Medical Lab Technician Skills: Essential Guide for Students
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
Introduction to Medical Lab Technician Skills
The medical laboratory technician (MLT) is the operational backbone of diagnostic medicine. While pathologists and laboratory scientists interpret the clinical significance of results, the MLT performs the actual analyses that generate those results. This role demands a precise combination of manual dexterity, theoretical knowledge, and disciplined judgment. An MLT working in a clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, or molecular diagnostics laboratory must be able to execute standardized protocols flawlessly while recognizing when a result deviates from expected parameters.
Role of a Medical Lab Technician
A medical lab technician performs routine diagnostic tests on patient specimens—blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue samples, and others—under the supervision of a medical laboratory technologist or pathologist. The scope of practice includes preparing specimens for analysis, operating automated analyzers, performing manual tests, recording results, and participating in quality assurance programs. Unlike a medical laboratory technologist, who typically holds a four-year degree and performs complex analyses, result validation, and test development, the MLT usually holds an associate degree or certificate and focuses on the execution of established procedures.
The distinction matters for skill development. An MLT must master the how of laboratory testing with exceptional reliability. The why—the underlying biochemical or genetic principles—must be understood well enough to recognize errors, but the primary professional identity is that of a skilled operator who produces accurate, reproducible data under time pressure.
Core Skill Categories
Medical lab technician skills fall into three interconnected domains:
- Technical skills: Specimen handling, instrument operation, reagent preparation, and test performance.
- Analytical skills: Quality control interpretation, result validation, troubleshooting, and data management.
- Professional skills: Communication with healthcare teams, ethical conduct, safety compliance, and documentation discipline.
No single domain is sufficient. A technician with excellent pipetting technique but poor documentation habits is a liability. A technician who understands laboratory information systems but cannot perform a manual differential count is equally limited. The sections that follow break down each domain into specific, testable competencies.
Technical Laboratory Skills
Technical proficiency is the foundation of medical lab technician skills. These are the hands-on competencies you will be examined on in practical assessments and that you will apply every working day.
Specimen Collection and Handling
Pre-analytical errors account for the majority of laboratory testing failures. The technician's responsibility begins before the specimen reaches the instrument.
Venipuncture requires mastery of vein selection, tourniquet application (no longer than one minute to avoid hemoconcentration), and proper tube order. The correct order of draw for evacuated tubes is: blood culture bottles, citrate tubes (light blue), serum tubes with or without clot activator (red or gold), heparin tubes (green), EDTA tubes (lavender), and fluoride/oxalate tubes (gray). This sequence prevents cross-contamination of additives—for example, potassium EDTA from a lavender tube contaminating a serum sample would falsely elevate potassium measurements.
Specimen labeling must be performed at the patient's bedside, never pre-labeled. The label must include the patient's full name, unique identifier (medical record number), date and time of collection, and the collector's initials. A mislabeled specimen produces a result that is accurate for the wrong patient—a clinical catastrophe.
Centrifugation parameters vary by specimen type. Serum specimens for chemistry analysis are typically centrifuged at 1,000–2,000 × g for 10–15 minutes at room temperature. Whole blood for plasma preparation requires similar conditions. Improper centrifugation—too slow, too fast, or too long—can cause hemolysis, incomplete separation, or platelet contamination of plasma, all of which alter results.
Storage conditions are specimen-specific. EDTA whole blood for complete blood counts is stable for 24 hours at 4°C. Serum for most chemistry analytes is stable for 48–72 hours refrigerated. However, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and potassium are unstable in serum at room temperature due to cellular leakage and enzyme degradation. Urine for urinalysis should be analyzed within two hours of collection or refrigerated and analyzed within 24 hours.
Operating Laboratory Instruments
Modern clinical laboratories rely heavily on automated analyzers, but the technician must understand their operating principles to recognize malfunctions and interpret flags.
