RecordMove

Agricultural technician to agronomist

An agricultural technician already meets 24% of what the agronomist role asks for. The move turns on 25 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional

From agricultural technician

Distant match

To agronomist

17 You already bring

25 Still to learn

81 Skills in the target role2

Learning distance A rebuild

83.3/ 100

adjacentmoderatesubstantialcareer change

1 How much of what an agronomist is expected to do is already part of an agricultural technician’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the agronomist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

An agronomist role treats 10 of its required skills as things an agricultural technician already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

apply safety procedures in laboratory
biology
execute analytical mathematical calculations
gather experimental data
horticulture principles
laboratory techniques

What stands in the way is 25 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 17 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An agronomist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an agricultural technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held assess crop damage information skills
already held prevent crop disorders communication, collaboration and creativity
already held research improvement of crop yields information skills
already held advise on crop diseases communication, collaboration and creativity
already held monitor crops handling and moving
already held advise on fertiliser and herbicide communication, collaboration and creativity

All 17 carried skills, including the 10 the agronomist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 64 missing skills fall into 12 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier

01 agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary 7 required, 6 supplementary

still to learn agroecology required
still to learn crop production principles required
still to learn irrigation systems required
still to learn plant disease control required
still to learn plant propagation required
still to learn agronomy required
still to learn pest control in plants required

optional, not held climate smart agriculture optional
optional, not held livestock feeding optional
optional, not held organic farming optional
optional, not held reforestation optional
optional, not held soil structure optional
optional, not held fertilisation principles optional

02 business, administration and law 5 required, 1 supplementary

still to learn European pesticide legislation required
still to learn budgetary principles required
still to learn consultation methods required
still to learn environmental legislation required
still to learn environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry required

optional, not held quality criteria for storage facilities optional

03 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 3 required, 6 supplementary

still to learn livestock species required
still to learn pesticides required
still to learn mathematics required

optional, not held biological chemistry optional
optional, not held genetic engineering optional
optional, not held microbiology-bacteriology optional
optional, not held bioeconomy optional
optional, not held ecology optional
optional, not held molecular biology optional

04 handling and moving 3 required, 2 supplementary

still to learn cultivate crops for biomass required
still to learn manage crop rotation required
still to learn manage livestock required

optional, not held maintain plants' growth optional
optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional

05 information skills 2 required, 5 supplementary

still to learn manage nutrients required
still to learn use agricultural information systems and databases required

optional, not held analyse samples of food and beverages optional
optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
optional, not held archive scientific documentation optional
optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
optional, not held keep task records optional

06 assisting and caring 2 required, 2 supplementary

still to learn apply horticultural standards and practices required
still to learn supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings required

optional, not held comply with agricultural code of practice optional
optional, not held create crop protection plans optional

6 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries an agronomist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 17 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply safety procedures in laboratory skill
already held biology knowledge
already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
already held gather experimental data skill
already held horticulture principles knowledge
already held laboratory techniques knowledge
already held maintain laboratory equipment skill
already held plant harvest methods knowledge
already held research improvement of crop yields skill
already held write work-related reports skill
already held advise on crop diseases skill
already held advise on fertiliser and herbicide skill
already held agricultural equipment knowledge
already held assess crop damage skill
already held manage crop production skill
already held monitor crops skill
already held prevent crop disorders skill

The 6 learning areas not shown above

Skill to pick up Tier

07 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 11 supplementary

still to learn consult with business clients required

optional, not held accept own accountability optional
optional, not held advise on soil and water protection optional
optional, not held develop personal skills optional
optional, not held liaise with crop growers optional
optional, not held manage farm supplies optional
optional, not held communicate with customers optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
optional, not held use communication techniques optional
optional, not held write research proposals optional
optional, not held write scientific publications optional
optional, not held write technical reports optional

08 generic programmes and qualifications 1 required

still to learn scientific literature required

09 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required

still to learn perform laboratory tests required

10 management skills 4 supplementary

optional, not held develop irrigation strategies optional
optional, not held make decisions regarding plant propagation optional
optional, not held manage agricultural staff optional
optional, not held supervise laboratory operations optional

