Quality control Associates carry out testing and analysis to ensure that biomedical research studies and biomedical products meet specifications and regulatory guidelines. Before products can be released to the public and be allowed to directly impact people’s lives, strict Food and Drug Administration regulations must be followed and documented at every step.
Minimum education – Associate Degree (A.A., A.S., or AAS)
One path to a career as a QC associate is to obtain an Associate Degree in Applied Science (AAS) from a community college. Areas of specialization might include agricultural, biotechnology, industrial pharmaceutical or bioprocess technology. Some choose to attend a four-year college or university, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in chemistry or biology or a more targeted degree such as biochemistry, microbiology or biopharmaceutical science.
General Entry-Level Salary Range: $40,000 - $50,000 per year
Quality Control Associates often are employed by bio-manufacturing or bio-pharmaceutical companies when products are created in sterile, or “clean room,” environments. The product might be a vaccine, a medicine or an enzyme used in food production.