Education · 1 of 4

The path

A four year degree gets you in the door. A master's degree is what usually turns a seasonal job into a permanent one.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Biology, chemistry, math and statistics. Volunteer with a local nature center, aquarium or wildlife rehabilitation group.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree in biology

   4 years

   Take the field courses, the statistics course and at least one summer of real research or a technician job.

3. 3

   Seasonal technician seasons

   1 to 3 years

   Two or three summers counting fish, banding birds, surveying plants. This is the real entry exam for the field.

4. 4

   Master's degree

   2 to 3 years

   Two to three years, often funded by teaching. It is the normal price of a permanent research or agency job.

5. 5

   Doctorate, only if you want to lead research

   5 to 6 years

   Needed to run your own lab or teach at a university. Funded with a stipend.