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Studies & Degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Mechanical engineering technology (MET) is the applied branch of mechanical engineering. Penn State describes it as the application of engineering and technology principles for the creation of products and mechanical systems. Its focus is the practical application of engineering principles, not their theoretical development. Graduates work next to engineers: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test and manufacture tools, engines, machines and other devices.

ABET, the body that accredits these programmes in the United States, draws the same line. Engineering programmes often focus on theory and conceptual design, while engineering technology programmes usually focus on application and implementation. The mathematics is different too: engineering technology courses typically rely on algebra, trigonometry and applied calculus. Much of the timetable is spent in laboratories and workshops. Students usually learn:

  • technical drawing, computer-aided design (CAD) and solid modelling
  • statics, dynamics and the strength and properties of materials
  • manufacturing processes, machining and computer numerical control (CNC)
  • machine design and production design
  • electric circuits, fluid power and an introduction to automation

Qualifications and levels

The subject is taught at two main levels, and the names depend on the country.

  • Associate degree (United States). A two-year degree, usually from a community college or a university campus. The BLS states that people in this occupation typically need an associate's degree or a certificate from a community college or vocational-technical school. Penn State's Associate in Engineering Technology requires a minimum of 65 credits. The associate degree at Delaware Technical & Community College also prepares students to enter a bachelor's programme in mechanical engineering.
  • Bachelor's degree (United States). A four-year degree. At Penn State Behrend the Bachelor of Science requires a minimum of 131 credits and can be taken as a four-year programme or in a "2+2" format that builds on an associate degree. SUNY Polytechnic Institute and the University of Maine also teach the subject; at Maine all students learn to program CNC mills and lathes.
  • Diploma (Canada). Camosun College in Victoria offers a two-year diploma delivered over five semesters, with optional co-op or internship work terms. It stresses CAD/CAM and introduces robotics and automation, and it is open to international students.
  • Vocational training (Spain). Spain has no university degree with this name. The closest official qualification is the higher vocational training (FP) title Técnico Superior en Diseño en Fabricación Mecánica, which lasts 2,000 hours. Applicants need the Bachiller certificate or another accepted qualification, or must pass an entrance test.

Accreditation is worth checking. ABET's Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission accredits programmes at associate and bachelor level; the programmes at Penn State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Delaware Technical & Community College state that they hold it. In Canada, Technology Accreditation Canada recognises the Camosun diploma. The BLS notes that employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree or from an accredited programme.

Where to study it

Our directory lists 21 schools that teach mechanical engineering technology. Eighteen are in the United States, and there is one each in Canada, Denmark and Ecuador. In the United States the subject is offered both by universities, such as Purdue University, Ferris State University and Colorado Mesa University, and by two-year colleges, such as College of Lake County and Kirkwood Community College. Outside North America the directory lists VIA University College in Horsens (Denmark) and the Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito (Ecuador).

Programmes in the United States and Canada are taught in English. International applicants should ask each school which English test and score it accepts, and whether credits from an associate degree or diploma can be transferred to a bachelor's degree.

Careers

Graduates work as mechanical engineering technicians or technologists, CAD technicians, mechanical designers, and in testing, quality control, maintenance and technical sales. According to ABET, graduates of two-year programmes tend to take technician posts in maintenance, production or product development. Graduates of four-year programmes are most likely to work in construction, manufacturing, product design, testing or technical services and sales.

In the United States, mechanical engineering technologists and technicians held about 36,900 jobs in 2025, according to the BLS. The largest employers were architectural, engineering and related services (20%), machinery manufacturing (14%) and transportation equipment manufacturing (14%). The BLS projects employment to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,100 openings a year, most of them to replace workers who leave the occupation. Technicians who obtain further education or certification may advance to become technologists. In Spain, the Diseño en Fabricación Mecánica title leads to jobs such as design draughtsperson (delineante proyectista) and CAD technician.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology?

Mechanical engineering concentrates on theory and conceptual design and needs more advanced mathematics. Mechanical engineering technology concentrates on application: drawing, making, testing and maintaining mechanical products.

How long does it take to study mechanical engineering technology?

An associate degree in the United States or a diploma in Canada takes about two years. A bachelor's degree takes four years, or two more years after an associate degree in a "2+2" format.

Can a mechanical engineering technology graduate become a licensed engineer in the United States?

According to ABET, graduates of ABET-accredited bachelor's programmes in engineering technology are eligible to become registered professional engineers in many, but not all, US states. For two-year graduates the rules vary by state.

Is there an equivalent qualification in Spain?

There is no degree with this name. The nearest official option is the 2,000-hour higher vocational training title Técnico Superior en Diseño en Fabricación Mecánica; Spanish universities teach mechanical engineering as a bachelor's degree (grado).