Chemical technician
Chemical , chemical and pharmaceutical technologist (Switzerland) and Chemical Process Engineer (Austria) is a job title for trained staff and for an apprenticeship in the chemical industry . Chemical technicians are responsible for the preparation, implementation and control of production processes in the manufacture of chemical products.
job profile
Chemical technicians are mostly employed in companies in the chemical industry. Your workplace there can be both in the chemical production facility - in halls or outdoor facilities - as well as in a development technology center or control laboratory . In larger companies in the industry, chemical technicians are specialized in the respective production, i. H. Maintenance work, repairs, laboratory work, etc. are carried out by industrial mechanics, mechatronic engineers, chemical laboratory technicians, etc. This further specializes the training and optimizes work processes.
The job of chemical technician is often carried out in shift work .
tasks
During the production of chemical raw materials or of chemical semi-finished or finished products, chemical technicians control and monitor the machines and systems required for the chemical production process .
You fill the raw materials into containers and start up the production facilities . Furthermore, they carry out process engineering work such as heating, cooling, rectifying, extracting, separating or distilling and many other processes with these production systems . They then check the measured values and fill the finished products . Chemical technicians take samples to check product quality and keep log books. They also monitor, maintain and repair the production facilities. They are also involved in the development of procedural processes and quality control of the manufactured products.
conditions
Previous school education
Germany
The demanding tasks of a chemical technician lead to a strong concentration of high school students among the successful applicants. In individual years they make up up to 70%, but mostly at least 63%. Applicants with a high school diploma are also well represented with an average of over ten percent. Around 18% of successful applicants have a secondary school leaving certificate.
In 2005, the two-year apprenticeship as a chemical production specialist was launched for weaker students by the social partners of the German Chemical Employers' Association and the IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie .
Austria
In order to be able to begin vocational training in this apprenticeship, the nine-year compulsory education must be fulfilled and an apprenticeship position in a training company must be available. Most applicants have completed secondary school and / or polytechnic school .
Switzerland
In Switzerland, a completed elementary school is required in the top grade. As a rule, a trial apprenticeship is also a prerequisite for an apprenticeship.
Personal skills
The demanding professional environment requires applicants to have a number of skills: the willingness and ability to work in a team are just as important as concentrated sustained attention and quick reactions, as well as flexibility, patience and perseverance.
Physical demands are u. a. an intact sense of smell and no restrictions in spatial and color perception ( color defective vision ). Since one has to do with chemicals of all kinds at work, an applicant should not be susceptible to allergies or skin problems.
education
Germany
Chemical technician is a recognized training occupation under the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) in the occupational field of chemistry, physics and biology, with a focus on production technology. Until the mid-1980s, the term was chemical skilled worker in the areas of the old federal states. The job title chemical skilled worker used in the GDR is, however, more comparable with today's apprenticeship as a chemical production specialist , as the entry requirements for this were in the eighth grade certificate. Rather, in the course of German unification, the specific chemical training content of the apprenticeships skilled worker for the chemical industry, machinist for processing and conveying systems, machinist for pumps and compressors and machinist for thermal power plants in the professional profile of the chemical technician. The entry requirements for those professions were the completion of the 10th grade. Therefore, the dual training basically lasts three and a half years, takes place at vocational schools and at industrial chemical companies.
In order to develop the professional flexibility of chemical technicians to cope with the changing requirements in the world of work and society, also with a view to the growing together of Europe, the training is based on a national framework curriculum. This mono occupation has a flexible training structure thanks to elective qualification units . The trainees finish their training with the final exam, with a success rate of 70 percent.
The specified training content should cover the tasks of a chemical technician described above . For example, the compulsory portion B. the operation of machines as well as quality management, handling chemicals, chemical technology, electrical engineering or control technology. The typical occupational contents of safety, occupational health and safety are also conveyed. In addition, 4 (out of 19 possible) optional qualification units must be selected and completed in the training company. The Federal Employment Agency offers precise information about the compulsory content and the optional qualification units, see web links .
Austria
The contents of the training differ only slightly from those in Germany or Switzerland; the official designation in Austria is chemical process engineer . Until the year 2000 the term chemical worker was in use. The apprentice is trained in Austria for 3.5 years in the dual system.
