High School

If you are interested in becoming a physicist, take college preparatory courses. You should take as much advanced mathematics and science as is offered. English skills are important, as you must write up your results, communicate with other scientists, and lecture on your findings.

Postsecondary Training

Physicists at the doctoral level command the jobs with the greatest responsibility, such as jobs in basic research and development. Those at the master's level often work in manufacturing or applied research.

Some employers in industry are attracted to those with a broad scientific background. With a bachelor's degree in physics or a related science, you may be hired with the intention of being trained on the job in a specialty area. As you develop competency in the special field, you may then consider returning to graduate school to concentrate your study in this particular field.

In addition, some teaching opportunities are available to those with bachelor's degrees at the primary and secondary school level. However, in order to teach at the college level (and even at some secondary schools), you will need an advanced degree. While a master's degree may be acceptable to teach at a junior college, most universities require that professors have their doctorates. Those with a master's degree may obtain a job as an assistant in a physics department in a university while working toward a Ph.D. in physics.

Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in physics, and about 250 schools offer master's and doctoral programs. The American Institute of Physics provides a list of graduate institutions through its GradSchoolShopper service (https://www.gradschoolshopper.com/gradschool).

Certification or Licensing

Physicists intending to work in the medical field, with titles such as diagnostic radiological physicist, therapeutic radiological physicist, medical nuclear radiological physicist, or medical health radiological physicist are required to be licensed by some states, including Texas, Florida, and New York. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine lists states that require licensure on their Web site and the exact requirements are available on the state's Web site.

Physicists working in the field of medicine can earn the certification of qualified medical physicist (QMP), which is offered by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. A QMP is an individual who is competent to independently provide clinical professional services in one or more of the subfields of medical physics: therapeutic medical physics, diagnostic medical physics, nuclear medical physics, medical health physics. Certification is offered by several boards, including the American Board of Radiology.

Physicists begin gaining experience while in graduate school because they will be required to conduct an original piece of research for either a master's degree or doctorate. Students can gain professional exposure by presenting their findings to colleagues and publishing their results. Physicists can gain further experience through a post-doctoral position at a college or university or a fellowship.

Physicists must be passionate about science and new discoveries. They must be detail oriented and precise, have patience and perseverance, and be self-motivated. Physicists should be able to work alone or on research teams.