Engineering is a challenging, rewarding field in high demand for skilled workers. Believe it or not, there are over 151,000 active engineers in the country, earning an average of $51.83 per hour. Even with so many engineers, the industry is still in dire need of more.
If you want to enter this lucrative and rewarding career path, there’s never been a better time. Let’s talk about how to become an engineer in 2022.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Engineer?
On average, it takes students between 4 and 5 years to become an engineer, but it heavily depends on the field students want to enter. For example, petroleum engineers will only need a bachelor’s degree, which can take 4 years. However, some engineering jobs will require a master’s degree, which can take 6 to 7 years.
Several bachelor’s programs allow students to enter jobs that typically require master’s degrees, but these typically take 5 years to complete. Again, it depends on the engineering sub-discipline.
Engineering Career Paths
Engineers can do a lot. There are several different career paths you can enter within the engineering field. Starting with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any field could be a starting point to pursuing more specialized education in:
- Computer engineering
- Oceanic engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Renewable energy engineering
- Nuclear engineering
- Aerospace engineering
- Engineering management
The list goes on (for a long time), but these are some of the highest-paying specializations with excellent job outlooks. These average 6-figure salaries to workers in the field with a few years of experience under their belts.
Of course, these are highly specialized sub-disciplines. There are plenty of others in the engineering field. Some of the most popular include:
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Petroleum engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Biomedical engineering
Don’t worry, these all have average salaries well above the national average, even if they aren’t in the 6 figures.
How to Become an Engineer
Now that you know why engineering is such a great career path, you may want to know how to get started. Here is what you’ll need.
College Education
As we mentioned, it will take anywhere from 4 to 7 years to become an engineer, depending on your specialization and educational pace. Getting accepted into a program should be your top priority.
Start with a community college if you can’t get accepted into your dream program. Most community colleges offer engineering “track” programs or something related. Spending a year or two with these programs can help improve your transcript and save you a small fortune in student loans!
Either way, try to start with a more generalized engineering program if you’re unsure of the specialization you want to pursue. If you know what you want to pursue, apply to some of the best programs you can find in your area. If you don’t get accepted, start at a community college and keep your grades high!
Just ensure that ABET accredits your bachelor’s program. Becoming certified and getting accepted into a master’s program is essential.
Earn General Licensure
Next, you will need to establish licensure through the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam run by NCEES. It will help show your credentials as an engineer and earn a job in the field while pursuing your master’s degree. It may also help you get accepted into a graduate program.
Pursue Your Graduate Degree
Most engineering fields will require a master’s degree, so this is something to consider when choosing a sub-discipline. Find a master’s program in the sub-discipline you want, and ensure that it is an accredited program that meets your needs as an aspiring engineer.
Some engineers may pursue a doctoral degree, but these are generally only required for research and education careers in the industry. You should have no trouble finding employment in the industry with a master’s degree. However, if you want to continue moving up in the industry and don’t mind the extra schooling, a Ph.D. may help.
Earn Specialized Licensure
Earning a professional engineering (PE) license in your preferred sub-discipline of engineering is the final step for most. It will require an exam and proof of your graduate program completion.
If your sub-discipline requires further accreditation or certifications, you may need to pursue these on your own, which is discipline-specific. You can begin applying to jobs as an engineer in your respective field, and some employers may be willing to front the bill for other certifications. Skilled engineers are in high demand.
Continuing Education
Every engineer will need to maintain their licenses throughout their careers. Engineering is challenging and fulfilling work, and nobody will remember everything they were taught in school throughout their lives. Also, every engineering discipline’s standards, laws, and practices change over time.
For this reason, engineers must complete a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs) every 1 to 3 years, depending on the state. Generally speaking, most states and disciplines require relic ensure biannually, but you must check with your state. Either way, you can get all of your CEUs done through accredited courses like PDH Pro for a reasonable price, regardless of your discipline!
Start Your New Career
Now that you know how to become an engineer, why wait? It requires some schooling, but it’s a rewarding career path that offers high salaries and job security. Once you’ve completed your schooling, you can work in the field forever with minimal requirements.
Launch your new career today, and keep reading our blog for our latest career and lifestyle tips!
