Environmental Toxicologist Career Profile
- Career Name - Environmental Toxicologist
- Category - Health / Law & Enforcement / Marine Conservation / Wildlife Conservation / Specialists
- Skills Required - Life skills 40% - Career skills 60%
- Basic School Subjects - Biology, Science, Chemistry
- Minimum Required Education - Bachelor's Degreel
- Species Worked With - Farm Animals, Wildlife
- Kind of Interaction with Animals - Direct
Do you want to work as an environmental toxicologist?
READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.
RESEARCH: ​Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.
PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for the career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools, while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!
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UPDATED:
25 April 2024
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What is an environmental toxicologist?
An environmental toxicologist is a scientist who studies the effects of chemicals and pollutants on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. They investigate how various substances interact with living organisms and the Environment, aiming to understand their potential harmful effects.
Alternative Names
Alternative names for an environmental toxicologist may include:
- Ecotoxicologist
- Environmental health scientist
- Environmental risk assessor
- Toxicological risk assessor
- Environmental chemist
- Environmental biologist
- Environmental scientist
- Environmental health specialist
- Environmental toxicology researcher
- Environmental toxicology consultant
Career Categories
The Environmental Toxicologist career can be found in the following career categories:
- Health
- Law & Enforcement
- Marine Conservation
- Wildlife Conservation
- Specialists
Ecotoxicology?
The first word to describe what became the study of environmental toxicology
Micro plastics?
When plastic substances break down in water to form tiny fragments of plastic
What does an Environmental Toxicologist do?
Groups of animals an Environmental Toxicologist works with
What is the level of Interaction with the Animals?
- Directly - A person works directly with the animals with some form of physical contact at least once every few days
- Indirectly - The career doesn't require direct or physical contact at all.
With who does an Environmental Toxicologist work?
Besides working with all of the animals, Environmental Toxicologists will need to interact with other people while doing their daily tasks. The people might include fellow staff members or the public.
Fellow staff might include:
- Supervisors/Managers
- Operational staff, such as Human Resources, Finance and
- Veterinary staff
- Scientific Researchers
- Lab Technicians
What does an Environmental Toxicologist focus on?
The primary focus of environmental toxicologists is to sample the soil, water and air within a specific area to find out whether toxins have infiltrated, and are causing harm.
What are the daily tasks of an Environmental Toxicologist?
- Discuss brief with clients
- Gather samples from the environment
- Use the laboratory to study the samples
- Note any toxins and collect further data on how they impact the environment
- Research effects and write reports on what needs to be done to clear up the toxins
- Administration and filing
The working environment of an Environmental Toxicologist
Where does an Environmental Toxicologist work?
Environment –
Environmental toxicologists may work equal amounts of time indoors and outdoors. They need to collect samples and observe the environment, while processing the samples in a laboratory.
Places of Employment –
Most environmental toxicologists work for research institutions or ecology consultancies, but they may also work for conservation organizations, universities and government.
What is the average annual salary of an Environmental Toxicologist?
On average the income per year is around $60,000. This will differ from country to country.
Can an Environmantal Toxicologist be promoted?
Advancement in the field typically depends on work experience. First-year scientists often fit their training commitments around daily work demands.
The levels of each promotion might differ from organization to organization, but generally are the following:
Intern -> Junior Toxicologist -> Senior Toxicologist -> Manager
What difficulties can an Environmental Toxicologist face?
As their title indicates, they will need to work with toxic material. They may also work long hours and over weekends and holidays to finish work within tight deadlines, as well as travel regularly to conduct tests.
​Future growth and Possibilities
The future growth for new environmental toxicologists is around 12% per year, which is above average. With the current level of environmental pollution, the need for toxicologists will remain high.
Which Skills are required by an Environmental Toxicologist?
The skills required for a career as an environmental toxicologist can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.
Life Skills
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Decision making
- Problem Solving
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal relationship
Career Skills
- ​Good business knowledge
- Basic customer service skills
- Good health and physical fitness
- Excellent computer literacy (data capturing and analysis)
Which Subjects must I have at School to prepare for this career?
Biology will be your most important subject at High School. It will help you develop a sound foundation to environmental and species specific studies, as well as to gain admission into university.
Chemistry is important to gain admission for future studies, as well as to gain the basic information on laboratory processes.
Science is important to gain admission for future studies
The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.
OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!
What will I need to Study to become an Environmental Toxicologist?
Minimum Requirements
​To become an environmental toxicologists requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree. As this career can be highly specialized, most students do study further towards a Master’s Degree.
Study Focus
Major –
Choosing the right major is critical to future success, especially when entering a niche market. Subjects can include biology, chemistry, environmental chemistry, ecology, microbiology, botany, Entomology, soil science, hydrology, and atmospheric science.
