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Diploma · national qualification

Diploma of Laboratory Technology

This diploma prepares you to carry out scientific and technical testing in a laboratory, from routine sample work through to complex tests where the sample is unusual or the instrument has many settings to manage.

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Illustration of a person working as laboratory Technician
How long it takes
6 to 12 months
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Laboratory Technician
$93,300 median pay
Taught by
12 providers
6 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Laboratory Technology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in scientific testing and accurate results
  • patience for careful, step by step laboratory work
  • confidence with specialised instruments and their settings
  • a knack for spotting when a sample or result looks wrong

Before you start

Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who: hold a Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques OR hold a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline OR can provide evidence of technical laboratory skills, knowledge and employment experience.

Diploma or a related qualification?

There are no related qualifications at other levels with the same subject.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Calibration Technician

    Calibration technicians check, adjust and certify measuring instruments so the readings that laboratories, factories and utilities rely on stay accurate.

    What else you need

    This diploma includes calibration units and graduates go into calibration technician roles. The award alone does not confer any licence or accreditation, so check the provider's entry requirements.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

  • Laboratory Technician

    Laboratory technicians prepare and test biological, chemical or environmental samples, then record the results that scientists, clinicians and regulators rely on.

    What else you need

    Laboratory technical roles are open to graduates of this diploma, and the specialisation (chemistry, pathology or food) should match the employer's laboratory. The award alone does not guarantee a position; check the provider's specialisations.

    Median pay$93,300

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 12 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Diploma of Laboratory Technology.

  • Running routine and specialist tests
  • Setting up lab instruments
  • Preparing and handling samples
  • Troubleshooting results that fail
  • Updating standard operating procedures
  • Training colleagues in lab methods

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you to carry out scientific and technical testing in a laboratory, from routine sample work to complex tests where the sample is unusual or the instrument has many settings. You would train other staff, adjust standard procedures and help plan the work in your area.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry is open to individuals who hold a Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques, or a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline, or can provide evidence of technical laboratory skills, knowledge and employment experience. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from a related qualification?

There are no related qualifications at other levels with the same subject.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.