

• Education laboratory technician

• Medical laboratory assistant

• Scientific laboratory technician

 

Professional Recognition

 

Achievement of a Level 3 also enables an individual to achieve recognition as a Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) through the Science Council’s Professional Registers which provide a framework of professional recognition and development across the science workforce.

 

Apprenticeship Frameworks

 

These qualifications sit in the following Apprenticeship Frameworks:

 

• Laboratory and Science Technicians, Levels 2 and 3 - England (framework withdrawn) and Wales

• Life Science and Related Science Industries, Level 4 - Wales

• Life Sciences and the Related Science Industries, Levels 2 and 3 - Scotland