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Studies & Degrees in Engineering Technology

Engineering technology is the applied side of engineering. Its students learn to build, test, install, operate and improve the products and systems that engineers design. ABET, the body that accredits these programmes in the United States, puts the difference this way: engineering programmes often focus on theory and conceptual design, while engineering technology programmes usually focus on application and implementation.

The difference shows in the timetable. Engineering technology courses typically rely on algebra, trigonometry and applied calculus instead of several semesters of theoretical mathematics, and much of the teaching takes place in laboratories. Temple University describes its graduates as people who bridge the gap between design engineers and production teams. Most programmes combine a common core with a specialisation:

  • applied mathematics, physics and technical drawing with CAD
  • materials, statics, strength of materials and fluid mechanics
  • electrical devices, electronics and control systems
  • manufacturing processes, quality and project work
  • a specialisation such as mechanical, electrical, civil, construction, manufacturing or computer engineering technology

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degree and certificates (United States). Two-year associate degrees are the usual entry route for technicians. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), community colleges and technical institutes generally offer the associate degrees, and vocational-technical schools offer certificate programmes.
  • Bachelor's degree (United States). A four-year degree, often called Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. At Temple University it is a 124-credit programme with courses such as applied strength of materials and applied fluid mechanics, and an optional concentration in mechanical engineering technology. Wayne State University in Detroit has a whole division for the subject.
  • Accreditation. ABET's Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission accredits programmes at associate and bachelor level, using criteria that are separate from those for engineering degrees.
  • Other English-speaking countries. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa were among the seven founders of the Sydney Accord in June 2001. This agreement between accreditation bodies recognises the qualifications needed to become an engineering technologist. It now has 11 full signatories, including ABET for the United States since 2009.
  • Spain. Spanish universities do not use this name. The closest applied route is higher vocational training (FP): titles of 2,000 hours such as Técnico Superior en Mecatrónica Industrial. Engineering degrees (grados) are a separate, university route.

Recognition under the Sydney Accord applies only to programmes accredited by a signatory inside its own country or territory. Students who plan to work in another country should therefore check two things before enrolling: whether the programme is accredited, and by which body.

Where to study it

Our directory lists 23 schools for engineering technology. Seventeen are in the United States, and Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Latvia, France and Spain have one each. In the United States the subject is taught by universities, such as Temple University, Wayne State University, Old Dominion University and Middle Tennessee State University, and by two-year colleges, such as Alexandria Technical & Community College, Laramie County Community College and Bergen Community College.

Outside the United States the directory includes Central Queensland University in Australia, Camosun College in Canada, Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand and Riga Technical University in Latvia. Programmes in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are taught in English; for other countries, ask the school about the language of instruction and the level it requires.

Careers

ABET describes two typical paths. Graduates of two-year programmes tend to take engineering 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. Wayne State University adds supervising construction projects and manufacturing processes to the list.

The BLS publishes figures by specialisation. In the United States, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians held about 96,900 jobs in 2025, and industrial engineering technologists and technicians about 76,700. Projected growth from 2025 to 2035 is 2 percent for the first group and 3 percent for the second. For both, the typical entry qualification is an associate degree, or for industrial engineering technicians also a postsecondary certificate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between engineering and engineering technology?

Engineering degrees concentrate on theory and conceptual design and need more advanced mathematics. Engineering technology degrees concentrate on applying, building and implementing designs, with more time in the laboratory.

Can an engineering technology graduate become a licensed engineer?

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

How long does an engineering technology programme take?

An associate degree in the United States takes two years and a bachelor's degree four. In Spain, a higher vocational training title in a related field lasts 2,000 hours.

Is an engineering technology degree recognised in other countries?

It can be. The Sydney Accord links accreditation bodies in 11 jurisdictions, but it only covers programmes accredited by a signatory in its own territory, and each country decides how it registers technologists. Ask the school and the professional body in the country where you want to work.