How long does it take to become a Specialist?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a specialist. That is the time it takes to learn specific specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become a specialist.

How hard is it to become a SERE specialist?

It is extremely difficult to become a SERE specialist. SERE specialists are the Air Force's experts on recovering people who have become isolated. They know everything about surviving in difficult situations. They make sure that all high-risk-of-capture/isolation personnel return safely and with honor from any situation.

Associate vs Specialist

An associate is a person who is developing their skill set through professional experience, while a specialist is a professional who possesses a strong command of knowledge and skills in a particular occupation.

Specialist vs. Analyst

A specialist is an expert in their field and is responsible for specific tasks within their specialty or department, while an analyst focuses on data and applications that typically span multiple areas or departments.

What is a specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

John Kaminski Ph.D.

A specialist has advanced knowledge and expertise in a specific field or subject area. They are experts in their chosen field. Specialists use their knowledge and experience to provide specific advice, guidance, or services to individuals or organizations. They may work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, technology, finance, and education. Specialists are often sought after for their unique skills and knowledge, and they play an important role in solving complex problems.

What general advice would you give to a Specialist?

John Kaminski Ph.D.

Professor of Turfgrass Science Associate Head, Department of Plant Science Director, Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program, Pennsylvania State University

It depends on what area of study they are interested in. For our turf students, I usually tell them to learn more by working with a good mentor. Even after earning your education, there is always more to learn, and they need to be patient to acquire as much new knowledge as possible to advance in their profession. For general plant science students, I would advise them to check out many different areas within the plant sciences. This could be anything from organic farming, cannabis production, and other emerging fields in plant science.

ScoreSpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.5

Avg. Salary $58,013

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.7

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 10.54%

Black or African American 11.36%

Hispanic or Latino 16.41%

Unknown 5.39%

White 55.89%

Gender

female 52.49%

male 47.51%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress Level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.4

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.4

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Specialist?

Pros

Competitive salary and benefits
Recognition as an expert in the field
Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
Flexibility in work schedule and location
Satisfaction from solving complex problems

Cons

Narrow career path and limited job opportunities
High pressure and expectations to perform at a high level consistently
Limited opportunities for career advancement or promotion
Demanding workload and responsibilities
Limited opportunities for collaboration with colleagues outside of the same field

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Key steps to become a specialist

Explore specialist education requirements

Most common specialist degrees

Bachelor's

49.4 %

Associate

19.1 %

High School Diploma

15.4 %

Start to develop specific specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	15.02%
Customer Service	10.96%
Work Ethic	5.42%
Patient Care	4.34%
Exceptional Client	4.14%

Complete relevant specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real specialist resumes.

Gain additional specialist certifications

Specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for specialists include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

More About Certifications

Research specialist duties and responsibilities

Create, manage, and assist users with SharePoint sites.
Manage an on-site IRB and company good clinical practice (GCP) inspection.
Manage SharePoint sites by creating, editing, and customizing company sites, libraries and security.
Manage the building of accounts, assigning of static IP's, and scheduling of business class installations.

Prepare your specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Specialist Resume templates

Build a professional Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Specialist resume.

Apply for specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do specialists rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

Pros

Helping special needs adults read , write and do math.

Cons

Lifting wheelchair bound individuals to change pull ups and pampers, cleaning bowel movements. No support from leadership when problems arrive. Over crowding classrooms which causes stress to staff and individuals.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020