Incident Meteorologists

High School

Incident meteorologists need strong communication skills, so be sure to take classes in English, speech, and writing. You should also take mathematics, geography, computer science, physics, earth science, and chemistry. Join your school’s meteorology club to obtain hands-on experience in meteorology.

Postsecondary Education

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a related natural science field is required to become a meteorologist. Meteorologists who want to work for the National Weather Service must complete baccalaureate degree coursework that includes at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in meteorology/atmospheric science, including:

• 6 semester hours in Atmospheric Dynamics
• 6 semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale)
• 3 semester hours of physical meteorology
• 2 semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation
• 6 semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions
• 3 semester hours of ordinary differential equations
• At least 9 semester hours of coursework for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: Physical Hydrology; Chemistry; Physical Climatology; Aeronomy; Computer Science; Advanced Electricity and Magnetism; Statistics; Physical Oceanography; Radiative Transfer; Advanced Thermodynamics; Light and Optics.

Meteorologists who work in research positions need a master’s degree or a Ph.D. Training to become a meteorologist is also offered by the armed forces. The National Weather Association provides a list of colleges and universities that offer degrees in meteorology and at atmospheric science at https://nwas.org/membership/committees/education/colleges-universities.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in meteorology. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

The American Meteorological Society offers short courses such as Blown Away: A Meteorologists Guide to Damage from Windstorms and Wildfires; Satellite Applications for Rainfall Rates and Flood Prediction; and Weather Observations, Warnings, and Forecast Enhancements with Uncrewed Systems. The National Weather Association offers continuing education (CE) opportunities at its annual conference. Past sessions focused on career development tips and various meteorological-related topics and trends. The Association of Certified Meteorologists and organizations at the state and local levels also provide CE classes and workshops. Contact these organizations for more information.