Chemical Technicians

A solid background in mathematics and science, as well as participation in internships and co-ops, will be helpful for aspiring chemical technicians.

Certain personal characteristics are necessary for successful chemical technicians. You must have both the ability and the desire to use mental and manual skills. You should also have a good supply of patience because experiments must frequently be repeated several times. You should be precise and like doing detailed work. Mechanical aptitude and good powers of observation are also needed. You should be able to follow directions closely and enjoy solving problems. Chemical technicians also need excellent organizational and communication skills. Other important qualities are a desire to learn new skills and a willingness to accept responsibility. In addition, you should have good eyesight, color perception, and hand-eye coordination, as well as familiarity with common laboratory equipment and analytical techniques.

The American Chemical Society maintains a database of skill standards for chemical technicians at its Web site, https://www.acs.org/careers/chemical-sciences.html.