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Studies & Degrees in Electronic Technology

Electronic technology is the applied side of electronics. Students learn how circuits and electronic components work and how to build, test, install and repair the equipment that uses them, from telecommunications and audio and video systems to industrial controls. It is more practical than a degree in electronic engineering: much of the time is spent in laboratories and workshops with measuring instruments, prototypes and real equipment.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes the people who do this work, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians, as those who help engineers design and develop computers and other electrical and electronic equipment. Typical tasks include building prototypes from plans or sketches and assembling, testing and maintaining circuitry or electronic components. According to the BLS, accredited programmes typically include courses such as algebra, programming languages, physics and circuitry.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degrees and certificates in the United States. The BLS states that technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree, and that these programmes are available at community colleges and vocational-technical schools. College of Lake County in Illinois, for example, offers two certificates and an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in electrical engineering technology. ABET, through its Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission, accredits engineering technology programmes at associate (two-year) and bachelor (four-year) level.
  • College diplomas in Canada. Conestoga College teaches a two-year Electronics Engineering Technician programme that leads to an Ontario College Diploma. The college states that the diploma is recognised by the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) as meeting the academic requirements for certification as a Certified Technician (C.Tech.). Camosun College in Victoria offers a diploma in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology - Renewable Energy that lasts 2.5 years, is delivered over five semesters with optional paid co-op or internship work terms, and is open to international students.
  • Vocational training (FP) in Spain. Electronics belongs to the professional family Electricidad y Electrónica. TodoFP, the vocational training portal of the Spanish Ministry of Education, lists higher cycles (grado superior) such as Técnico Superior en Mantenimiento Electrónico, Automatización y Robótica Industrial, Electromedicina Clínica and Sistemas de Telecomunicaciones e Informáticos, and intermediate cycles such as Técnico en Instalaciones de Telecomunicaciones. The higher cycle in Mantenimiento Electrónico lasts 2,000 hours. Access is with the Bachiller, an intermediate or higher FP diploma or an equivalent qualification, or through an entrance test.
  • Bachelor's degrees. Four-year degrees in engineering technology exist in the United States, and the BLS notes that, depending on the job or the industry, employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree.

Where to study electronic technology

SpainExchange lists 50 active schools for electronic technology. The United States has the most, with 19. Spain, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Finland, Belarus, Vietnam, Algeria and New Zealand have two each, and several other countries have one. The list mixes community and technical colleges with universities. Examples in the United States are College of Lake County, Idaho State University, whose College of Technology trains electronic systems technicians, and Shelton State Community College. In Canada there are Conestoga College and Camosun College. Other schools in the list include Lapland University of Applied Sciences in Finland, The University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral in Ecuador and the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Chile.

The language of instruction follows the country: English in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Spanish in Spain and Latin America. Before choosing, check what the qualification is (certificate, diploma, associate degree or bachelor's degree), whether the programme is accredited by a body such as ABET in the United States or Technology Accreditation Canada, and whether it includes work placements.

Careers

Graduates work as electronics technicians or engineering technologists in manufacturing, telecommunications, maintenance and repair services, and research and development teams. The Spanish higher diploma in Mantenimiento Electrónico names jobs such as technician in the repair and maintenance of radio and television systems, or of professional audio, video and industrial equipment, in companies that maintain telecommunications systems, broadband networks and radiocommunications.

In the United States, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians held 96,900 jobs in 2025. The BLS projects employment to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, but still expects about 8,100 openings a year on average, mostly to replace workers who leave the occupation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between electronic technology and electronic engineering?

Electronic technology is the applied route: technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop equipment, and build, test and maintain it. It is usually studied as a certificate, diploma or associate degree, while engineers take a full university engineering degree.

How long does it take to study electronic technology?

Often two to two and a half years. The Electronics Engineering Technician diploma at Conestoga College lasts two years, the Camosun College diploma 2.5 years, and the Spanish higher cycle in Mantenimiento Electrónico 2,000 hours.

Do I need a university degree to work as an electronics technician?

Not usually. According to the BLS, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in the United States typically need an associate's degree, although requirements vary by employer and some prefer a bachelor's degree.

Can I study electronics as vocational training in Spain?

Yes. The professional family Electricidad y Electrónica includes intermediate and higher cycles, among them the higher cycle Técnico Superior en Mantenimiento Electrónico.