Instrument technician apprentices help set up, test, and control instruments and electronic equipment used in various technical or medical applications. They manufacture and restore many instruments used for various operations, such as surgery, mechanical procedures, metalworking, woodworking, or a wide range of other instruments-based professions. They typically work under the senior instrument technician.
Some apprentices use this opportunity to specialize in repairing musical instruments. It takes the same expertise and precision to replace keys, strings, and buttons on musical instruments as it does on surgical instruments. Often instrument technician apprentices also specialize in the production of machinery and tools for one area rather than in the development of tools for several different occupations.
Instrument technicians apprentices usually receive certificates from an organization such as the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation or other organizations similar to the area in which they wish to practice. Those who wish to work as medical instrument technicians receive a different form of qualification than someone who wishes to work with electrical or mechanical instruments. Some instrument technician apprentices are trained in a number of fields so that they can work with a lot of different organizations.