Becoming a Chemical Engineer

The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority, called CHIETA for short, is the authority in developing skills in nine sub-sectors in the South African Economy - and they list Chemical Engineering as a skill that is in high demand.

Professional Engineers in South Africa are registered with the the Engineering Council of South Africa, or ECSA for short.

So, what exactly does a Chemical Engineer do?
Our main role is to convert raw or recycled materials into everyday products. Containers, metals, cloth, stationery, toiletries, medication and many other household products are made with the help of chemical engineering.

How do you become a professional Chemical Engineer?
Firstly, you need to take a combination of Physics, Biology and core Mathematics in school. It’s also a good idea to job shadow a qualified Chemical Engineer to get the know the job a bit better.

Basically, there are two phases to becoming a registered professional.
The first phase is graduating academically. Get the best possible marks you can in grade 11 and grade 12 to make sure you not only have university entrance but are nearly the top of your class. Next, find out where you want to study. It is very important to check that the programme you choose is accredited by the Council of Higher Education and ECSA.

Thr second phase is to be recognised as a professional at ECSA. You will need to do at least three years of post-qualification training while gaining work experience. After completing this and following the ECSA professional code of conduct, you can be certified as a PrENG – a very valuable and respectable title in the Engineering Industry.

As for the work environment, Chemical Engineers mainly work in highly organised, regulated and safety-conscious manufacturing plants with large-scale production equipment. Here, they are required to wear the necessary protective gear at all times.

Their diverse teams include a mix of skilled workers, artisans, technologists and various engineers who work together to solve problems. It’s all about reaching quality outputs with tangible results.

You can also contact the Career Development Services call centre on 086 999 0123 or send a ‘Please Call Me’ or WhatsApp to 072 204 5056.

[boitumelomotshwene]

Very educational and interesting. I didn't know most of the information here. Growing as a CDP.