Is there any difference between being a lab technician vs being an entry-level microbiologist?

From my experience, most of the time, when a position has the word technician in it, usually those jobs are geared toward Associate degrees or people that has got their experience by working instead of going to school for two years. To be a computer technician, you don't need a BS degree. To be a network technician, you don't need a BS degree. But to be a programmer or system analyst, then you will need a BS, quite possibly something more than that, but a BS may get you in an entry-level analyst position. That is what I have seen. Technicians are people that have either an Associates degree or Certifications from a Vocational/Community College. Most people whose job title has the word technician in it, probably don't have their own office. Technicians usually works at a bench. Hence, the name, bench technicians.  more