How to become a chemist

Analyse chemical compounds in a laboratory environment.

Pathways to this career

  1. Complete an undergraduate science degree and major in Chemistry.
  2. Develop your practical experience by securing an internship while studying. Professional guidance and mentorship from accomplished chemists will help set you apart from other graduates.     
  3. Qualified already? Build on your knowledge with postgraduate degree in chemistry or specialised industry experience.
  4. Research and join recognised institutions. You may benefit from networking with like-minded individuals and staying up to date with industry breakthroughs.

What does a chemist do?

Duties and tasks

  • Perform experiments to understand the properties of chemical substances and the effects of chemical compounds under different testing conditions
  • Research and develop theories, techniques and tests to measure the reliability of outcomes 
  • Develop practical applications based on experiment and research findings, and present to broader science community

Industry bodies

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