Clinical chemistry analyzers (e.g., Roche Cobas, Abbott Architect, Beckman Coulter AU series) use spectrophotometric, immunoturbidimetric, or ion-selective electrode (ISE) methods. For spectrophotometric assays, the analyzer measures absorbance changes at specific wavelengths. For example, the enzymatic creatinine assay uses creatininase, creatinase, and sarcosine oxidase, ultimately producing hydrogen peroxide that reacts with a chromogen to produce a colored product measured at 546 nm. The technician must know the principle to understand why hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia interferes with specific assays.
Hematology analyzers (e.g., Sysmex XN series, Beckman Coulter DxH series) use impedance or flow cytometry principles. Impedance counting measures the change in electrical resistance as cells pass through an aperture. Flow cytometry uses laser light scattering and fluorescence to classify cells by size, granularity, and nucleic acid content. The MLT must recognize when analyzer flags indicate the need for a manual peripheral blood smear review—for example, when the instrument flags "atypical lymphocytes" or "nucleated red blood cells."
Molecular diagnostics instruments (PCR thermocyclers, real-time PCR systems) require precise temperature control. A typical PCR protocol for a diagnostic assay involves initial denaturation at 95°C for 2–5 minutes, followed by 35–45 cycles of denaturation (95°C, 15–30 seconds), annealing (55–65°C, 15–30 seconds, depending on primer melting temperature), and extension (72°C, 30–60 seconds per kilobase). Real-time PCR instruments also measure fluorescence after each cycle, allowing quantification of starting template concentration.
Performing Routine Tests
Beyond automated analyzers, the MLT must be proficient in manual techniques that remain in routine use.
Gram staining for microbiology: heat-fix the smear, apply crystal violet (30–60 seconds), rinse, apply Gram's iodine (30–60 seconds), rinse, decolorize with acetone-alcohol (2–5 seconds), rinse, counterstain with safranin (30–60 seconds), rinse, and air-dry. Gram-positive organisms appear purple; Gram-negative organisms appear pink. The decolorization step is the most error-prone—over-decolorization causes Gram-positive organisms to appear Gram-negative.
Manual differential counts: Under oil immersion (100× objective), count 100 white blood cells and classify them as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, or basophils. The normal adult differential is approximately 40–70% neutrophils, 20–40% lymphocytes, 2–8% monocytes, 1–4% eosinophils, and 0–1% basophils. You must also note red blood cell morphology (anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, hypochromia) and estimate platelet count.
Urine microscopy: After centrifugation of 10 mL of urine at 400 × g for 5 minutes, resuspend the sediment in 0.5 mL of supernatant, and examine under bright-field and phase-contrast microscopy. Report casts per low-power field (10×) and cells, crystals, and bacteria per high-power field (40×).
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay): For a sandwich ELISA, coat the microtiter plate with capture antibody, block with bovine serum albumin (1–3% in phosphate-buffered saline), add sample and standards, wash, add detection antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, wash, add tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate, stop the reaction with 1N sulfuric acid after 10–30 minutes, and read absorbance at 450 nm.
Quality Control and Assurance
Quality control (QC) is not an administrative afterthought—it is the scientific method applied to laboratory operations. Every result you report is only as trustworthy as the QC data supporting it.
Running Quality Controls
For every analytical run, you must include control materials with known concentrations spanning the clinically relevant range. Typically, this means at least two levels: a normal (low) control and an abnormal (high) control. For some assays, a third level in the critical range is required.
Control materials are commercially prepared, lyophilized serum or plasma samples with assigned target values and acceptable ranges. After reconstitution, they are treated exactly like patient samples. The results are plotted on a Levey-Jennings chart, which displays the control values over time with the mean and ±1, ±2, and ±3 standard deviation (SD) lines.
Westgard rules are the formal criteria for evaluating QC data:
- 1₂s rule: One control value exceeds the mean by 2 SD—warning, but not rejection.
- 1₃s rule: One control value exceeds the mean by 3 SD—reject the run.
- 2₂s rule: Two consecutive control values exceed the same 2 SD limit—reject.
- R₄s rule: One control value exceeds +2 SD and another exceeds −2 SD in the same run—reject (systematic error).
- 4₁s rule: Four consecutive control values exceed the same 1 SD limit—reject.
- 10x rule: Ten consecutive control values fall on the same side of the mean—reject (trend or shift).
