What is a technician?
Technicians are people with specialist technical skills who work across a wide variety of different industries. They balance scientific, engineering or technological knowledge with skills like critical thinking and attention to detail to help solve problems and create things. You could find technicians doing everything from making life-saving vaccines to working behind the scenes at music festivals.
A technician role could suit you if you're…
- Practical
- Good at problem-solving
- Curious about how things work
- Creative and full of ideas
- Good at noticing the detail
- Keen to learn new skills
- Interested in science, technology, engineering, maths, art, design, TV, film or theatre
- Looking for a career where you can make a real difference.
Technician: True or False?
All technician roles involve working in a lab.
True or false?
FALSE!
Whilst some technicians do work in labs, there are lots of other technician roles too, working in different environments across almost every industry.
Technician roles are in science-based sectors, not the arts.
True or false?
FALSE!
There are technician roles across many job areas/sectors. As well as science, engineering and technology roles, you could find technicians working in areas such as film and TV, animation, fashion, music, theatre and events. Whether they're creating special effects, researching farming crops, manufacturing vehicles or supporting groundbreaking scientific research, technicians use their specialist skills to make things happen behind the scenes.
You can work as a technician without a degree.
True or false?
TRUE!
There are plenty of technician jobs that don't require degrees. You can build your skills through technical training, for example via college courses or learning on the job.
What kinds of technician roles are there?
There are lots of different technician roles. Here is a taster of a few of them…
Voice-over: “What drives me as a technician is the passion for what I do. I enjoy it every day.”
On-screen role: Colour and Dye Technician.
Voice-over: “The people I work with are fantastic.”
On-screen role: Agricultural Technician
Voice-over: “Everyone’s so supportive, and you can go to anyone and they’ll never judge you. They’ll always just be there to help.”
On-screen roles: Marine Engineering Technician, Food Science Technician, Biomaterials Technician.
Voice-over: “It’s not as mundane as it looks. It’s a lot of exciting stuff that happens.”
_On-screen roles: Healthcare Laboratory Technician.
Voice-over: “No two days are the same. Issues and challenges that come up – it’s what keeps the job interesting.”
On-screen roles: Food Packaging Technician, Building Systems Technician, Robotics Technician.
Voice-over: “I don’t know what kind of challenges I’m going to be facing, but that makes it really exciting, and it helps me learn a lot more as well, day to day.”
On-screen roles: Food Science Technician, Lighting Technician, Post Production Technician, Software Tester, Water Process Technician, Food Maintenance Technician, Bike Technician, Creative Venue Technician, Composites Technician, Games Designer, Logistics Technician, Vehicle Manufacturing Technician, Crop Technician.
Voice-over: “It is always hands on, so you’ve always got something to do.”
On-screen roles: Healthcare Laboratory Technician, Animation Technician.
Voice-over: “People don’t often know what goes on behind the scenes, but…”Voice-over: “…knowing that my job counts, providing safety to the people that work here, is so important.”
On-screen roles: Water Quality Technician, Nuclear Technician, Simulation Technician.
Voice-over: “The fact that I make an impact on people’s lives and on the world - I really, really enjoy that.”
On-screen roles: Metrology Technician, Solar Energy Technician.
Voice-over: “I was never going to do anything other than work on a farm, or work within agriculture.”
On-screen roles: Wind Turbine Technician, Horticultural Technician.
Voice-over: “I have to say, I do love it. It was always a dream of mine.”
On-screen role: Marine Engineering Technician.
Voice-over: “What I’d like people to know is how much we really care, and we treat every animal like they’re our own pets.”
On-screen role: Veterinary Nurse.
Voice-over: “I know that the work we’re doing will change the future, and knowing that I’m part of that is a big help.”
Special Effects Technician
What does a Special Effects Technician do?
A Special Effects Technician adds the special effects to films, from explosions that look real, to imaginary creatures flying through the sky. These effects are achieved through the work of skilled technicians who know how to add visual, physical, and explosive special effects to films.
Read about a real Special Effects Technician…
Building Services Technician
What does a Building Services Technician do?
A Building Services Technician helps make buildings comfortable, safe and efficient by designing heating, plumbing, lighting and power systems. They help make sure homes, schools, hospitals and offices are comfortable places for people to live, work and spend time.
Read about a real Building Services Technician…
Research Laboratory Technician
What does a Research Laboratory Technician do?
A Research Laboratory Technician does the important lab research needed to develop new products and test their safety – from creating new medicines to developing new products and improving the recipes of our favourite foods.
Where can you hear from a real Research Laboratory Technician?
What routes are there to becoming a technician?
You don’t need a university degree to become a technician, you can follow a range of technical education routes such as apprenticeships, T-levels and Higher Technical Qualifications, giving you the chance to learn and gain work experience at the same time…
Technicians who did an apprenticeship to get into their role…
Technicians who did a T-level to get into their role…
Find out more about T-levels and apprenticeships
- Explore more about T-levels
- Discover more about apprenticeships
- Search for apprenticeship opportunities.
Where can I learn more about technicians?
Check out the Technicians: We Make the Difference website to read about real technicians, find out about technician roles and try the role finder quiz to find the perfect technician role for you.
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