Switzerland
The field of pharmaceutical technology is added to the training content in Switzerland. The three-year training can be completed in a production company in the chemical, agrochemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry. The trainee spends one and a half days a week at a vocational school to learn the theoretical basics.
final examination
Germany
Two exams take place during the training :
- Final examination part I (end of the 2nd year of training, weighting: 40%)
- Final examination part II (middle of the 4th year of training, weighting: 60%)
The written examination areas in the final examination Part I include:
- Process engineering (weighting: 5%)
- Measurement technology (weighting: 5%)
- Systems engineering (weighting: 10%)
The practical examination area in the final examination part I includes:
- Process and production engineering work (weighting: 20%)
The written examination areas in the final examination Part II include:
- Production technology (weighting: 15%)
- Process control technology (weighting: 5%)
- Economics and social studies (weighting: 10%)
The practical examination area in the final examination part II includes:
- Production or processing process (weighting: 30%)
In addition, an assembly task and an inspection or maintenance work must be carried out, and a diagram (e.g. time-temperature) must be created with Excel. After passing the exam, the job title "chemical technician" may be used.
Austria
The training ends with the final apprenticeship examination . This is divided into a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical examination covers the subjects chemistry, technology and applied mathematics. The practical test consists of a technical discussion and an examination. According to the information provided by the examination commission, an operational work should be carried out and documented for this test. The work comes from one of these areas: stock preparation, mechanical separation processes for solids or for solid-liquid mixtures, thermal separation processes, physico-chemical separation processes, gas cleaning.
Switzerland
The general basic examination takes place at the beginning of summer in the second year of training and contributes one fifth to the final grade. It consists of the departments chemistry / ecology, chemical technology and computing.
In the third year of training, a written and practical final exam is carried out:
- four days work in the company
- One day of professional knowledge (prepare a lecture in the morning, lecture and question round in the afternoon)
- Technical arithmetic and technical English (one hour each in writing)
- General education (for apprentices doing their first training)
With successful completion obtained the Federal Certificate of Competence "chemical and pharmaceutical technologist EFZ".
Training opportunities
Germany
With the skills that a trained chemical technician brings with him, entry into related professions with appropriate training is possible. The training can normally also be limited to general GMP regulations or regulations in a low-germ environment, as in the case of the pharmacist. Related professions are:
- Pharmacist
- Food technologist
- Brewer
- Laboratory assistant
- Process mechanic for plastics and rubber technology
Other possible places of work where training as a chemical technician is required can include nuclear and hydropower plants, sewage treatment plants, oil refineries , etc.
Possible higher qualifications for chemical technicians (selection) are:
- Certified industrial master in chemistry
- Chemical technician
- Technical specialist
- Bachelor or Master of Chemistry
- Bachelor or master in process engineering
- Further education and training opportunities through distance learning and evening schools
- Certified pharmaceutical representative
Austria
Related apprenticeships can be completed with a shorter apprenticeship period, such as B. Chemical laboratory technician or pharmaceutical technologist .
Chemical process technicians in the "chemical laboratories" trade are only able to work independently after three years as operations manager. For higher qualifications at colleges, technical colleges and universities in Austria you usually need the vocational matura (vocational maturity examination), which is made up of the final apprenticeship examination and four other exams.
Switzerland
Related apprenticeships are laboratory technicians, plastics, food and paper technologists. In contrast to Austria, apprentices with good grades can begin the vocational school-leaving certificate in Switzerland while they are training. As a result, the higher technical examination (HFP) - corresponds to a master craftsman examination - can be taken, a higher technical college or a technical college can be attended.
Individual evidence
- ^ Text of the ordinance on vocational training for chemical technicians
- ↑ Framework Curriculum Chemist Online PDF ( Memento of the original from April 13, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Training ordinance for teaching profession Austria ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF file; 49 kB) valid since 2000.
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: Basic education training regulations in Switzerland valid since 2003.
- ↑ This advanced training requires the completion of vocational and work pedagogical aptitude . The English job title is Bachelor Professional of Chemical Technology and Operations (CCI).
- ↑ Federal Law Gazette II No. 36/2003 : Trade Access Regulation of the Austrian Ministry of Economics, valid since 2003.
Web links
- Chemical in Berufenet the Federal Employment Agency
- Career and training information for Switzerland from the Swiss Service Center for Vocational Training
- Professional and industry information from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce
- Career prospects in chemistry: chemical laboratory assistant, chemical technician, CTA , GDCh (pdf)