Chemical Engineering

By the end, you understand chemistry, mass and energy balances and process safety basics, and you know how to qualify. This path prepares you for formal study; it does not qualify you.

Career pathwayAbout 110 hours3 stagesFree

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Career pathway. This is a regulated career. Online learning gives you strong foundations and a clear plan, but you will need to study and register formally to work in it. The route is explained on this page.

Lessons play here, from free YouTube courses.

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Chemical engineers design processes that turn raw materials into fuel, food, medicine, metals and clean water. Sasol, the mines, water utilities and food producers in South Africa need them. It is a regulated profession.

Turn on JavaScript to track your progress. The lessons are:FoundationsBuild the base: chemistry, maths and units.Task: Solve ten unit-conversion and stoichiometry problems (for example how much product a reaction makes) and show your working.Core skillsLearn processes: mass and energy balances, reactors, separation and safety.Task: Draw a simple block flow diagram of how drinking water is treated in your municipality, and do a basic mass balance for one step.Applied practicePrepare for formal study and plant work.Task: Research universities, bursaries (for example Sasol, mining houses, Rand Water) and the CHIETA, and write your plan to get in.

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What competent looks like

Balances chemical equations and does unit conversions
Draws a simple process flow diagram
Does a basic mass balance
Explains process safety basics
Knows the ECSA and study route

The South African route

Study a BEng/BSc Eng in chemical engineering or a diploma in chemical engineering technology, then register with ECSA. The CHIETA funds chemical industry learnerships.

Free resources

Engineering registration information
ECSA
Chemistry practice
Khan Academy

These links go to free courses and sites run by other organisations. We chose them in October 2026 but do not run them, so check costs, dates and entry requirements on their site. Broken link? Tell us.

Jobs it can lead to

Engineering student
Process technician (after diploma)
Laboratory assistant
Plant operator trainee