Electronics technician
Encyclopedia
Electronics Technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture, and install electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and computers. They may be employed in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment. Electronics Technicians may also work as sales workers or field representatives for manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers giving advice on the installation, operation, and maintenance of complex equipment and may write specifications and technical manuals. Electronics technicians represent over 33% of all engineering technicians in the U.S. In 2009, there were over 160,000 Electronics Technicians employed in the U.S. Electronics Technicians are accredited by organizations such as the Electronics Technicians Association
(ETA), or International Society of Certified Engineering Technicians (ISCET).
. Naval Electronics Technicians are the largest group of engineering technicians in the military (see Electronics Technician (US Navy)
).
Many 2-year associate degree programs accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET) include at least college algebra and trigonometry and one or two basic science courses. Depending on the specialty, more math or science may be required. About 200 ABET-accredited programs are offered in engineering technology specialties. ABET-accredited Electronics Technician programs usually require at least two math courses and two physics courses in addition to the core competencies.
The Electronics Technician distance education program
offered by George Brown College
in Toronto
, Canada
is the largest electronics program in the world. The program has over 4,000 students enrolled in over 37 Countries, and is the recipient of a National award in program excellence, from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges
.
Electronics Technician curriculum generally consists of courses in basic electricity and electronics, including Ohm's Law
, Parallel and Series Circuits, Magnetism
, AC/DC Circuits, Capacitance
, Inductance
, Transformers
, Resonance
, Filters, Semiconductors, Transistors, Amplifiers, Integrated Circuits and Digital electronics. In addition to vocational learning outcomes associated with the study of electronics and control systems, graduates of Electronics Technician programs are also expected to have essential employability skills and meet certain general education learning outcomes. Individual schools largely determine the specific program structure, delivery methods, and other curriculum components to be used to assist students in achieving the required program outcomes
A significant component of course material includes laboratory experimentation
. These lab courses and projects often represent up to 50% of the course material and are used to reinforce theoretical concepts associated with the study of electronics. Schools offering Electronics Technician programs will have electronics laboratories to support the delivery of course curriculum. Historically, these laboratories have been traditional “hands on” learning environments, although in recent years the trend is moving towards electronics simulation software such as Multisim
and CircuitLogix
. Electronics software simulation is also used in conjunction with traditional labs to provide greater opportunities for students to complete laboratory projects as part of their studies.
, energy conversion
and efficiency, power generation, transmission and distribution, and electrical equipment manufacturing.
Employment opportunities for Electronics Technicians vary and are largely based on their areas of expertise. For example, employment growth for Electronics Technicians in areas such as robotics, energy conversion, and power generation is expected to grow by 5%/yr from 2010 through 2020.
• Electronics Technician distance education program website
Electronics Technicians Association
The Electronics Technicians Association International is a not-for-profit professional association that was founded in 1978. It was started by electronics technicians who felt the need for a group that would be independent of any industry influences on its technicians...
(ETA), or International Society of Certified Engineering Technicians (ISCET).
Education and Training
Most employers prefer to hire Electronics Technicians with an associate degree or other postsecondary training in engineering technology. Training is available at technical institutes, at community colleges, at extension divisions of colleges and universities, at public and private vocational-technical schools, and in the Armed ForcesArmed Forces
Armed Forces is Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records and in the U.S. by Columbia in 1979...
. Naval Electronics Technicians are the largest group of engineering technicians in the military (see Electronics Technician (US Navy)
Electronics Technician (US Navy)
The United States Navy occupational rating of Electronics Technician is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel to enlisted members who satisfactorily complete initial Electronics Technician "A" school training.-History of the Rating:The Electronics Technician rating was originally...
).
Many 2-year associate degree programs accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
ABET, Inc., formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, is a non-profit organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology...
(ABET) include at least college algebra and trigonometry and one or two basic science courses. Depending on the specialty, more math or science may be required. About 200 ABET-accredited programs are offered in engineering technology specialties. ABET-accredited Electronics Technician programs usually require at least two math courses and two physics courses in addition to the core competencies.
