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Lab technician certification?

2007

Hello,
I am a special process QA supervisor for an aerospace company located on the Florida panhandle. I have a very capable lab technician who manages the tank solutions for conversion coating and anodizing aluminum sheet metal parts. Are there any industry standards or certifications for chemical lab technicians other than college degrees?

Regards,

Leanne Owen
aerospace manufacturing - Crestview, Florida, USA

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2007

I have had lab tech that varied from Masters in chemistry/math to high school chemistry. The latter was extremely sharp and was, considering tenure, the best. I trained every one of them and did not turn them loose until they could do it well. I was somewhere in the building, so when there was a question, they could always find me.
A person with a BS in chemistry normally wants a lot more money and eventually leaves. Many do not like the dirty part of the job. So Jr. College chemistry would be nice. Adequate training is the key.
You are not going to find any hands on certification class in the panhandle. I do not think that even the AESF or whatever it is called for now, certifies lab techs. Only platers and anodizers. Come to think of it, I am not aware of any nationally recognized lab tech certification.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida