Engineering technician
Encyclopedia
An engineering technician is a specialist who is trained in the skill
s and techniques related to a specific branch of engineering
, with relatively practical understanding of the general engineering concepts. Engineering technicians often assist engineer
s and technologists in projects and research and development
.
The Dublin Accord
was signed in 2002 as an international agreement for the recognition of engineering technician qualifications. The Dublin Accord is analogous to the Washington Accord
for engineer
s and the Sydney Accord
for engineering technologist
s.
They may also be persons who produce technical drawing
s or engineering drawing
s.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor an engineering technician works 40 hours or more a week. They may work in multiple, ranging from air-conditioned well-lit areas, to working around hazardous equipment or toxic chemicals.
higher education
institutions like technical colleges
, technical institutes, industrial school
s, and community college
s. University institutions having 4-year programs usually do not offer technical engineering training, but undergraduate courses in science and engineering, are useful for obtaining a job as an engineering technician. Many 3 and 4-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in engineering technology, but graduates of these programs often are hired to work as technologists or applied engineering assistants after further studies, not technicians. In some countries, there were vocational education
schools that may have also conferred the title without awarding any degrees.
In the United States
, the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET) grants 2-year associate program degrees to students that meet a set of specified standards. These programs include at least a college algebra and trigonometry course and, if needed, one or two basic science courses at any accredited school. The number of math and science prerequisite courses depends on the branch of engineering that the student chooses.
Both Portugal
and Spain
use the title of engenharia técnica/ingeniería técnica, literally "technical engineering", for the professionals who were awarded a short-cycle 2- to 4-year undergraduate degree (associate degree or bachelor's degree
) in a technical
engineering
field by colleges or technical engineering institutes in the case of Portugal, and universities in Spain. Spanish "technical engineers" have full competency in their respective professional field of engineering, being the difference that the three year Engineers have competence only in their speciality (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.)and the "Engineering Superior School" Engineers have wider competences.
Engineering technicians are neither chartered engineer
s nor professional engineer
s, and are usually allowed to perform a limited number of well defined tasks in engineering
and industry
. Engineering technicians apply scientific and engineering skills usually gained in postsecondary programs below the bachelor's degree level or through short-cycle bachelor's degrees. However, some university institutions award undergraduate degrees in the field of engineering which may confer the title of Engineering technician to the student, who is, however, eligible to become a full chartered engineer after further studies at the masters degree level. Engineering technicians are called professional engineers in the UK only
, the term engineering technician and post-nominals EngTech are protected in civil law, and can only be used by technicians registered with Engineering Council UK
. EngTech is an unfortunate choice of initials considering that the abbreviation Eng is internationally recognized as meaning Engineer. Engg is the accepted abbreviation for Engineering. In fact the UK engineering council use the term "professional engineer" loosely to mean engineering technicians, engineering Technologists (Incorporated Engineer) and chartered Engineers.
In Canada
, the term certified engineering technician is protected by legislation and can only be used by technicians certified by provincial member organizations of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists
, such as the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
and the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta.
:
Number of jobs held in 2006 in each field of engineering is listed below:
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
s and techniques related to a specific branch of engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, with relatively practical understanding of the general engineering concepts. Engineering technicians often assist engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s and technologists in projects and research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
.
The Dublin Accord
Dublin Accord
The Dublin Accord is an agreement for the international recognition of Engineering Technician qualifications. In May 2002 the national engineering organisations of the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa and Canada signed an agreement mutually recognising the qualifications which underpin the...
was signed in 2002 as an international agreement for the recognition of engineering technician qualifications. The Dublin Accord is analogous to the Washington Accord
Washington Accord
The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries...
for engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s and the Sydney Accord
Sydney Accord
The Sydney Accord is an international mutual recognition agreement for qualifications in the fields of engineering technology.-Definition and background:...
for engineering technologist
Engineering technologist
An engineering technologist, is a specialist devoted to the implementation of existing technology within a field of engineering. Technologists often work with engineers in a wide variety of projects by applying basic engineering principles and technical skills...
s.
