# Chemical technologist

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"Chem Tech" redirects here. For the journal abbreviated 'Chem. Tech.', see [Chemische Technik](/source/Chemische_Technik).

**Chemical technologists** and **technicians** (abbr. **chem techs**) are workers who provide technical support or services in [chemical](/source/Chemistry)-related fields. They may work under direct supervision or may work independently, depending on their specific position and duties. Their work environments differ widely and include, but are not limited to, [laboratories](/source/Laboratory) and industrial settings. As such, it is nearly impossible to generalize the duties of chem techs as their individual jobs vary greatly. Biochemical techs often do similar work in [biochemistry](/source/Biochemistry).

## Technologists

Chemical technologists are more likely than technicians to participate in the actual *design* of experiments, and may be involved in the interpretation of experimental data. They may also be responsible for the operation of [chemical processes](/source/Chemical_process) in large [plants](/source/Chemical_plant), and may even assist [chemical engineers](/source/Chemical_engineer) in the design of the same.

Some [post-secondary education](/source/Post-secondary_education) is generally required to be either a chemical technician or technologist. Occasionally, a company may be willing to provide a high school graduate with training to become a chemical technician, but more often, a two-year degree will be required.[1] Chemical technologists generally require completion of a specific college program—either two year or four year— in chemical, biochemical, or chemical engineering technology or a closely related discipline.[2] They usually work under or with a scientist such as a [chemist](/source/Chemist) or [biochemist](/source/Biochemist).

## Technicians

Chemical or biochemical technicians often work in [clinical (medical) laboratories](/source/Clinical_laboratory) conducting routine [analyses](/source/Chemical_analysis) of [medical samples](/source/Sampling_(medicine)) such as blood and urine. Industries which employ chem techs include [chemical](/source/Chemical_industry), [petrochemical](/source/Petrochemical), and [pharmaceutical](/source/Pharmaceutical) industries. Companies within these industries can be concerned with [manufacturing](/source/Manufacturing), [research and development](/source/Research_and_development) (R&D), [consulting](/source/Consultant), [quality control](/source/Quality_control), and a variety of other areas. Also, chem techs working for these companies may be used to conduct quality control and other routine analyses, or assist in chemical and biochemical [research](/source/Research) including analyses, industrial chemistry, [environmental protection](/source/Environmental_protection), and even [chemical engineering](/source/Chemical_engineering).

## Duties

As a general rule, chemical technologists are more likely to be provided with greater autonomy and more complex responsibilities than chemical technicians.

### Chemical technicians

The most common work done by chemical technicians is in [R&D](/source/Research_and_development). They often work in a [laboratory](/source/Laboratory) environment under the supervision of a [chemist](/source/Chemist) or a [chemical engineer](/source/Chemical_engineer).

They may typically assist in setting up and conducting chemical [experiments](/source/Experiment), and may operate lab equipment under supervision. They are expected to maintain established quality control standards. They may also compile records for analytical studies, and sometimes are involved in writing reports on studies.

National [certification](/source/Certification) for chemical technologists and technicians is required in some countries.

## References

1. ["Science Technicians"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090814064732/http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm). Archived from [the original](http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm#training) on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110706172753/http://www.chemeng.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/5365/la_id/1.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.chemeng.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/5365/la_id/1.htm) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chemical technologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_technologist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_technologist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.