What if my bachelor’s degree is not on the approved list?

You might still be able to qualify to take the exam even if your bachelor’s degree is in another field of study.

An applicant with a Bachelor’s degree in a subject other than one of those listed in Category A, must establish to the satisfaction of the OED Director that he or she possesses scientific and technical training equivalent to that received at an accredited U.S. college or university for a Bachelor’s degree in one of the subjects listed in Category A.

To establish such equivalence to the satisfaction of the OED Director, an applicant can satisfy one of the following four options, other training, or other education listed below. The applicant must submit the necessary documentation and objective evidence showing satisfaction of one of the options or other means of qualifying.

CATEGORY B: An applicant with a Bachelor's, Master’s or Doctor of Philosophy degree in a subject other than one of those listed in Category A, must establish to the satisfaction of the OED Director that he or she possesses scientific and technical training equivalent to that received at an accredited U.S. college or university fora Bachelor's, Master’s or Doctor of Philosophy degree in one of the subjects listed in Category A. To establish such equivalence to the satisfaction of the OED Director, an applicant can satisfy one of the following four options, other training, or other education listed below. The applicant must submit the necessary documentation and objective evidence showing satisfaction of one of the options or other means of qualifying.

i. Option 1: 24 semester hours in physics. Only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted.

ii. Option 2: 32 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following:

Eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry or physics, with at least one course including a lab, and 24 semester hours in biology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted.

iii. Option 3: 30 semester hours in chemistry. Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors will be accepted.

iv. Option 4: 40 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: Eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry, physics, or biology, with at least one course including a lab, and 32 semester hours of chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology, or engineering. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted. For Computer Science, see other "Other Acceptable Course Work." All acceptable coursework for Options 2 and 4 must be for science or engineering majors.

v. Transcripts: Official transcripts are required to establish both the award of a Bachelor's, Master’s and/or Doctor of Philosophy degree and completion of each course relied on to establish scientific and technical training in Category B.