When a run is rejected, patient results are not reported. The technician must identify the cause—new reagent lot, calibration drift, instrument malfunction, or deteriorated control material—correct the problem, and repeat the controls before re-running patient samples.
Calibration and Maintenance
Calibration establishes the relationship between the instrument's measured signal and the analyte concentration. For spectrophotometric assays, calibration typically uses a multi-point curve with 5–7 standards covering the analytical measurement range. Calibration frequency depends on the assay and instrument—some require daily calibration, others weekly or monthly, and recalibration is always required after reagent lot changes or major maintenance.
Daily maintenance includes checking reagent volumes, verifying temperature (e.g., refrigerator at 2–8°C, incubator at 37°C ± 0.5°C), and running system checks. Weekly maintenance may include cleaning probes, checking tubing, and verifying pipette accuracy. Monthly or quarterly maintenance includes replacing lamps, recalibrating pipettes gravimetrically (weighing dispensed water and converting to volume using the density of water at the measured temperature), and preventive maintenance by the manufacturer.
Documentation and Record Keeping
Every action in the laboratory must be documented. This includes:
- QC results with lot numbers and expiration dates of control materials
- Calibration curves and their acceptance criteria
- Maintenance logs with dates and technician initials
- Corrective action reports when QC failures occur
- Instrument malfunction logs
- Temperature logs for refrigerators, freezers, and incubators
The documentation must be contemporaneous—written at the time of the action, not reconstructed later. Errors in documentation are corrected with a single line through the error, the correction written above, and the technician's initials and date. Erasure or white-out is never acceptable.
Safety and Infection Control
Clinical laboratories are hazardous environments. The MLT must internalize safety protocols until they are reflexive.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Standard PPE for laboratory work includes a laboratory coat (buttoned), nitrile gloves, and safety glasses or goggles. Additional PPE is required for specific tasks:
- Face shield when there is risk of splashing (e.g., opening specimens under pressure, decapping tubes)
- N95 respirator or higher when performing aerosol-generating procedures on specimens suspected of containing airborne pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture manipulation)
- Cut-resistant gloves when handling broken glass or sharp instruments
Gloves must be changed between patients and whenever visibly contaminated. Hand hygiene—washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer—is required before and after glove use, after removing PPE, and before leaving the laboratory.
Chemical and Biohazard Safety
The Chemical Hygiene Plan (required by OSHA) specifies safe handling of chemicals. Key principles include:
- Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before using any new chemical
- Never pipette by mouth
- Use a fume hood for volatile chemicals (e.g., concentrated hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde)
- Know the location of the eyewash station and safety shower (must be within 10 seconds or 100 feet of work areas)
Biohazard containment follows the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories guidelines. Most clinical laboratories operate at Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2), which requires:
- Restricted access during work
- Decontamination of work surfaces daily and after any spill
- All procedures that may generate aerosols performed in a biological safety cabinet (BSC)
- Proper labeling of biohazard waste
Universal precautions apply to all patient specimens regardless of known infection status. Treat every specimen as potentially infectious with bloodborne pathogens (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C). This means no eating, drinking, applying cosmetics, or handling contact lenses in the laboratory.
Waste Management
Laboratory waste is segregated by type:
- Sharps (needles, scalpel blades, broken glass): puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers, never overfilled beyond the fill line
- Biohazardous waste (specimens, contaminated materials): red bags or labeled containers, autoclaved before disposal
- Chemical waste: segregated by compatibility (acids separate from bases, oxidizers separate from organics), disposed of through licensed hazardous waste contractors
- Radioactive waste (if applicable): separate containers with appropriate shielding, monitored by the radiation safety officer
Data Analysis and Interpretation
The MLT does not simply print results—the technician must evaluate whether each result is plausible and clinically reportable.
