What is a Chemical Technician?
Chemical technicians work alongside chemists and chemical engineers to develop, test, and manufacture chemical products.
Technicians performs a wide range of functions, from setting up, operating and maintaining lab instruments, to conducting and monitoring experiments to calculating results. As critical members of scientific teams, they are at the heart of operations in the chemical industry, helping to get products and services to customers.
For today’s technician, there are a variety of industries to choose from, including industrial chemicals, fuels, agricultural products, food processing, pharmaceuticals, paints, fuels, or metals.
Job Responsibilities
Many technician jobs involve performing chemical tests and experiments, operating laboratory equipment, and setting up apparatus for chemical reactions. Specifically, these jobs entail:
- Testing chemical compounds and materials for quality, performance, and composition
- Conducting a variety of laboratory procedures, from routine process control to complex research projects
- Helping to devise syntheses and analytical procedures
- Setting up and operating lab equipment and instruments
- Preparing technical reports
- Monitoring pollution levels by testing water, soil, and air
- Ensuring that packaging of hazardous materials complies with government regulations
- Assisting engineers with experiments in the manufacturing process
What Employers Want
In past years, chemical technicians were trained on the job. Today, industry demands a solid foundation in applied basic chemistry and math, plus experience using standard labware. Most technicians have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in chemical technology or chemistry. To advance in the field, employers look at qualities such as adaptability, organizational skills, personal motivation, customer focus, and teamwork.
How to Prepare For a Technician Career
In the continuously growing fields of chemistry and chemical engineering, you must carefully evaluate the many opportunities available and think about which area of chemistry interests you.
Many two-year colleges and some four-year colleges offer chemical technology programs, which prepare students for technician careers.
Once you determine your interest area, start looking for an institution with a chemical technology program to match your goals.