Lab Technician Course After 12th for a Scientific Career 

For someone with a keen interest in a scientific career, particularly in how medical tests and experiments are done in hospitals and research centres, a lab technician course after 12th is the best program to choose.

These days, a lab technician course has become quite popular due to increasing demand for professionals skilled in detecting chronic disease, making accurate reports, and handling equipment safety. If you are curious about what goes on in those labs and are willing to make a career as a lab technician after 12th, then read the article that talks about various courses, eligibility, colleges, and the aligned roles.

Best Lab Technician Courses After 12th 

You can take up a certificate, diploma or degree course in lab technician and make your successful career. In case you are confused and unable to make a decision, here are the top lab technician programs after 12th to choose from.

• Diploma in Lab Technology (DLT): It is a short-term lab technician course after 12th if you are seeking a quick entry into the workforce. The program duration varies between 1 to 2 years with 3 to 6 months of internship. After you complete the course, you can either apply for a BSc course or apply for a job in the government or private hospitals for the position of lab technician, pathology lab technician, phlebotomist, etc.
• Certificate in Laboratory Technology: A certification in lab technology is the best lab technician courses after 12th for you to gain a basic understanding of the lab technician's role. Anyone can join this course after 12th, but in most colleges science stream is given preference.
• Bachelor of Science in Medical Lab Technology (BMLT): If your interest lies in a professional course, a BSc in lab technology is one of the best lab technician courses after 12th. Here you will learn advanced testing techniques, in-depth investigation of complex samples through clinical training and theoretical learning. This 3-year-long undergraduate course prepares students to become experts in handling specimens, maintaining records and collaborating with doctors or researchers to provide accurate data. Have a look at the core subjects included in the BSc lab technician course.

Curriculum Highlights 

• Semester I: Human anatomy, physiology, basic lab equipment and safety, and biochemistry I.
• Semester II: Pathology I, microbiology I, environment science and biochemistry II.
• Semester III: Histopathology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology II, and haematology.
• Semester IV: Clinical pathology, parasitology, immunology, serology, and instrumentation techniques.
• Semester V: Different techniques of diagnostic, blood banking and transfusion medicine, cytogenetics, and quality control.
• Semester VI: Lab management, medical ethics, case studies and clinical training.

Eligibility Criteria of the Top Lab Technician Programs After 12th 

The eligibility criteria vary for different levels of programs. Students opting for a diploma in a lab technician course should pass the 12th in the science stream. Conversely, for the certificate course, 12th-grade students from any stream can join the course. A detailed eligibility for the BSc degree course has been discussed below:

• Age limit: Students must be at least 17 years old when applying for the program.
• Percentage required: The minimum percentage in the 12th should be 50%; however, the required marks may differ in some colleges. With this, you should pass the 12th grade with either PCB or PCM subjects.

Admission Process for the Best Lab Technician Courses After 12th 

The admission procedures involve filling out the application form on the official website of the college, followed by publication of the merit list, which will be based on the entrance result or direct admission (marks score in 12th).

There are some popular entrance examinations which you may consider appearing for:

• CUET UG: It is a national-level test organised by NTA. Using the CUET score, you can take admission to the BSc Lab Technology course in its participating institutes.
• IPU CET: Admission to the BSc Lab Technology course is offered through the Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET) in GGSIPU and its affiliated colleges. To prepare for this entrance, you should study the CBSE 12th standard Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects.
• KCET: To be eligible for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test, you need to have passed the 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the main subjects. You can only use the KCET score to get admission to colleges located in Karnataka state.
• Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam: Jamia Millia Islamia is among the top colleges offering paramedical courses. It conducts an entrance exam for the BSc paramedical courses that include a lab technician course as well.
• LPU NEST: If your dream college is Lovely Professional University (LPU), make sure your 12th score should in 60% or more to become eligible for the test. You can either appear for a remote proctored test or a centre-based test.

Shape Your Career as a Lab Technician After 12th 

A career as a lab technician after 12th offers diverse opportunities in hospitals, research labs, and blood banks. Roles include:

Job Roles	Average Annual Salary (Fresher)
Medical Lab Technician	INR 2.7 LPA
Research Assistant	INR 2.8 LPA
Pathology Lab Assistant	INR 2.5 LPA
Phlebotomist	INR 2.6 LPA
Cytotechnologist	INR 3 LPA
Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) Analyst	INR 3 LPA
Molecular Biologist	INR 2.9 LPA
Medical Research Officer	INR 3 LPA

Lab Technician Salary Based on Experience 

The salary may vary based on your experience and expertise. Check out the expected annual salary of a lab technician based on the experience mentioned below.

Experience in Years	Average Annual Salary
0 - 2	3.0 LPA
3 - 6	4.5 LPA
7 - 10	6 LPA
11 - 15	7.5 LPA
16 & Above	9 LPA

Note: The data has been taken from various job portals shared by employees for reference purposes. The earning potential may vary depending on the roles and sector you will be working in.

Top Colleges Offering Lab Technician Programs After 12th 

Here are the top government and private colleges renowned for offering the best lab technician courses after 12th. You must check the official website to know more about the aligned courses, release of the application form and whether the admission is merit-based or entrance-based.

College List	Courses Offered	Approximate Course Fee (Annual in INR)
Christian Medical College, Vellore	● B.Sc MLT ● Diploma MLT	● 600/- ● 300/
Jagannath University, Delhi-NCR	B.Sc MLT	1.21 Lakh
Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune	B.Sc MLT	2.25 Lakh
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur	B.Sc MLT	2.25 Lakh
JIPMER Puducherry	B.Sc MLT	4,800
AIIMS Rishikesh	● B.Sc MLT ● Certificate in Sleep Lab	98,100
JMI	B.Voc Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS)	1.33 Lakh

Key Skills You’ll Develop 

A lab technician course after 12th will provide you with exposure to various technical skills. In addition, you will develop essential soft skills, including communication and problem-solving skills.

• Sample collection and testing
• Handling lab equipment
• Maintaining safety protocols
• Communication skills
• Critical analysis of the data with accuracy.

Future Scope: Advanced Studies in Lab Technician and Trends 

The landscape of lab technology has seen a significant improvement. Integration of AI tools and automation processes has indeed increased the efficiency of the work. Besides these, there is continuous advancement in liquid biopsy, genomics, proteomics and more. For an MSc course, you may consider the following postgraduate programs:

• MSc Laboratory Technology in Microbiology
• MSc in Laboratory Technology in Biochemistry
• MSc in Laboratory Technology in Immuno Haematology and Blood Banking

Wrapping Up! 

A career in lab technology is diverse. Whether one is looking for quick entry into job roles or is interested in the research field, it provides enough scope to grow. With a specialisation course, you will understand the field better and enlarge your learning horizon.

FAQs 

What is the minimum eligibility for admission into a lab technician course? 

For a BSc MLT course, you should score at least 50% in the Science stream at the qualifying exam level. Some colleges may ask for a minimum of 60% in PCB subjects.

How long does it take to complete a BSc in lab technology course? 

You can complete your BSc degree in Lab Technology in 3 to 4 years.

What are the job positions I can apply for after the lab technician course? 

You can apply for positions like Medical Lab Technician, Pathology Lab Assistant, phlebotomist, Research Assistant, etc.

What is the salary of a lab technician? 

The salary of a lab technician depends on qualifications and work experience. The average annual salary of a fresher can be between 2 LPA to 5 LPA.

^*Disclaimer:The information and opinions expressed herein are solely those of Collegedekho and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Jagannath University NCR.