Interpreting Results
For each test, you must know:
- The reference range (e.g., serum sodium 135–145 mmol/L, hemoglobin 13.5–17.5 g/dL for adult males, 12.0–15.5 g/dL for adult females)
- The critical values that require immediate notification of the healthcare provider (e.g., serum potassium < 2.5 or > 6.5 mmol/L, platelet count < 20,000/µL, blood glucose < 50 or > 500 mg/dL)
- The linearity range of the assay—results above the upper limit must be diluted and re-run
Delta checks compare a patient's current result with previous results. A sudden change (e.g., hemoglobin dropping from 14.0 to 9.0 g/dL in 24 hours) may indicate a true clinical event or a specimen error. The technician must investigate before reporting.
Interference recognition is critical. Hemolysis (visible pink/red serum), lipemia (milky appearance), and icterus (yellow discoloration) can interfere with spectrophotometric assays. For example, hemolysis falsely elevates potassium, LDH, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) because these analytes are present in high concentration inside red blood cells. The laboratory information system may flag hemolysis indices, but the technician must also visually inspect specimens.
Troubleshooting and Problem Solving
When an instrument produces an error flag or an implausible result, follow a systematic approach:
- Check the specimen: Is it hemolyzed, clotted, or improperly labeled? Is the volume sufficient?
- Check the QC: Were the controls in range for this run?
- Check the instrument: Are there error messages, low reagent levels, or clotted probes?
- Repeat the test: If possible, repeat from the same specimen.
- Check the patient history: Does the result fit the clinical picture?
- Notify the supervisor: If the problem persists, escalate.
Common instrument failures include: clot detection in the sampling probe (causing insufficient sample aspiration), air bubbles in the reagent line (causing erratic readings), and lamp intensity decay (causing drift in spectrophotometric readings).
Using Laboratory Information Systems
The Laboratory Information System (LIS) is the software that manages specimen tracking, result entry, QC data, and result reporting. The MLT must be proficient in:
- Order entry and specimen accessioning
- Result entry and verification (reviewing flags and comments)
- QC data entry and Westgard rule evaluation
- Result inquiry and delta check review
- Printing or electronic transmission of reports
The LIS also interfaces with the Hospital Information System (HIS) for electronic order entry and result reporting. Understanding the interface is essential—a result entered in the LIS must transmit correctly to the electronic health record, and interface errors must be identified and reported.
Communication and Professionalism
Technical competence is necessary but not sufficient. The MLT works within a healthcare team and must communicate effectively across professional boundaries.
Interprofessional Communication
The MLT communicates with nurses, physicians, and other laboratory staff in several contexts:
- Critical value notification: When a result exceeds critical limits, the technician must call the requesting unit, speak directly to a licensed caregiver, read back the result, and document the time, date, and name of the person notified. This is a legal and accreditation requirement.
- Specimen rejection: When a specimen is unacceptable (mislabeled, hemolyzed, insufficient volume), the technician must contact the collecting unit to arrange recollection. This requires tact—the message must be clear without being accusatory.
- Result inquiries: Clinicians may call to ask about test availability, turnaround times, or result interpretation. The MLT must know the laboratory's test menu and be able to explain the limitations of testing.
Patient Interaction
In most hospital settings, the MLT performs specimen collection, which involves direct patient contact. Key skills include:
- Positive patient identification: Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth, and verify against the wristband and the requisition. Never rely on room number or verbal confirmation alone.
- Informed consent for venipuncture: Explain the procedure briefly, address concerns, and obtain verbal consent.
- Managing difficult patients: Patients who are anxious, confused, or uncooperative require patience and clear communication. If a patient refuses, do not force the procedure—notify the nurse or physician.
Ethical and Professional Conduct
The MLT operates under a professional code of ethics that includes:
- Patient confidentiality: Protected health information (PHI) is never discussed outside the clinical context. This includes not discussing patient results in elevators, cafeterias, or with family members.
- Honesty in reporting: Never fabricate results, alter QC data, or report results from specimens you did not test. This is grounds for immediate termination and professional sanction.
- Scope of practice: Perform only tests you are trained and authorized to perform. If you are unsure, ask.
- Continuing competence: Maintain current knowledge through continuing education and proficiency testing.
Developing and Demonstrating Skills
Acquiring medical lab technician skills requires deliberate practice across multiple settings.
