Additional information

body or mind	Body
Field	Medical Field
Boss or Team	Team
Communication	Good Communicator
Work With	People
Math & Science	Maths & Science
Study Length	Prepared to Study for Years
Environment	Alone

Medical Scientist

Medical Scientists are also sometimes known as biomedical scientists. They’re trained in biology and their mission is to find how the body works in specific relation to treating diseases and finding new cures and ways to diagnose them.

Medical scientists spend most of their time in laboratories conducting tests under very strict and safe conditions using very specialised equipment.

Medical scientists can also specialise and be called one of these alternative titles:

Clinical Biochemist
Clinical Research Associate
Cytologist
Haematologist (Medical Research)
Histologist
Immunologist (Medical Research)
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical Researcher
Medical Scientific Officer
Medical Technologist
Microbiologist (Medical Research)
Pharmacologist (Clinical Research)
Public Health Scientist
Transfusion Scientist

How to be a Medical Scientist in South Africa

Get the Required Qualifications

Depending on the specific career path you wish to take, you will typically need the following qualifications to become a medical scientist in South Africa.

Certificate (National Senior Certificate /NC(V) with a Bachelor’s Degree pass)
Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor of Medical Sciences or equivalent that will allow further studies in medical research)
Post-graduate Degree (Masters in Medical Science)

Demonstrate Competence in the Required Subjects

Different educational institutions may have different admission requirements; however, you will typically be required to demonstrate competency in the following subjects:

Compulsory Subjects:
Recommended subject
- Information Technology

Accumulate Years of Relevant Study and Experience

Medical scientists in South Africa typically study for a minimum of 3 years. Postgraduate degrees for specialisation have varying durations.

Find Relevant Employment Opportunities

There are plenty of employment opportunities for medical scientists in South Africa who usually work at the following institutions:

Blood transfusion agencies
Clinical departments of academic training hospitals
Private laboratories
Medical specialists

Find More Information from Relevant Regulatory Bodies

To find more information about medical scientists in South Africa, contact the The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)