The Idaho Food Quality Assurance Laboratory operates a Laboratory Assistant student intern program through the College of Southern Idaho.

Students accepted into the program are taught basic laboratory skills, laboratory safety, Good Laboratory Practices, operation of modern analytical instrumentation, as well as supervisory skills. Along the way, the interns work at least 600 hours, earn 14 credits in Laboratory Technology, learn proper documentation and QA/QC in the laboratory, the use of computers in the laboratory, and make a Power Point presentation. By the time the interns become competent in all the necessary skills and graduate the program as Laboratory Assistants, they will be ready to work in any scientific laboratory and make an immediate contribution.

Since the inception of the program in March of 1998, 18 students have graduated as Laboratory Assistants. Of those 18, three received Lab Assistant certificates from the lab but not from CSI as the formal process had not been established at that time. Four other students served as interns but left the program early for personal and/or professional reasons.

The program has been an outstanding success. Some students have gone on to pursue further education at the university level, others have immediately entered the work force. All have left with useful skills to apply towards their future.