A Closer Look at Engineers

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 865.

Technician Versus Engineer

What is the difference between a technician, a technologist, and an engineer? The main difference is in level of education and training. Engineers have the most advanced training and normally hold university degrees.

In everyday contexts, the titles technician and technologist are sometimes used interchangeably, meaning a specialist working in technology below the level of engineer. In training contexts, technologist is normally used for someone at a higher level (usually trained for 2-3 years) than a technician (usually trained for l-2 years).

You can progress from technician to technologist and then to engineer by following courses at colleges and universities. Colleges offer certificates and diplomas (a diploma is a higher level qualification than a certificate). Universities offer degrees.

It is also possible for students to leave school at sixteen and work as an apprentice with a company. The company

can then release them from work for some time everv week to allow them to study at a college. This is called a part-time, day-release or'sandwich' course

In the simplest of terms, an engineer is a problem solver. They take basic science information and use the rules of mathematics to solve problems and design new products. They generally have a desire to want to make our world a better place to live and work. Engineers invent new technologies that revolutionize the way we handle information. They design and develop tools, toys, furniture, computers, and almost every other manufactured product that we use. They improve our buildings, roads, and vehicles. They develop systems to clean our water, process our foods, make our fuels burn more efficiently, and recycle our waste.

More than 1.2 million engineers work in the United States today, making engineering the nation's second largest profession. According to the US Department of Labor, the demand for qualified engineers will remain strong well into the next millennium. An engineering degree is also an excellent background for other careers. Because engineering courses enhance creativity, problem solving skills, and understanding of technology, they provide a strong foundation for further studies in medicine, law, business, dentistry, and almost any other field.