Educational Pathways
The standard pathway is an Associate of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology from a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The curriculum includes:
- Didactic coursework: Anatomy and physiology, microbiology, immunology, clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and phlebotomy
- Laboratory practicums: Hands-on practice in teaching laboratories
- Clinical rotations: Supervised experience in hospital laboratories, typically 400–600 hours across all laboratory departments
Some programs offer a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), which qualifies graduates for the technologist level. The MLT associate degree can serve as a stepping stone; many technicians complete a bridge program to earn a bachelor's degree while working.
Hands-On Training
During clinical rotations, you will be evaluated on your ability to perform tests independently. To maximize learning:
- Practice deliberately: Repeat difficult techniques (e.g., difficult venipunctures, manual differentials) until they become automatic.
- Ask questions: When you encounter an unusual result or an instrument error, ask your preceptor to explain the underlying mechanism.
- Keep a skills log: Document every procedure you perform, the number of repetitions, and your confidence level.
- Seek feedback: Ask your preceptor to observe your technique and provide specific corrections.
Certification and Continuing Education
Certification is not legally required in all states, but it is the industry standard. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification offers the MLT (ASCP) credential, which requires graduation from an accredited program and passing a comprehensive examination covering blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and urinalysis.
Continuing education is required to maintain certification—typically 36 credits every three years for ASCP certification. This can be fulfilled through professional conferences, online courses, journal reading, and in-service training.
For those seeking to advance, additional certifications are available in specialized areas such as molecular biology (MB), phlebotomy (PBT), and point-of-care testing. See the Lab Technician Skills List for a comprehensive breakdown of competencies by specialty.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
New technicians—and even experienced ones—make characteristic errors. Recognizing these failure modes is itself a skill.
Specimen Labeling Errors
The most dangerous error in the laboratory is mislabeling. A specimen labeled with the wrong patient's name produces a result that is accurate for the wrong person, potentially leading to misdiagnosis, wrong treatment, or failure to treat a critical condition.
Prevention:
- Label tubes at the patient's bedside, immediately after collection
- Never pre-label tubes before collection
- Use two patient identifiers (name and date of birth, or name and medical record number)
- If you are uncertain about a label, discard the specimen and recollect
Contamination Risks
Contamination can occur at multiple points:
- During collection: Skin flora contaminating blood cultures (mitigated by proper antiseptic preparation with chlorhexidine or iodine, allowing adequate drying time)
- During processing: Carryover between specimens on automated analyzers (mitigated by proper probe washing and running saline blanks between runs)
- During analysis: Reagent contamination from using the same pipette tip for multiple reagents (always change tips between reagents)
Prevention: Follow the manufacturer's protocols exactly. Do not take shortcuts. If you suspect contamination, repeat the test with fresh reagents and a new specimen if necessary.
Misinterpretation of Results
Reporting a result without evaluating its plausibility is a common error. Examples:
- Reporting a potassium of 8.5 mmol/L without checking for hemolysis (hemolyzed specimens falsely elevate potassium)
- Reporting a platelet count of 10,000/µL without checking the blood smear for platelet clumping (clumps cause falsely low counts)
- Reporting a negative blood culture without verifying that the instrument flagged no growth after the full incubation period (typically 5 days for routine cultures)
Prevention: Always review results in context. Check the specimen quality, the QC data, and the patient's previous results. If a result does not make sense, investigate before reporting.
Other Common Errors
- Improper centrifugation: Under-centrifugation leaves platelets in plasma, falsely elevating potassium and other analytes
- Expired reagents: Using reagents past their expiration date produces unreliable results
- Incorrect tube type: Using EDTA plasma for chemistry tests that require serum (EDTA chelates calcium, falsely lowering measured calcium)
- Failure to document: Not recording QC results or maintenance actions, making it impossible to troubleshoot later
For a detailed guide on avoiding these errors in the job application context, see Application for Lab Technician Skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important medical lab technician skills?
The most critical skills are: (1) specimen collection and handling, including correct venipuncture technique and tube selection; (2) operation and maintenance of automated analyzers; (3) quality control procedures, including Westgard rule application; (4) safety protocols, including PPE use and biohazard containment; (5) result interpretation and troubleshooting; and (6) accurate documentation and communication. Technical proficiency is essential, but it must be paired with disciplined adherence to protocols and the judgment to recognize when something is wrong.
