Laboratory Assistant Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Laboratory assistants are among the more straightforward roles to get H-1B visa or E-3 visa sponsorship for, provided your degree is in a life science, chemistry, or biology field. Many hospitals, biotech firms, and research universities sponsor regularly for this role. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation:
Medical Center - Fort Worth
Department:
Lab-Pathology
Shift:
Second Shift (United States of America)
Standard Weekly Hours:
40
Summary
SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, 1:30-10:00pm. Rotating weekends and holidays.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) uses education, experience and analytical judgment to perform the duties of clinical laboratory testing commensurate with the specialty and subspecialty assigned, recognizing technical and process problems and ensuring test systems are functioning properly and within expected parameters before reporting patient test results. An MLS will also work independently to resolve technical problems within scope of authority, making decision to notify and seek advice of next level of management or designee when indicated. An MLS will staff hours, as appropriate, and perform other duties as assigned to meet Laboratory, CCMC and CCHCS goals. Schedule is dependent on patient and laboratory need. Laboratory and Corporate Compliance, as outlined by the OIG and CMS, is an important aspect of our laboratory's environment. Each employee is expected to be knowledgeable of and behave in accordance with the Laboratory and Medical Center Compliance Plans. Patients served by Cook Children's Medical Center range in age from newborn through the adolescent period. Additionally, adults are occasionally served. Specific instructions appear in the procedure manuals.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology/Clinical or Medical Laboratory Science or an appropriate biological, chemical, or physical science and completion of a NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences) program
- Minimum six (6) months experience performing laboratory testing in a clinical setting to include tests CLIA-classified as waived, moderate complexity or high complexity
- Graduates' clinical rotation can apply to this requirement
- Pediatric experience is preferred
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS WITH NON-U.S. DEGREES:
Applicants who hold degrees from institutions outside of the United States must provide Proof of U.S. Education equivalency, evaluated by a recognized credential evaluation service, at the time an offer is made.
Certification/Licensure:
- Candidate must be certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists or equivalent nationally recognized certifying agency, or is registry eligible (AMT, MT or MLS certified)
- Registry eligible candidates must pass the certifying exam within one year of graduation; failure to do so results in termination
- Registry eligible candidates who have not yet received certification may perform waived or moderate complexity testing only
NOTE: Equivalence of the degree and certification is granted to employees that meet alternative qualifications outlined in the CLIA standard §493.1489 Standard; Testing Personnel Qualifications or §493.1491 Technologist qualifications on or before February 28, 1992
About us:
Cook Children's Medical Center is the cornerstone of Cook Children's, and offers advanced technologies, research and treatments, surgery, rehabilitation and ancillary services all designed to meet children's needs.
Cook Children's is an EOE/AA, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.
Location:
Medical Center - Fort Worth
Department:
Lab-Pathology
Shift:
Second Shift (United States of America)
Standard Weekly Hours:
40
Summary
SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, 1:30-10:00pm. Rotating weekends and holidays.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) uses education, experience and analytical judgment to perform the duties of clinical laboratory testing commensurate with the specialty and subspecialty assigned, recognizing technical and process problems and ensuring test systems are functioning properly and within expected parameters before reporting patient test results. An MLS will also work independently to resolve technical problems within scope of authority, making decision to notify and seek advice of next level of management or designee when indicated. An MLS will staff hours, as appropriate, and perform other duties as assigned to meet Laboratory, CCMC and CCHCS goals. Schedule is dependent on patient and laboratory need. Laboratory and Corporate Compliance, as outlined by the OIG and CMS, is an important aspect of our laboratory's environment. Each employee is expected to be knowledgeable of and behave in accordance with the Laboratory and Medical Center Compliance Plans. Patients served by Cook Children's Medical Center range in age from newborn through the adolescent period. Additionally, adults are occasionally served. Specific instructions appear in the procedure manuals.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology/Clinical or Medical Laboratory Science or an appropriate biological, chemical, or physical science and completion of a NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences) program
- Minimum six (6) months experience performing laboratory testing in a clinical setting to include tests CLIA-classified as waived, moderate complexity or high complexity
- Graduates' clinical rotation can apply to this requirement
- Pediatric experience is preferred
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS WITH NON-U.S. DEGREES:
Applicants who hold degrees from institutions outside of the United States must provide Proof of U.S. Education equivalency, evaluated by a recognized credential evaluation service, at the time an offer is made.
