Educational Requirements  The minimum education requirement is a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in microbiology, biochemistry or chemistry with some background in genetics. Those who have a bachelor's degree are qualified to work as laboratory assistants or technicians. A graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) is usually required for senior research positions. Those who have Ph.D.'s may continue their training as post-doctoral fellows. Medical microbiologists preparing to work in hospitals usually take a medical degree (M.D.), then specialize in microbiology and/or pathology (for more information, see the Physician and Pathologist occupational profiles). Those planning to work in medical research laboratories or medical diagnostic laboratories may take a B.Sc. degree in Medical Laboratory Science, or a B.Sc. degree plus a related two-year diploma. For some positions, other forms of certification may also be required. In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions offer degree programs that include courses in microbiology. • The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers a four-year B.Sc. degree in Biological Sciences with specializations in cell biotechnology and microbiology, as well as Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Ph.D. degree programs. The entrance requirement for the bachelor's degree program is an average of at least 70% in English 30, Math 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and one other 30-level subject (Physics 30 recommended). • The University of Calgary offers B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in cellular, molecular and microbial biology. The entrance requirement for the bachelor degree program is a high school diploma or equivalent with an average of at least 70% in five appropriate Grade 12 subjects including English 30, Math 30 and Chemistry 30 (Biology 30, Math 31 and Physics 30 are recommended). Students must complete a year of appropriate university studies before being admitted to the program. • The University of Lethbridge offers a four-year B.Sc. degree program in Biology, Biochemistry and Agricultural Biotechnology which is also offered as a co-operative education program. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with an average of at least 65% in English 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Math 30 or Pure Math 30, and one other Grade 12 subject (Physics 30 recommended). The university also offers a M.Sc. degree program in which the primary emphasis may be microbiology. Post-secondary institutions throughout the province offer university transfer programs that allow students to apply up to two years of study toward bachelor's degree programs. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the courses they choose to take will be accepted for credit at the institution to which they wish to transfer. Post-secondary institutions may give students credit for prior learning.  For information about mature student admission policies, check institution calendars or websites. Employment and Advancement  Microbiologists who have B.Sc. degrees may work as technologists in post-secondary, government or industrial laboratories. Those who have M.Sc. degrees may work as professionals in the same laboratory settings. Microbiologists who have Ph.D.'s may conduct research and teach in universities, manage hospital (clinical) diagnostic microbiology laboratories or advance to senior scientific appointments in government or industry. Microbiologists work for • municipal, provincial and federal governments, • hospitals, colleges and universities, • industrial laboratories, • companies in the agricultural industry, • pharmaceutical companies, • food and beverage companies, • diagnostic laboratories, • biotechnology firms, • bioremediation companies, and • companies in the oil industry. Contract work is becoming more common in this occupation. Advancement opportunities depend on the size and nature of the employing organization and the qualifications of the employee. Microbiologists are part of the larger "Biologists and Related Scientists" occupational group. In Alberta, employment in this group is primarily (50% to 75%) in the following industry sectors: • Education, • Business Services, and • Health and Social Services. Employment prospects for this occupational group will be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including • the number of people in the occupation, • the occupational growth rate, and • trends and events in related industry sectors (see above). 1999 employment statistics and projections for Alberta indicate that • there is a moderate number of people (1,000 to 5,000) employed in the "Biologists and Related Scientists" occupational group, and • this occupational group is expected to grow at a well below average rate (less than 1.9% a year) compared to other occupations in the province through 2005. (The average overall growth rate for all occupations is expected to be higher for Alberta than for Canada as a whole.) The occupational growth projection does not include positions that will become available when employees leave, and is based on a broad occupational group. The occupational growth rate for microbiologists may be different from the growth rate for the "Biologists and Related Scientists" group as a whole.