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Hi there!
The answer to this question can take many forms. Some people feel they are born scientists, in that they like to investigate everything around them, tinker with things to figure out how they work and then try to understand WHY they work. But if you mean how long does it take to formally train as a scientist, it takes 8-12 years, although your training never stops.
First off, you should pursue an undergraduate degree in a science field. This takes 4-5 years, depending on the University. Then some people take a year or so and sit a Masters. Others, go directly into graduate school to pursue their Doctorate. PhD work takes between 4 and up to 10 years, depending on many many factors. I did my PhD in Ireland and it took 3 and a half years, but we have a very different kind of program to those in the United States. Once you receive your Doctorate, technically you hold the qualification to search for a job as a scientist. However, like I said, the learning never really ends. Following your PhD, most people spend 3-5 years working as a postdoctoral researcher, then look for a lecturing post, or begin to develop research groups of their own. Academia is a very fluid field and the positions held within the field are not always black and white. Really, from the moment you begin grad school, you are working as a scientist and as you get older, you just expand your experience.
I hope this makes sense. Its difficult to define the moment one "becomes" a scientist, beyond perhaps when you receive your PhD.
Claire
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