Do you enjoy learning about chemistry? Do you want to work with advanced manufacturing equipment or help create lifesaving medicines? Curious about a career in chemistry but don’t know where to start?
Welcome to the chemistry technical career quiz!
You may be surprised to discover the variety of chemistry careers available without a four-year degree. This quiz will help you identify some of the chemistry-related technical professions that might suit your skills, interests, and goals.
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Step 1 of 4
What do you want to do with your knowledge of chemistry?
A
I want to keep people and the environment safe and healthy
I want to make and improve everyday products
B
Step 2 of 4
What do you care about most?
Keeping people healthy
Keeping people safe
Protecting the environment
C
I like biology and chemistry
I’m mostly interested in chemistry
Step 3 of 4
Which type of work would you prefer?
Working with customers
Working independently
Working as part of large team
Which work would you prefer?
Solving crimes
Protecting against terrorist attacks
What interests you the most?
Makeup, cosmetics, and skin care
Learning how new materials are made
Computer hardware, electronics, and technology
Where would you prefer to work?
Indoors
Outdoors
Which of the following are you most interested in?
I like gardening
I like learning about food
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Result
Imagine working in a pharmacy, helping people get the medications they need. As a pharmacy technician, you would assist the pharmacist by preparing prescriptions, counting and labeling medications, and ensuring that everything is done accurately. You would also interact with customers and manage inventory to keep the pharmacy running efficiently. When training to become a pharmacy technician, you will learn the fundamentals of pharmacology: the science of how drugs work. Studying different medications and their uses will be part of your curriculum. You will also learn to prepare prescriptions, manage inventory, use pharmacy software systems, and develop strong customer service skills.
Pharmacy Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… have good organizational skills are friendly and like helping people enjoy interacting with customers
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Imagine working behind the scenes in health care to help doctors diagnose diseases and treat patients. As a medical laboratory technician, you would perform tests on blood, tissue, and other samples using high-tech equipment. Your work would involve preparing samples, running tests, and analyzing the results to detect diseases or monitor patients' health. When training to become a medical laboratory technician, you will study the basics of pathology and metabolism to understand how chemicals in the body affect human health. You will learn to use sophisticated laboratory equipment and instruments to analyze samples. Lessons will also cover laboratory safety protocols, quality control procedures, and the maintenance of accurate patient records.
Medical Laboratory Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… pay attention to detail are comfortable using high-tech instruments make sense of the world through data and numbers
Imagine being part of the team that makes vaccines, cultivates human cells, or develops gene therapies to treat rare diseases. As a biomanufacturing technician, you would operate and maintain high-tech equipment like bioreactors and fermenters, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and safely. When training to become a biomanufacturing technician, you will get hands-on practice working in sterile environments, using advanced biochemical equipment, and entering information into databases. You'll also learn the basics of biochemistry, chemical engineering, and the rules that regulate pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Biomanufacturing Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… pay attention to detail and follow safety rules like working as part of a team are comfortable using complex equipment can work on your feet for several hours
Imagine using your chemistry skills to solve crimes by analyzing evidence such as blood and DNA samples. As a forensic technician, you would collect and preserve evidence from crime scenes, record observations, and analyze samples in the lab. Your detailed reports would provide crucial assistance in investigations. When training to become a forensic technician, you will learn about different types of evidence, such as fingerprints and DNA. You will also learn to use laboratory techniques like chromatography and microscopy and become familiar with criminology and law.
Forensic Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… pay attention to detail are a critical thinker and problem solver have strong written communication skills are willing to work at irregular hours
Imagine protecting your community against weapons of mass destruction and hazardous chemicals. Whether dealing with a terrorist attack or a lab accident, CBRN specialists come to the rescue. You would use advanced equipment, coordinate defense systems against CBRN weapons, and decontaminate hazardous material spills. When training to become a CBRN specialist, you will complete military basic training. You will then study hazardous substances and learn to detect and identify CBRN threats using sophisticated monitoring equipment. The training will also cover decontamination techniques, safety protocols, and emergency response procedures for incidents involving CBRN threats.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist
This role would be a good fit if you… work well under pressure are a critical thinker and a problem solver are interested in the military
Imagine playing a crucial role in protecting the environment and public health by ensuring that the water we use is cleaned before it returns to nature. As a wastewater technician, you would operate and maintain equipment at wastewater treatment plants, where sewage and runoff water are processed to remove contaminants. When training to become a wastewater technician, you will study environmental science and the biological and chemical methods for removing contaminants. You will learn to operate and maintain machinery such as pumps, filters, and testing instruments. In addition, you will learn the laws and standards that apply to water treatment.
