Yes - no other way. An education is an absolute necessity, after that - a little luck, a lot of patience, and hard work is in order (unless you know someone[:@]). I was " lucky" . I had applied/inquired with the department several times over two years, went back to college and recieved another degree in secondary education. I was working as a HS Biology/Environmental Science teacher when they finally called (out of the blue[]). When I accepted the position, I went from 27K/year as a first-year teacher to 19k/year as a starting Biologist . The positions are very competative - that' s why the salary is so low. A biologist position is the lowest paying job for having one of the hardest curriculums/requirements of almost any other professional position that I know of. BUT, I do love my job - I learn something new every day and the benefits are excellent for a growing family (and I get to scout year-round).