Craft in School Laboratory Technician
The Craft Certificate in School Laboratory Technician is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in school laboratory management, equipment handling, and science practical support skills. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn laboratory safety, equipment cleaning, reagent preparation, chemical handling, experiment setup, and laboratory organisation.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, with 2 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 37 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers communication skills, mathematics, science, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and occupational safety. Core units include laboratory safety and practices, equipment cleaning and storage, safety procedures, basic reagent preparation, chemical handling, laboratory preparation, basic experiment setup, laboratory organisation, and industrial attachment in a school science laboratory.
Kenya's education sector, including secondary schools, primary schools, and teacher training colleges, creates demand for certified school laboratory technicians. Educational institutions require trained laboratory personnel to support science practicals, maintain equipment, and ensure laboratory safety across physics, chemistry, and biology departments.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in laboratory environments. Students practice equipment cleaning, reagent preparation, chemical handling, experiment setup, and laboratory organisation under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in school science laboratories where students apply their skills in real educational laboratory environments.
Graduates work as school laboratory technicians, laboratory assistants, science practical assistants, and laboratory managers in secondary schools, primary schools, teacher training colleges, and educational institutions. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology for specialised laboratory technology and management roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in science and laboratory work and seeking technical positions in school science laboratory environments.
What you study
8 subjects- Laboratory Preparation
- Equipment Cleaning and Storage
- Basic Experiment Setup
- Chemical Handling
- Safety Procedures
- Laboratory Organisation
- Basic Reagent Preparation
- Glassware Management
Modules
8 in the programmeLaboratory Safety and Practices
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Laboratory safety, chemical safety, and safe working practices including PPE, hazard awareness, and emergency procedures in school labs.
Laboratory Preparation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Preparing laboratories for experiments and practical lessons including apparatus setup, reagent distribution, and lab readiness.
Equipment Cleaning and Storage
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Cleaning, drying, and storing laboratory equipment and glassware including proper cleaning techniques and organised storage.
Basic Experiment Setup
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Setting up basic experiments and practical demonstrations including apparatus assembly, circuit connections, and experiment preparation.
Chemical Handling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Safe handling, storage, and dispensing of laboratory chemicals including chemical labelling, storage organisation, and safety data.
Safety Procedures
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Emergency procedures, first aid, and safety protocols in school laboratories including fire safety, chemical spill response, and evacuation.
Laboratory Organisation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Organising laboratory space, inventory, and supplies including stock management, equipment tracking, and lab layout maintenance.
Basic Reagent Preparation
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Preparing simple reagents and solutions for school experiments including weighing, dissolving, diluting, and labelling reagents.
Specialisations
Biology Laboratory
Specialisation in biology laboratory operations including specimen preparation, microscopy setup, and biology experiment support.
Physics Laboratory
Focus on physics laboratory setup and equipment including apparatus preparation, experiment setup, and physics lab maintenance.
General Science Laboratory
General science laboratory support across all subjects including equipment cleaning, reagent preparation, and lab safety management.
Chemistry Laboratory
Focus on chemistry laboratory preparation and support including reagent preparation, apparatus setup, and chemical safety management.
A day as a student
Students spend most of their time in laboratories preparing experiments, cleaning and organising equipment, handling chemicals safely, and practising laboratory procedures.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Every secondary school with science subjects needs laboratory support. | School laboratory positions may have limited salary growth. |
| School holidays provide good work-life balance. | Less theoretical foundation than full certificate programmes. |
| Foundation for progression to certificate and diploma in laboratory technology. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 education coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
Public TVET 67K/yr (kenyaeducationguide.com Kabete). Private: unverified.
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available for eligible students.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedNational Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
Scholarships you could apply for
1 usable where it is taught- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.
When it next starts
Taught at 37 institutionsIncluding Michuki National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Bungoma National Polytechnic.
Including Michuki National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Bungoma National Polytechnic.
Including Michuki National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Bungoma National Polytechnic.
How you are assessed
3 componentsTheory Assessment
Test20% of the mark
Written assessment of supporting laboratory knowledge.
Laboratory Projects
Project30% of the mark
Completion of experiment setup and laboratory management projects.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum50% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical laboratory skills.
Accreditation
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesChemistry Laboratory Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 37,000 to Ksh 65,000
Supports chemistry practicals including reagent preparation, apparatus setup, and chemical safety management in school chemistry laboratories.
Laboratory Helper
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Assist with laboratory preparation and equipment management.
Science Department Assistant
Low demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 62,000
Support science department operations and laboratory activities.
School Laboratory Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 68,000
Support science laboratory operations in secondary schools.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as school laboratory assistants in secondary schools and educational institutions across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
School laboratory work is just cleaning
It involves experiment preparation, chemical handling, safety management, and equipment maintenance — all requiring formal training.
Schools don't need trained laboratory staff
Proper laboratory management is essential for effective science education and student safety.
Craft graduates cannot advance
Craft graduates can progress to certificate and diploma in laboratory technology.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.