“Most wanted profession in a European future”

Laboratory chemist

My reasons for the training as a laboratory chemist are my interest in chemistry, in observing chemical reactions and in carrying out experiments.

The requirements for the training are “Mittlere Reife” (school leaving qualification awarded to pupils leaving the “Realschule” or year 10 of the “Gymnasium”) or “Abitur” (equivalent to the British A-level), at least “befriedigend” (satisfactory mark) in Chemistry, Maths, Physics, German and English as well as commitment and reliability.

The period of training is three and a half years. The places are:

For the practical training: a central training school and laboratories of the BASF or another chemical company.

For the theoretical training: the vocational schools for natural sciences in Ludwigshafen.

The training at the BASF starts annually after the summer holidays. However, you should apply for the job in advance. In your application you have to choose a special field of profession such as chemistry (laboratory chemist), biology (laboratory biologist) and physics (laboratory physician). You have to pass the intermediate exams during the second year of training and the final exams at chambers of commerce and industries. The possibilities of further education are the following: ”Chemotroniker”, “Physikotroniker” and “Industriemeister der Chemie”. You can pass your “Fachabitur”  during your training at vocational schools. After the training approximately 30-40% of the trainees get a takeover bid. For the others there is a chance to work as a laboratory chemist in other EU countries.

The future prospects in this job are positive because you can also work in chemical companies and hospitals.

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