Certification/Licensure:
- Candidate must be certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists or equivalent nationally recognized certifying agency, or is registry eligible (AMT, MT or MLS certified)
- Registry eligible candidates must pass the certifying exam within one year of graduation; failure to do so results in termination
- Registry eligible candidates who have not yet received certification may perform waived or moderate complexity testing only
NOTE: Equivalence of the degree and certification is granted to employees that meet alternative qualifications outlined in the CLIA standard §493.1489 Standard; Testing Personnel Qualifications or §493.1491 Technologist qualifications on or before February 28, 1992
About us:
Cook Children's Medical Center is the cornerstone of Cook Children's, and offers advanced technologies, research and treatments, surgery, rehabilitation and ancillary services all designed to meet children's needs.
Cook Children's is an EOE/AA, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.
See all 4,617+ Laboratory Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Laboratory Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Laboratory Assistant
Target research universities and academic medical centers
Universities and academic hospitals like Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, and UCSF sponsor laboratory assistants more consistently than private employers. These institutions have dedicated HR and immigration departments experienced with H-1B and J-1 visa filings.
Make sure your degree field matches the lab's specialty
H-1B approval depends on specialty occupation status. A biochemistry degree supports a molecular biology lab role convincingly. A general science degree supporting a highly specialized lab position may face additional USCIS scrutiny during adjudication.
Highlight any lab-specific certifications in your application
Certifications like ASCP or AMT credentials signal professional credibility to U.S. employers and strengthen the specialty occupation argument in your H-1B petition. They're not required, but they remove friction from both the hiring and sponsorship decisions.
Confirm the employer has sponsored before before applying
Not every lab will sponsor visas. Before investing significant time in an application, confirm the employer has a history of filing H-1B or E-3 petitions. Prior sponsorship is a strong indicator they understand the process and costs involved.
Ask about cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship at qualifying institutions
Laboratories affiliated with universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government institutions may qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers. This means no lottery wait, and you can start as soon as USCIS approves your petition, year-round.
Australian nationals should prioritize the E-3 visa pathway
The E-3 visa skips the H-1B lottery entirely and allows year-round applications. For Australian laboratory assistants with a qualifying degree, it's a faster and more predictable route into a sponsored U.S. lab position than H-1B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a laboratory assistant role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on the specific role and employer. A laboratory assistant position that requires a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or a related life science typically qualifies as a specialty occupation. The key is that the job description must specify a degree requirement in a particular field, not just any bachelor's degree. Generalist lab support roles where any science degree will do are harder to approve.
Which visa types are most commonly used to sponsor laboratory assistants?
H-1B visa is the most common pathway, used by biotech companies, hospitals, and research institutions. Australian nationals have access to the E-3 visa, which bypasses the H-1B lottery and allows year-round applications. J-1 visas are also used for research-focused lab roles at universities, though J-1 comes with a two-year home residency requirement for some participants. Browse sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate to see which visa types specific labs are actively filing.
What degree do I need to get visa sponsorship as a laboratory assistant?
Most H-1B petitions for laboratory assistant roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, clinical laboratory science, or biology. A degree in a loosely related field combined with relevant work experience can sometimes support a petition, but the closer the degree field is to the lab's specialty, the stronger the case. Three years of directly relevant experience can substitute for one year of education under the H-1B equivalency rules.
Are H-1B approval rates high for laboratory assistant positions?
Approval rates for laboratory and life science roles have historically been above average compared to some other occupational categories, particularly when filed by established research institutions or hospitals with experienced immigration counsel. The specialty occupation argument is generally well-supported when the role requires discipline-specific knowledge. Cap-exempt employers, such as universities and nonprofit research organizations, face no lottery risk, which significantly improves the practical odds for lab roles at those institutions.
How do I find laboratory assistant jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Most general job boards don't filter specifically for visa sponsorship, which means significant time spent on listings that won't sponsor. Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters roles by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your applications on labs and employers already open to H-1B or E-3 candidates. Academic medical centers, biotech clusters in Boston and San Francisco, and government research labs are the most consistent sponsoring environments to target.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Laboratory Assistant jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.