Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Chemist to toxicologist

A chemist already meets 67% of what the toxicologist role asks for. The move turns on 11 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From chemist
67 % overlap
Strong match
To toxicologist
48 You already bring
11 Still to learn
86 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

49.5/ 100

1 How much of what a toxicologist is expected to do is already part of a chemist’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 toxicologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A toxicologist role treats 39 of its required skills as things a chemist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • advise on chemical use reduction
  • analytical chemistry
  • apply for research funding
  • apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities
  • apply safety procedures in laboratory
  • apply scientific methods

What stands in the way is 11 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 48 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A toxicologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a chemist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held advise on chemical use reduction communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held archive scientific documentation information skills
  • already held toxicology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • already held analytical chemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • already held use chemical analysis equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held develop scientific research protocols information skills

All 48 carried skills, including the 39 the toxicologist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 38 missing skills fall into 9 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 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 required
  • still to learn maintain laboratory equipment required
  • still to learn perform chemical experiments required
  • still to learn perform laboratory tests required
02 information skills 2 required, 9 supplementary
  • still to learn gather experimental data required
  • still to learn perform toxicological studies required
  • optional, not held analyse blood samples optional
  • optional, not held analyse cell cultures optional
  • optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
  • optional, not held conduct experiments on animals optional
  • optional, not held conduct research on fauna optional
  • optional, not held conduct research on flora optional
  • optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
  • optional, not held contribute to registration of pharmaceutical products optional
  • optional, not held prepare compliance documents optional
03 handling and moving 2 required
  • still to learn identify poisons required
  • still to learn mix chemicals required
04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 10 supplementary
  • still to learn advise on poisoning incidents required
  • optional, not held perform lectures optional
  • optional, not held provide specialist pharmaceutical advice optional
  • optional, not held advise on legislative acts optional
  • optional, not held assist in clinical trials optional
  • optional, not held assist police investigations optional
  • optional, not held prepare lesson content optional
  • optional, not held recommend product improvements optional
  • optional, not held report on environmental issues optional
  • optional, not held troubleshoot cosmetics formula issues optional
  • optional, not held write research proposals optional
05 assisting and caring 1 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn work safely with chemicals required
  • optional, not held manage adverse reactions to drugs optional
  • optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
  • optional, not held develop patient treatment strategies optional
06 health and welfare 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn cancer risks required
  • optional, not held public health optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a toxicologist 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 48 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held advise on chemical use reduction skill
  • already held analytical chemistry knowledge
  • already held apply for research funding skill
  • already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
  • already held apply safety procedures in laboratory skill
  • already held apply scientific methods skill
  • already held calibrate laboratory equipment skill
  • already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
  • already held conduct research across disciplines skill
  • already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
  • already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
  • already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
  • already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
  • already held evaluate research activities skill
  • already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
  • already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
  • already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
  • already held laboratory techniques knowledge
  • already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
  • already held manage intellectual property rights skill
  • already held manage open publications skill
  • already held manage personal professional development skill
  • already held manage research data skill
  • already held mentor individuals skill
  • already held operate open source software skill
  • already held perform project management skill
  • already held perform scientific research skill
  • already held promote open innovation in research skill
  • already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
  • already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
  • already held publish academic research skill
  • already held scientific literature knowledge
  • already held scientific research methodology knowledge
  • already held speak different languages skill
  • already held synthesise information skill
  • already held think abstractly skill
  • already held toxicology knowledge
  • already held use chemical analysis equipment skill
  • already held write scientific publications skill
  • already held apply blended learning skill
  • already held archive scientific documentation skill
  • already held biological chemistry knowledge
  • already held collect samples for analysis skill
  • already held develop scientific research protocols skill
  • already held develop scientific theories skill
  • already held pharmacology knowledge
  • already held provide technical expertise skill
  • already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn life sciences required
  • optional, not held biology optional
08 management skills 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held control production optional
  • optional, not held develop pharmaceutical drugs optional
09 generic programmes and qualifications 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional
27 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held analyse blood samples optional
  • optional, not held analyse cell cultures optional
  • optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
  • optional, not held conduct experiments on animals optional
  • optional, not held conduct research on fauna optional
  • optional, not held conduct research on flora optional
  • optional, not held manage adverse reactions to drugs optional
  • optional, not held perform lectures optional
  • optional, not held provide specialist pharmaceutical advice optional
  • optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
  • optional, not held advise on legislative acts optional
  • optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
  • optional, not held assist in clinical trials optional
  • optional, not held assist police investigations optional
  • optional, not held biology optional
  • optional, not held contribute to registration of pharmaceutical products optional
  • optional, not held control production optional
  • optional, not held develop patient treatment strategies optional
  • optional, not held develop pharmaceutical drugs optional
  • optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional
  • optional, not held prepare compliance documents optional
  • optional, not held prepare lesson content optional
  • optional, not held public health optional
  • optional, not held recommend product improvements optional
  • optional, not held report on environmental issues optional
  • optional, not held troubleshoot cosmetics formula issues optional
  • optional, not held write research proposals optional
48 held skills the toxicologist role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role CAE software knowledge
  • not needed by the target role alternative fuels knowledge
  • not needed by the target role analyse chemical substances skill
  • not needed by the target role analytical methods in biomedical sciences knowledge
  • not needed by the target role apply liquid chromatography skill
  • not needed by the target role assist scientific research skill
  • not needed by the target role communicate with external laboratories skill
  • not needed by the target role conduct quality control analysis skill
  • not needed by the target role cosmetics industry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role customer relationship management knowledge
  • not needed by the target role develop chemical products skill
  • not needed by the target role develop components separation processes skill
  • not needed by the target role develop new food products skill
  • not needed by the target role dispose of hazardous waste skill
  • not needed by the target role document analysis results skill
  • not needed by the target role execute feasibility study on hydrogen skill
  • not needed by the target role follow nuclear plant safety precautions skill
  • not needed by the target role follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health skill
  • not needed by the target role formulate cosmetic products skill
  • not needed by the target role good manufacturing practices knowledge
  • not needed by the target role green chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role inorganic chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role manage chemical testing procedures skill
  • not needed by the target role materials engineering knowledge
  • not needed by the target role nuclear energy knowledge
  • not needed by the target role nuclear medicine knowledge
  • not needed by the target role nuclear physics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role organic chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role oversee quality control skill
  • not needed by the target role oxidation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role perform physico-chemical analysis to food materials skill
  • not needed by the target role pharmaceutical chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role pharmaceutical drug development knowledge
  • not needed by the target role physics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role polymer chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role prepare chemical samples skill
  • not needed by the target role radiation effects on human body knowledge
  • not needed by the target role run laboratory simulations skill
  • not needed by the target role solid-state chemistry knowledge
  • not needed by the target role spectroscopy knowledge

8 further entries not listed here

5 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 cancer risks required
  • still to learn life sciences required
  • optional, not held biology optional
  • optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional
  • optional, not held public health optional
Index

Other moves recorded from chemist

Full index of moves from chemist

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a chemist become a toxicologist?

Yes, and it is a moderate move. A chemist already covers 67% of what a toxicologist is expected to do: 48 skills carry over, 39 of which the toxicologist role treats as required.

What skills does a chemist need to become a toxicologist?

11 required skills are missing, plus 27 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is advise on poisoning incidents.

How hard is the move from chemist to toxicologist?

Its learning distance is 49.5 out of 100, which is the moderate 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.