Short Courses –
With such a specialized career, there will always be a need to constantly stay updated through short courses.
Study Duration
The duration of College and Bachelor’s Degrees can be up to 3 or 4 years. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.
FREE Career Path Plans
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If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.
Why is planning important?
​To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A preparation path is like a road map to where you want to be.
Possible Paths:
here’s a possible career preparation path for a high school student interested in becoming an Environmental Toxicologist:
1. Attend Career Guidance Sessions:
Attend career guidance sessions offered by the school or external organisations to learn about various career options, including environmental toxicology.
2. Research all of the possible careers:
Conduct thorough research on environmental toxicology and related careers to understand the job responsibilities, educational requirements, and potential career paths.
3. Explore Educational Paths:
Explore different educational paths, such as bachelor’s degrees in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or toxicology, followed by graduate studies or specialised training in environmental toxicology.
4. Align high school subjects with the educational path:
Take science courses such as biology, chemistry, and environmental science to build a strong foundation for future studies in environmental toxicology.
5. Obtain a High School Diploma or Equivalent:
Successfully complete high school and obtain a diploma or equivalent qualification.
6. Learn about animals that will work with:
Learn about the animals and ecosystems that environmental toxicologists often work with, such as Aquatic organisms, wildlife, and Endangered species.
7. Align post-school path with either entering a career/job directly, studying further, or starting a business:
Decide whether to enter the workforce directly after high school, pursue further education at a college or university, or explore entrepreneurial opportunities related to environmental toxicology.
8. Gain experience through volunteering, internship, mentorship, etc.:
Seek out volunteer opportunities, internships, or mentorship programmes with environmental organisations, research institutions, or government agencies to gain hands-on experience in environmental toxicology.
9. Pursue Extracurricular Activities:
Participate in extracurricular activities related to science, environmental conservation, or leadership to develop additional skills and broaden your experiences.
10. Join Professional Associations:
Join professional associations such as the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) to connect with professionals in the field and stay updated on industry developments.
11. Gain specialised Skills:
Acquire specialised skills in areas such as data analysis, laboratory techniques, environmental monitoring, and risk assessment to enhance your qualifications as an environmental toxicologist.
12. Network with Professionals:
Network with professionals in the field through conferences, workshops, and online platforms to expand your professional network and learn from experienced practitioners.
13. Enter the job market, finish tertiary studies, or launch a business:
After completing education and gaining relevant experience, enter the job market by applying for entry-level positions in environmental consulting firms, government agencies, research institutions, or private companies. Alternatively, continue studies at the tertiary level or consider starting a business in environmental consulting or toxicology-related services.
14. Stay Updated and Pursue Continuing Education:
Stay updated on advancements in environmental toxicology by attending conferences, workshops, and continuing education programmes to maintain expertise in the field throughout your career.
Possible Combined Career Paths
It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.
Possible Alternatives (there are a lot more):
Training and apprenticeship
Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need as a toxicologists will be acquired through practice. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks within a laboratory by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.
In some cases entry level positions require training sessions even before you are allowed to actually perform your job duties. These sessions are offered by the place of employment, after you have successfully applied.
Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior toxicologists or expert.
Join the Environmental Toxicologists Group in the OZT Community to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!
Average level of education of all the people who enter the career
Licenses, Certificate, Registration and Professional Associations
Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.
Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills.
Learn more about requirements by joining OZT
Professional Associations
Where can I study further?
All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.
See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards toxicology.
How do I start to prepare for this Career?
If you do decide on following this career, then OZT can assist you in figuring out a path to prepare, as well as help you to gain further knowledge about the career and the animals you will be working with. We do this by offering you FREE career development tools. There are almost a dozen free tools, but these are the three primary ones:
CAREER PATH PLAN
Use the career path plan above on this profile as an example to follow, or to work out your own path.
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SHORT COURSES
Access easy-to-use short courses to make your career preparation easier! The basic information in each course is free, but the rewards can only be unlocked as an OZT member!
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STUDY GUIDE
Get a supercharged study guide that fits into the career path plan! Now that's really upping your preparation game! Join us for free to gain access!
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But, if you are still uncertain about choosing this specific career, and even where to start, then have a look at our special series of WHAT NEXT courses (link below). They take you through all of the questions you might have on how to choose the right career, what to do while at and after school, and even how to start your own business.
Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming an environmental toxicologist.
Members of the Platform have special access to:
- Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
- Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
- Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
- Make friends around the world and share knowledge
- Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!
If you have decided on being an Environmental Toxicologist, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. Members will be directed to the Group, while non-members will be assisted to register first.
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