11 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 supplementary

optional, not held pollution prevention optional

12 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held types of storage facilities optional

39 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to pick up Tier

optional, not held accept own accountability optional
optional, not held advise on soil and water protection optional
optional, not held analyse samples of food and beverages optional
optional, not held biological chemistry optional
optional, not held climate smart agriculture optional
optional, not held comply with agricultural code of practice optional
optional, not held create crop protection plans optional
optional, not held develop irrigation strategies optional
optional, not held develop personal skills optional
optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
optional, not held genetic engineering optional
optional, not held liaise with crop growers optional
optional, not held livestock feeding optional
optional, not held maintain plants' growth optional
optional, not held make decisions regarding plant propagation optional
optional, not held manage agricultural staff optional
optional, not held manage farm supplies optional
optional, not held microbiology-bacteriology optional
optional, not held organic farming optional
optional, not held quality criteria for storage facilities optional
optional, not held reforestation optional
optional, not held soil structure optional
optional, not held types of storage facilities optional
optional, not held archive scientific documentation optional
optional, not held bioeconomy optional
optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
optional, not held communicate with customers optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
optional, not held ecology optional
optional, not held fertilisation principles optional
optional, not held keep task records optional
optional, not held molecular biology optional
optional, not held pollution prevention optional
optional, not held supervise laboratory operations optional
optional, not held use communication techniques optional
optional, not held write research proposals optional
optional, not held write scientific publications optional
optional, not held write technical reports optional

26 held skills the agronomist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role aeroponics knowledge
not needed by the target role agricultural chemicals knowledge
not needed by the target role agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feed products knowledge
not needed by the target role analyse environmental data skill
not needed by the target role analyse scientific data skill
not needed by the target role analyse test data skill
not needed by the target role aquaculture industry knowledge
not needed by the target role aquaculture reproduction knowledge
not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role collect weather-related data skill
not needed by the target role conduct field work skill
not needed by the target role culture aquaculture hatchery stocks skill
not needed by the target role evaluate vineyard problems skill
not needed by the target role evaluate vineyard quality skill
not needed by the target role hydroponics knowledge
not needed by the target role inspect agricultural fields skill
not needed by the target role integrated food-energy systems knowledge
not needed by the target role irrigate soil skill
not needed by the target role maintain aquaculture containers skill
not needed by the target role maintain tanks for viticulture skill
not needed by the target role maintain waterbased aquaculture facilities skill
not needed by the target role monitor fisheries skill
not needed by the target role provide advice to farmers skill
not needed by the target role soil science knowledge
not needed by the target role sustainable agricultural production principles knowledge
not needed by the target role viticulture knowledge

31 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier

still to learn European pesticide legislation required
still to learn agroecology required
still to learn budgetary principles required
still to learn consultation methods required
still to learn crop production principles required
still to learn irrigation systems required
still to learn livestock species required
still to learn pesticides required
still to learn plant disease control required
still to learn plant propagation required
still to learn agronomy required
still to learn environmental legislation required
still to learn environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry required
still to learn mathematics required
still to learn pest control in plants required
still to learn scientific literature required
optional, not held biological chemistry optional
optional, not held climate smart agriculture optional
optional, not held genetic engineering optional
optional, not held livestock feeding optional
optional, not held microbiology-bacteriology optional
optional, not held organic farming optional
optional, not held quality criteria for storage facilities optional
optional, not held reforestation optional
optional, not held soil structure optional
optional, not held types of storage facilities optional
optional, not held bioeconomy optional
optional, not held ecology optional
optional, not held fertilisation principles optional
optional, not held molecular biology optional
optional, not held pollution prevention optional

Index

Other moves recorded from agricultural technician

Full index of moves from agricultural technician

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can an agricultural technician become an agronomist?

Yes, and it is a career change move. An agricultural technician already covers 24% of what an agronomist is expected to do: 17 skills carry over, 10 of which the agronomist role treats as required.

What skills does an agricultural technician need to become an agronomist?

25 required skills are missing, plus 39 optional ones. They fall into 12 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary. The single most important is apply horticultural standards and practices.

How hard is the move from agricultural technician to agronomist?

Its learning distance is 83.3 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.