How to Become a Meteorologist
Meteorologists perform unique and pretty cool jobs: They study the weather, make weather forecasts, study weather phenomena and they even analyze air pollution and global warming. Sound interesting? Here’s how to become a meteorologist.
High School
Concentrate on your math and sciences, and try to take advanced courses if you can.
Join math and sciences classes, specifically earth sciences, physics, computer science and chemistry. Remember, the more experience you have in these two subjects, the better for your school record.
Do volunteer work in your local weather stations, try to get to know meteorologists to get a feel on how being a meteorologist works.
Prior to your senior year in high school, request for a list of colleges that offer a BS (Bachelor of Science) degree in Meteorology. You should make sure that the college you’re eyeing offer courses that are required by the National Weather Service. There are actually very few colleges that offer this course, so keep in mind that you will get a lot of competition when applying.
Before your senior year, make sure you’ve already gotten yourself the necessary information and application documents to get into the college you want.
Maintain a high grade point average.
College
While it’s always best to have a degree in meteorology, you can take a course in a related field if your college does not offer them, such as physics or earth sciences. However, if you want to be a meteorologist you will still have to take some mandatory classes.
If you were able to get into a Meteorology course, take appropriate majors on what you would like your specialization would be. For example, if you want to be the local weatherman in television or radio stations, it would be appropriate to take up journalism courses. If you want to focus on research, take computer science courses.
Get internships if and when you can. Not only do they offer valuable experiences, they can also be a source of good recommendations once you graduate from college.
Once you’ve graduated and start pursuing your professional career, it’s recommended that you get a certification through the Certified Meteorologist Program or the Certified Consulting Meteorologist from the American Meteorological Society. While the certification is not mandatory, this will distinguish you as a contributor to the promotion of meteoric knowledge to the public. It will also help you advance further in your chosen field.