# Engineering technician > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Engineering_technician > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Engineering_technician.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technician > Source revision: 1322860293 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Professional with technology skills Not to be confused with [Engineering technologist](/source/Engineering_technologist). For other uses, see [Technician](/source/Technician). An engineering technician explains instrument readings An **engineering technician** is a [professional](/source/Professional) trained in [skills](/source/Skills) and techniques related to a specific branch of [technology](/source/Technology), with a practical understanding of the relevant engineering concepts.[1] Engineering technicians often assist in projects relating to [research and development](/source/Research_and_development), or focus on post-development activities like implementation or operation. The [Dublin Accord](/source/Dublin_Accord) was signed in 2002 as an international agreement recognizing engineering technician qualifications. The Dublin Accord is analogous to the [Washington Accord](/source/Washington_Accord_(credentials)) for engineers and the [Sydney Accord](/source/Sydney_Accord) for engineering technologists. ## Nature of work Engineering technicians help solve technical problems in many ways. They build or set up equipment, conduct experiments, collect data, and calculate results. They might also help to make a model of new equipment. Some technicians work in quality control, checking products, tests, and collecting data. In manufacturing, they help to design and develop products. They also find ways to produce things efficiently. There are multiple fields in this job such as; software design, repair, etc.[2] They may also be people who produce [technical drawings](/source/Technical_drawings) or [engineering drawings](/source/Engineering_drawings). Engineering technicians are responsible for using the theories and principles of [science](/source/Science), [engineering](/source/Engineering), and [mathematics](/source/Mathematics) to solve problems and come up with solutions in the research, design, development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance of systems and products.[3] Engineering technicians help engineers and scientists in researching and developing, while some other engineering technicians may be responsible for inspections, [quality control](/source/Quality_control), and processes which may include conducting tests and data collection.[3] ## Education An engineering technician at work. (1992) Engineering technician diplomas and two-year degrees are generally offered by [technical schools](/source/Technical_schools) and non-university [higher education institutions](/source/Higher_education_institution) like colleges of further education, [vocational schools](/source/Vocational_school), and [community colleges](/source/Community_colleges). Many four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in engineering technology but engineering technologists are somewhat different from engineering technicians.[4] In [Portugal](/source/Portugal) and [Spain](/source/Spain), the titles [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language): *engenharia técnica* and [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language): *ingeniería técnica* (literally 'technical engineering') are used. Professionals attain the title with the award of a short-cycle three- to four-year undergraduate degree ([associate degree](/source/Associate_degree) or [bachelor's degree](/source/Bachelor's_degree)) in a technical engineering field from colleges or technical engineering institutes (in Portugal) and (in Spain), from universities. Spanish "technical engineers" have full competency in their respective professional fields of engineering, being the difference that the three or four-year Engineers have competence only in their specialty (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.), and the "Engineering Superior School" Engineers have wider competencies. In the [United States](/source/United_States), the engineering technology accreditation commission (ETAC) of the [Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology](/source/Accreditation_Board_for_Engineering_and_Technology) (ABET) grants two-year associate degree programs 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. Engineering technicians apply scientific and engineering skills usually gained in [postsecondary](/source/Postsecondary) programs below the bachelor's degree level or through short-cycle bachelor's degrees. However, some university institutions award undergraduate degrees in the engineering field, which may confer the title of Engineering technician to the student, who is eligible to become a fully chartered engineer after further studies at the master's degree level. Engineering technicians are called professional engineers in the UK only.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Certification Even though the term engineering technician is used throughout, it is mindful that these roles are often termed differently within specific jurisdictions. It also includes roles such as; certified or professional technician, which may also be called engineering associates.[5] ### Canada The individual professional title *Certified Technician* and [post-nominal](/source/Post-nominal) *C.Tech.* are protected by provincial legislation and can only be used by registrants certified by engineering and applied science member organizations. The nine provincial professional associations are unified federally through [Technology Professionals Canada](/source/Technology_Professionals_Canada), which advocates for the profession within the provincial associations and respective regulatory bodies. ### United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, the term *Engineering Technician* and post-nominal *EngTech* are protected in civil law and can only be used by technicians registered with the [Engineering Council UK](/source/Engineering_Council_UK).[6] ## See also - [Technology and applied sciences portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Technology_and_applied_sciences) - [Practical engineer](/source/Practical_engineer) - [Drafter](/source/Drafter) - [American Society for Engineering Education](/source/American_Society_for_Engineering_Education) - [National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying](/source/National_Council_of_Examiners_for_Engineering_and_Surveying) - [UNESCO-UNEVOC](/source/UNESCO-UNEVOC) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [US Department of Labor job Description](http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos112.htm) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Engineering Technician](http://www.bls.gov/k12/science05.htm) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) United States Department of Labor, ed. (2006). [*Occupational outlook handbook 2006-2007*](https://archive.org/details/occupationaloutl00usde) (2006-2007 ed.). Indianapolis, Ind.: Jist Works. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-59357-248-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-59357-248-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [63787406](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/63787406). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BLS2_4-0)** ["Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians"](http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-technicians.htm#tab-2). *Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition*. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved November 15, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Technician_5-0)** ["About THE DUBLIN ACCORD"](https://www.ieagreements.org/accords/dublin/). International Engineering Alliance. Retrieved May 1, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-EngC_6-0)** ["Engineering Council - Professional Titles"](https://www.engc.org.uk/professional-registration/the-professional-titles/). The Engineering Council. Retrieved October 28, 2019. ## External links Look up ***[engineering technician](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/engineering_technician)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. - [List of tasks and requirements for mechanical engineering technicians](https://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/17-3027.00) - [Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) UK](https://www.imeche.org) - [The Engineering Technician Forum on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1909563) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Engineering technician](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technician) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technician?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.