How can I improve my lab technician skills as a student?
Focus on deliberate practice during clinical rotations. Repeat difficult techniques until they are automatic. Ask your preceptors to explain the why behind each protocol—understanding the underlying principle helps you troubleshoot when things go wrong. Keep a skills log and track your progress. Additionally, study the theory thoroughly: know the reference ranges, the analytical principles of each test, and the common interferences. For a structured approach, review the Lab Technician Skills Assessment to identify gaps in your knowledge.
What is the difference between a medical lab technician and a technologist?
A medical lab technician (MLT) typically holds an associate degree and performs routine diagnostic tests under supervision. A medical laboratory technologist (MLS/CLS) typically holds a bachelor's degree and performs more complex analyses, evaluates and validates results, develops and validates new test methods, and may supervise laboratory operations. The technologist has deeper training in laboratory management, research methodology, and complex problem-solving. The MLT can advance to the technologist level through bridge programs.
What safety skills are required for a medical lab technician?
The MLT must master: proper use of PPE (gloves, lab coat, eye protection, face shields, respirators); hand hygiene; safe handling and disposal of sharps; chemical safety including reading SDS and using fume hoods; biohazard containment following BSL-2 guidelines; spill response procedures; and knowledge of emergency equipment locations (eyewash, safety shower, fire extinguisher). The technician must also understand universal precautions—treating all specimens as potentially infectious.
How do medical lab technicians ensure accuracy in test results?
Accuracy is ensured through a multi-layered system: (1) proper specimen collection and handling to minimize pre-analytical errors; (2) daily calibration of instruments with appropriate standards; (3) running quality control materials with each batch and applying Westgard rules to detect errors; (4) reviewing results for plausibility, including delta checks against previous results; (5) recognizing and correcting for interferences such as hemolysis, lipemia, and icterus; and (6) participating in external proficiency testing programs where unknown samples are analyzed and results compared with peer laboratories.
What are common mistakes made by new lab technicians?
The most common mistakes include: mislabeling specimens; using the wrong tube type or collection order; improper centrifugation leading to hemolysis or platelet contamination; failing to recognize hemolyzed or lipemic specimens; not running or incorrectly interpreting QC data; reporting results without checking flags or delta changes; contamination of samples or reagents; and poor documentation. Many of these errors stem from rushing or from not understanding the underlying principles of the tests being performed.
Do medical lab technicians need certification?
Certification is not legally required in all states, but it is strongly recommended and is the industry standard. The ASCP Board of Certification MLT (ASCP) credential requires graduation from a NAACLS-accredited program and passing a comprehensive examination. Many employers require certification for hiring, and some states require licensure. Certification must be maintained through continuing education credits. For those working in specific regions, such as the UK, requirements may differ—see Lab Technician Skills England for region-specific guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Medical lab technician skills span three domains: technical proficiency, analytical judgment, and professional conduct—all three are essential for safe, accurate laboratory practice.
- Pre-analytical errors (specimen collection, labeling, handling) are the most common source of laboratory mistakes; mastery of these procedures is the technician's first line of defense.
- Quality control is non-negotiable: Westgard rules, Levey-Jennings charts, and proper calibration are the mechanisms that ensure results are trustworthy.
- Safety protocols, including PPE use, universal precautions, and proper waste disposal, protect both the technician and the patient—they are not optional.
- Result interpretation requires knowing reference ranges, critical values, and common interferences (hemolysis, lipemia, icterus) for every test you perform.
- Certification through ASCP or equivalent bodies is the professional standard and requires ongoing continuing education to maintain.
- Common pitfalls—mislabeling, contamination, and misinterpretation—are preventable through disciplined adherence to protocols and systematic troubleshooting when results seem implausible.
For further guidance on building your professional profile, see Lab Technician Skills Needed and Lab Technician Skills Resume. If you are considering specialized fields, Dental Lab Technician Skills offers a comparison of a related but distinct career path.