PATHLENSA RISKATLAS.CO.ZA PRODUCT · SOUTH AFRICA
RISKATLAS.CO.ZA
Life Science Technician
OFO Code: 314101
Last checked 3 October 2026
1. Occupation identity
- OFO code
- 314101
- Occupation
- Life Science Technician
- Classification
- OFO 2021
- Major group
- TECHNICIANS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
- Unit group
- 3141 · Life Science Technicians (Excluding Medical)
Official description
Life science technicians (except medical) provide technical support to life science professionals undertaking research, analysis and testing of living organisms, and development and application of products and processes resulting from research in areas such as natural resource management, environmental protection, plant and animal biology, microbiology, and cell and molecular biology.
More official OFO detail
Specialisations: Herbarium Technician, Life Sciences Laboratory Technologist, Bacteriology Technician, Maxillofacial Technician, Microbiology Technician, Biomedical Technician, Marine Biology Technician, Biochemistry Technician, Zoology Technical Officer, Physiology Technologist, Pharmacology Technician, Serology Technician, Fisheries Technical Officer, Entomology Technician, Biological Technical Officer, Tissue Culture Technician, Botanical Technical Officer
- Preserving, classifying and cataloguing specimens and samples
- Performing routine field and laboratory tests
- Using complex and high-powered equipment to perform work
- Participating in the research, development and manufacture of products and processes
- Ordering and stocking laboratory supplies
- Assisting in designing, setting up and conducting experiments
- Collecting and preparing specimens and samples, chemical solutions and slides and growing cultures for use in experiments
- Keeping detailed logs of worked performed
- Maintaining relevant databases
- Monitoring experiments to ensure adherence to correct laboratory quality control procedures and health and safety guidelines
- Setting up, calibrating, operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment
- Making observations of tests, and analyzing, calculating, recording and reporting test results using appropriate scientific methods
2. Demand status
Demand evidence not yet linked
This is an official OFO 2021 occupation. Demand status is separate evidence and is not inferred from inclusion in the OFO.
A national demand signal is not a promise of a vacancy in your town.
3. Salary evidence
No sourced salary record has been ingested for this OFO code yet.
Open remuneration history & calculator →4. Quick EE check
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5. Qualification
Qualification evidence pending.
Understand NQF levels, institutions & recognition → Build my qualification pathway →6. Study funding
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7. Industry, sector and provincial context
National occupation classification. Industry and provincial context are shown only where a separate official source supports the link.
No source-backed modern OFO↔SIC 7 industry link has been ingested for this occupation yet. PathLens does not infer one from the job title.
Browse the official South African industry classification →8. Next steps — official links
9. Decision tools
10. Sources for this page
- DHET Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO 2021) · Planned
- DHET Occupations in High Demand · Planned
- Critical Skills List · Planned
- QCTO qualifications and occupational certificates · Planned
- Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey · Planned
- SETA Sector Skills Plans / hard-to-fill vacancy tables · Planned