Chemotherapy is the process of killing rapidly dividing cells in an effort to kill cancer cells. If you want to be a part of this process in a professional manner, you will need to become a chemotherapist, which is a person who studies the effects of chemotherapy on patients and administers the process to patients with cancer. You will need a high school diploma in order to be accepted to an undergraduate program of study, and you will need to complete this undergraduate degree so you can move onto a master's degree and possibly even a PhD. These degrees will usually be necessary to become a chemotherapist.
During your undergraduate studies, you will need to choose a major that is relevant to the field of chemotherapy. Biology is a good choice of major if you want to become a chemotherapist, as are chemistry and physics. Pre-med studies can also help you become a chemotherapist. An advanced knowledge of mathematics will also be necessary, as will above-average communications and written skills. Be prepared to do a significant amount of research and study if you want to become a chemotherapist, and be ready to do a fair amount of memorization as well.
Once you graduate from your undergraduate program, you will need to enroll in a master's degree program. Your master's degree studies may focus on biology or other sciences as well, though some colleges offer specific programs that will prepare you for a career as a chemotherapist. Be sure to research the various options for such programs before you enroll in a master's degree program so you can choose the one that will suit your needs most accurately. A general education in medicine and biology will usually be sufficient to set you up for more specific job training or studies regarding chemotherapy.
While it may be possible to get some jobs in chemotherapy with just a master's degree, it is very likely that you will need additional training, certification, or education in order to become a chemotherapist. Be sure to find out what the laws and regulations are in your area concerning a career as a chemotherapist so you will know what specific training you will need. Once you finish the appropriate level of education, you will likely spend a significant amount of time working under the guidance and supervision of a more experienced chemotherapist who can teach you the specific skills that relate to this intense and sometimes dangerous process.