Wastewater Treatment Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… pay attention to detail and follow safety rules are comfortable using complex instruments are passionate about protecting the environment
Imagine being outdoors and collecting samples from rivers, soil, and air to help keep our environment safe. As an environmental field tester, you would travel to various sites to gather and test samples for pollutants. You would use specialized equipment to measure water quality, soil composition, and air purity. These results will then be used by scientists, policymakers, or private companies to understand how the land can be used responsibly. When training to become an environmental field tester, you will study environmental science, soil chemistry, and geology. You will learn to analyze samples and use specialized equipment for sample collection and testing. You will become familiar with data analysis software to interpret your findings and learn to write reports.
Environmental Field Tester
This role would be a good fit if you… like to travel can work on your feet and perform some physical labor enjoy being outdoors
Imagine growing plants from tiny pieces of tissue to create new, healthy plants. As a plant tissue culturist, you would use scientific techniques to clone high-profit plants, such as vegetables, grains, and even medicinal plants. You would prepare nutrient-rich growth media, sterilize equipment, and carefully place plant tissues in controlled environments to encourage growth. When training to become a plant tissue culturist, you will study botany, microbiology, and plant biochemistry. You will learn about different plants' specific nutrient and hormonal requirements to optimize their growth. To ensure plant development, you will also learn to monitor and adjust environmental conditions like light, temperature, and humidity.
Plant Tissue Culturist
This role would be a good fit if you… have a lot of patience have good hand-eye coordination enjoy gardening or have an interest in plants
Imagine having the chance to test different foods and drinks to ensure that they are delicious, nutritious, and safe. As a food and beverage quality tester, you would work in a lab or production facility testing products like snacks, beverages, and meals. Your job would involve checking for consistency and running tests to detect harmful bacteria or contaminants. When training to become a food and beverage quality tester, you'll study food science to understand the composition, structure, and properties of foods. This will comprise learning about chemical reactions in food processing as well as gaining hands-on experience in testing food for contaminants and nutritional content. Sensory evaluation training will also be provided to develop skills in assessing flavor, texture, and appearance.
Food and Beverage Quality Tester
This role would be a good fit if you… like learning about food’s nutritional content can follow strict rules are interested in the chemistry of cooking or fermentation
Imagine being part of a team that develops the makeup, hair and skin-care products that people rely on to look and feel their best. As a cosmetic formulation specialist, you would be the beauty industry's scientific innovator, creating and enhancing formulas. Your role would include researching ingredients, experimenting with blends, and ensuring that products are safe, effective, and enticing to consumers. When training to become a cosmetic formulation specialist, you will study the properties and interactions of different ingredients used in these products. You will learn formulation techniques, such as emulsification and stabilization, as well as regulatory safety standards in the cosmetics industry.
Cosmetic Formulation Specialist
This role would be a good fit if you… are interested in hair, skin care, and makeup understand consumer trends and preferences want to work in a fast-paced, creative industry
Imagine yourself as a key player in transforming raw materials into essential everyday items like plastics and fuels. As a petrochemical processing technician, you would mix chemicals, monitor reactions, and ensure chemical processes run smoothly and safely. You may also have the opportunity to work in far-off or unusual locations for extra pay. When training to become a petrochemical processing technician, you will study the reactions and properties of different chemicals. You will also learn to operate, maintain, and monitor the equipment used in chemical plants, such as reactors, distillation columns, and pumps.
Petrochemical Processing Technician
This role would be a good fit if you… like working as part of a large team would be willing to work long shifts in remote locations for extra pay are comfortable working with complex machinery
Imagine working in a high-tech environment in which you help create the tiny chips that power our smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices. Today’s electronics manufacturing requires a surprising amount of knowledge about chemistry! As a semiconductor manufacturing technician, you'd be responsible for operating and maintaining the sophisticated equipment used to produce semiconductor wafers and chips. When training to become a semiconductor manufacturing technician, you will study materials science to understand how semiconductors work. You will learn to operate and maintain the sophisticated machinery used in chip fabrication, including photolithography, etching, and deposition equipment.
Semiconductor Manufacturing
This role would be a good fit if you… are fascinated by technology pay attention to detail are comfortable working with complex machinery
