Engineering Technologist - Education and Accreditation

Education and Accreditation

Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, some post-secondary institutions in the USA and Canada began offering degrees in engineering technology which focused on applied study rather than the more theoretical engineering science degrees. This was to address a need within the scientific, manufacturing, and engineering communities, as well as other industries, for professionals with hands-on and applications-based engineering knowledge. Depending on the institution, associate and/or bachelor degrees are offered, with some institutions also offering advanced degrees in technology.

In general, an engineering technologist receives a broad range of applied science and applied mathematics training, as well as the fundamentals of engineering in the student's area of focus. Engineering Technology programs typically include instruction in various engineering support functions for research, production, and operations, and applications to specific engineering specialties. Information technology is primarily involved with the management, operation, and maintenance of computer systems and networks, along with an application of technology in diverse fields such as architecture, engineering, graphic design, telecommunications, computer science and network security. A technologist is also expected to have had some coursework in ethics.

International technology organizations from eight nations have signed a mutual recognition agreement called the Sydney Accord. The Sydney Accord represents an understanding that the academic awards of technologists can be recognized in all signatory states. The recognition of the Sydney Accord for technologists can be compared to the Washington Accord for engineers and the Dublin Accord for engineering technicians. The Engineering Technologist Mobility Forum is an international forum held by signatories of the Sydney Accord to explore mutual recognition for experienced engineering technologists and to remove artificial barriers to the free movement and practice of engineering technologists amongst their countries.

Graduates acquiring an associate's degree or lower typically find careers as engineering technicians. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Many 4-year colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in engineering technology, but graduates of these programs often are hired to work as technologists or applied engineers, not technicians." Technicians typically hold a two year associates degree, while technologists usually hold bachelors degrees.