How Do I Become a Chemistry Lecturer?

The requirements to become a chemistry lecturer typically depend on the employer and may vary by jurisdiction. Usually, however, you will need a good deal of education as well as teaching or research experience and skill to qualify for this job. Good communication skills are typically required as well. Additionally, some employers may set non-education-related requirements for this position, such as passing a background check.

Extensive education is usually required if you want to become a chemistry lecturer. At minimum, you will need a degree in chemistry for this position, but in many cases, an advanced degree is required. The exact level of education you need may vary depending on where you will lecture, but master's or doctoral degrees are often required. For example, some community colleges hire chemistry lecturers who possess master's degrees while four-year colleges typically require doctorate degrees instead. Though chemistry degrees are usually preferred if you want to become a chemistry lecturer, some educational institutions may consider you for this job as long as you have a closely related college degree.

In addition to education, you may need prior teaching experience to become a chemistry lecturer, though this will depend on the institution for which you hope to work. Often, employers prefer to hire individuals who have teaching experience at a college or university, though some may hire individuals who previously taught in secondary schools. Sometimes research experience is desired, or may be required, as well.

Employers might also want to evaluate your effectiveness as a teacher when deciding whether to hire you as a chemistry lecturer. They may evaluate not only your general effectiveness as a chemistry teacher, but also your knowledge of and ability to incorporate the teaching approaches they consider best. Your ability to communicate well with others and work with diverse colleagues and students may prove important as well. Additionally, you might have to submit to background testing to become a chemistry lecturer.

It is important to note that the term lecturer may mean different things, depending on the country in question. In the United States, for example, a chemistry lecturer is usually a person who teaches chemistry in a college but does not have tenure or conduct research. In the United Kingdom, on the other hand, this person may help lead research students and teach chemistry, though this title is usually given to people who are just beginning careers in the academic field.