Certification or Licensing
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) offers the certified food scientist credential to applicants who meet educational and experience requirements and pass a multiple-choice examination. The IFT says that the following topics are covered on the exam: product development (34 percent of the questions), quality assurance and quality control (17 percent), food chemistry and food analysis (10 percent), regulatory (10 percent), food microbiology (9 percent), food safety (9 percent), food engineering (6 percent), and sensory evaluation and consumer testing (5 percent).
The Research Chefs Association offers the certified culinary scientist and certified research chef designations to applicants who meet education, food science experience, and research and development experience criteria and pass an examination. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Agribusiness Technicians
- Agricultural Consultants
- Agricultural Equipment Technicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Agricultural Scientists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Physical Therapists
- Aquaculturists
- Bakery Workers
- Beekeepers
- Beverage Industry Workers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Botanists
- Brewers
- Canning and Preserving Industry Workers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Confectionery Industry Workers
- Cooks and Chefs
- CRISPR Scientists
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Drug Developers
- Ecologists
- Enologists
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Family and Consumer Scientists
- Farm Crop Production Technicians
- Farm Equipment Mechanics
- Farmers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fast Food Workers
- Fishers
- Food Service Workers
- Forensic Experts
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Scientists
- Grain Merchants
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Health and Regulatory Inspectors
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- Nursery Owners and Managers
- Nutritionists
- Organic Farmers
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Personal Chefs
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Range Managers
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toxicologists