Nature of work
Engineering technicians solve technical problems. They build or set up equipment. They do experiments. They collect data and calculate results. They might also help to make a model of new equipment. Some technicians work in quality control. They check products, do tests, and collect data. In manufacturing, they help to design and develop products. They also find ways to produce things efficiently.They may also be persons who produce technical drawing
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
s or engineering drawing
Engineering drawing
An engineering drawing, a type of technical drawing, is used to fully and clearly define requirements for engineered items.Engineering drawing produces engineering drawings . More than just the drawing of pictures, it is also a language—a graphical language that communicates ideas and information...
s.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor an engineering technician works 40 hours or more a week. They may work in multiple, ranging from air-conditioned well-lit areas, to working around hazardous equipment or toxic chemicals.
Education
Technical engineering degrees are generally offered by universities and non-universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institutions like technical colleges
Institute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
, technical institutes, industrial school
Industrial school
In Ireland the Industrial Schools Act of 1868 established industrial schools to care for "neglected, orphaned and abandoned children". By 1884 there were 5,049 children in such institutions....
s, and community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s. University institutions having 4-year programs usually do not offer technical engineering training, but undergraduate courses in science and engineering, are useful for obtaining a job as an engineering technician. Many 3 and 4-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in engineering technology, but graduates of these programs often are hired to work as technologists or applied engineering assistants after further studies, not technicians. In some countries, there were vocational education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
schools that may have also conferred the title without awarding any degrees.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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) grants 2-year associate program degrees to students that meet a set of specified standards. These programs include at least a college algebra and trigonometry course and, if needed, one or two basic science courses at any accredited school. The number of math and science prerequisite courses depends on the branch of engineering that the student chooses.
Both Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
use the title of engenharia técnica/ingeniería técnica, literally "technical engineering", for the professionals who were awarded a short-cycle 2- to 4-year undergraduate degree (associate degree or bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
) in a technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
field by colleges or technical engineering institutes in the case of Portugal, and universities in Spain. Spanish "technical engineers" have full competency in their respective professional field of engineering, being the difference that the three year Engineers have competence only in their speciality (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.)and the "Engineering Superior School" Engineers have wider competences.
Engineering technicians are neither chartered engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s nor professional engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
s, and are usually allowed to perform a limited number of well defined tasks in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
. Engineering technicians apply scientific and engineering skills usually gained in postsecondary programs below the bachelor's degree level or through short-cycle bachelor's degrees. However, some university institutions award undergraduate degrees in the field of engineering which may confer the title of Engineering technician to the student, who is, however, eligible to become a full chartered engineer after further studies at the masters degree level. Engineering technicians are called professional engineers in the UK only
Certification
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the term engineering technician and post-nominals EngTech are protected in civil law, and can only be used by technicians registered with Engineering Council UK
Engineering Council UK
The Engineering Council is Britain's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and technicians, holding a register of these and providing advice to students, engineers, employers and academic institutions on the standards for registration and procedures for...
. EngTech is an unfortunate choice of initials considering that the abbreviation Eng is internationally recognized as meaning Engineer. Engg is the accepted abbreviation for Engineering. In fact the UK engineering council use the term "professional engineer" loosely to mean engineering technicians, engineering Technologists (Incorporated Engineer) and chartered Engineers.
In 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...
, the term certified engineering technician is protected by legislation and can only be used by technicians certified by provincial member organizations of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists
Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists
The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists is an organization in Canada that advocates for the profession of technicians and technologists, as well as certifying their respective educational programs....
, such as the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, or OACETT, is a not-for-profit, self-governing organization in Ontario, Canada. It is a professional association that promotes the interests of engineering and applied science technicians and technologists to industry,...
and the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta.
Average earnings in the U.S.
The following are average earnings for 2007 in the United States, from the United States Department of LaborUnited States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
:
- Aerospace engineering and operations technicians $53,300
- Electrical and electronic engineering technicians $50,660
- Industrial engineering technicians $45,810
- Mechanical engineering technicians $45,850
- Electro-mechanical technicians $44,720
- Civil engineering technicians $40,560
- Environmental engineering technicians $40,560
Number of jobs held in 2006 in each field of engineering is listed below:
- Electrical and electronic 170,000
- Civil 91,000
- Industrial 75,000
- Mechanical 48,000
- Environmental 21,000
- Electro-mechanical 16,500
- Aerospace 8,500
- Other 82,000
See also
- EngineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
- Engineering technologistEngineering technologistAn engineering technologist, is a specialist devoted to the implementation of existing technology within a field of engineering. Technologists often work with engineers in a wide variety of projects by applying basic engineering principles and technical skills...