The Electronics Technician distance education program
Electronics Technician distance education program
The Electronics Technician Distance Education program provides flexible, skills-based training in electronics. It has been developed for adult learners pursuing electronics technician-level training through independent study, specifically students who cannot attend college full-time because of...
offered by George Brown College
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is the largest electronics program in the world. The program has over 4,000 students enrolled in over 37 Countries, and is the recipient of a National award in program excellence, from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is a national association formed in 1972 to represent the interests of its member institutions to government and industry. Membership is voluntary and open to publicly-funded community colleges in Canada or institutions that may also be referred to as...
.
Electronics Technician curriculum generally consists of courses in basic electricity and electronics, including Ohm's Law
Ohm's law
Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points...
, Parallel and Series Circuits, Magnetism
Magnetism
Magnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
, AC/DC Circuits, Capacitance
Capacitance
In electromagnetism and electronics, capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store energy in an electric field. Capacitance is also a measure of the amount of electric potential energy stored for a given electric potential. A common form of energy storage device is a parallel-plate capacitor...
, Inductance
Inductance
In electromagnetism and electronics, inductance is the ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field. Inductors generate an opposing voltage proportional to the rate of change in current in a circuit...
, Transformers
Transformers
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
, Resonance
Resonance
In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. These are known as the system's resonant frequencies...
, Filters, Semiconductors, Transistors, Amplifiers, Integrated Circuits and Digital electronics. In addition to vocational learning outcomes associated with the study of electronics and control systems, graduates of Electronics Technician programs are also expected to have essential employability skills and meet certain general education learning outcomes. Individual schools largely determine the specific program structure, delivery methods, and other curriculum components to be used to assist students in achieving the required program outcomes
A significant component of course material includes laboratory experimentation
Laboratory experimentation
Psychology has adapted the principles of positivist research to develop a wide range of laboratory-based approaches to research. Typically, such research seeks to test a hypothesis in controlled circumstances...
. These lab courses and projects often represent up to 50% of the course material and are used to reinforce theoretical concepts associated with the study of electronics. Schools offering Electronics Technician programs will have electronics laboratories to support the delivery of course curriculum. Historically, these laboratories have been traditional “hands on” learning environments, although in recent years the trend is moving towards electronics simulation software such as Multisim
MultiSIM
NI Multisim is an electronic schematic capture and simulation program which is part of a suite of circuit design programs, along with NI Ultiboard. Multisim is one of the few circuit design programs to employ the original Berkeley SPICE based software simulation...
and CircuitLogix
CircuitLogix
CircuitLogix is a software electronic circuit simulator which uses PSpice to simulate thousands of electronic devices, models, and circuits. A version of CircuitLogix with fewer models, simulation, and export features is available free of charge to students after registration...
. Electronics software simulation is also used in conjunction with traditional labs to provide greater opportunities for students to complete laboratory projects as part of their studies.
Career Prospects
The demand for jobs in the electronics engineering and service fields is the result of a recent proliferation of both consumer and industrial electronics products. The design, installation, servicing and maintenance of this equipment has created significant employment opportunities in the electronics industry. Job opportunities for electrical and electronics technologists and technicians are increasing because many industries use electronic products and systems. Key sectors are telecommunications, audio/video, computers, roboticsRobotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
, energy conversion
Energy conversion
Transforming energy is when the energy changes into another form.In physics, the term energy describes the capacity to produce changes within a system, without regard to limitations in transformation imposed by entropy...
and efficiency, power generation, transmission and distribution, and electrical equipment manufacturing.
Employment opportunities for Electronics Technicians vary and are largely based on their areas of expertise. For example, employment growth for Electronics Technicians in areas such as robotics, energy conversion, and power generation is expected to grow by 5%/yr from 2010 through 2020.
External Links
• Electronics Technician Association website• Electronics Technician distance education program website