Chemical technicians process chemicals, complete orders, and write reports in various industries. They must follow safety protocols and specialize in a specific industry or technology. Advancement opportunities come with additional education and experience. A post-secondary education is typically required, and necessary qualities include attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
A chemical technician has three areas of responsibility: processing chemicals, completing orders, and writing reports. This position can be found in a wide range of industries from pharmaceuticals to manufacturing. Typically, a chemical technician uses specialized equipment and has experience processing chemicals. Most chemical technicians specialize in a specific industry or type of technology, both to provide a higher level of quality service and to focus their career in a specific area.
Responsibilities
Regardless of the industry, the chemical technician is responsible for following all safety and testing protocols. Most companies hire dedicated chemical technicians to fill these positions on their teams. The vast majority of chemical technicians are responsible for processing chemicals. This may include combining different chemicals or separating using various methods.
Duties
The chemical technician’s primary role is to complete chemical orders. The level of work can vary significantly, ranging from a complex processing request to a simple distillation job that requires several hours of work. Orders are received, prioritized and processed.
Chemistry technicians are required to write reports as part of their job. Typically, they don’t perform chemical analysis, but they do need to document the process used, the values recorded at different stages, and any issues with the batch. This information is very valuable and is reviewed to maintain quality control.
opportunities
Career advancement opportunities for a chemical technician often come with a combination of additional education and experience. In a laboratory, supervisory or managerial positions are usually held by process chemists or chemical engineers. With a lot of experience, however, candidates who have completed management courses or advanced processing techniques can move into senior technician or technical consultant positions.
Necessary qualities
People who enjoy working in detail, are good problem solvers, and have excellent research skills report the most satisfaction as chemical technicians. Chemical technicians typically work in laboratories and don’t have much involvement with customers. Their primary focus is completing the incoming request and ensuring that the proper procedure is followed.
requirements
To become a chemical technician, a person typically must complete a post-secondary education. Most coaches completed two- or three-year programs from community colleges or career colleges. The main focus of these programs is on real laboratory processes and methodologies. In the final year of these programs, students can specialize in specific areas or industries.
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