BECOMING AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – ROLE REQUIREMENTS AND

RESPONSIBILITIES

In order to pursue a career as an electrical engineer, an individual must first meet a

number of criteria. Perhaps most importantly, an aspiring electrical engineer must complete a
bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, specifically in the field of electrical
engineering (with some exceptions noted below). And while it is not entirely necessary to
obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree from a program that has been accredited by the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) – a subgroup of which is the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) – doing so will truly help the engineer’s
future employment prospects.Indeed, a four-year degree from an ABET-accredited institution is
one of the prerequisites of obtaining a Professional Engineer license, which allows the holder to
perform a wider array of work that generally involves a greater number of scope of
responsibilities.
It is important to note that in some circumstances an individual may find work as an
electrical engineer even if he or she didn’t obtain a bachelor’s degree in that specific field. For
example, an individual with a degree in civil or mechanical engineering who took courses on
electrical engineering and shows exceptional skill in this area may be able to work as an
electrical engineer. Furthermore, some students may obtain a bachelor’s degree in an entirely
separate field, and then a master’s degree in electrical engineering; these individuals would all
be eligible to find work in the field.
In fact, the reasons for obtaining a master’s degree in electrical engineering are
compelling, even for those who already possess their bachelor’s. Perhaps most importantly for
some, there exists a monetary incentive; a 2014 report in the Washington Post asserts that
there is a significant disparity in average annual pay between those with undergraduate,
master’s and doctorate degrees. Indeed, citing data provided by the Georgetown University
Center on Education and the Workforce, the report claims that annual earnings hover around
$80,000 for those with a bachelor’s; $107,600 for those with a master’s degree; and $132,900
for those with a PhD.
Along with the financial component, students with a graduate degree in electrical
engineering have a broader knowledge of the subject material, allowing them to apply this
throughout their career. The National Science Foundation also mentions another compelling
statistic: unemployment rates for doctorate degree holders in science and engineering fields are
much lower than for those with other degrees.
After an individual has obtained a degree in electrical engineering, he or she can begin
working in this field immediately. And, after a period of time, he or she will then become eligible
to pursue a Professional Engineer license through the National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE). Indeed, as mentioned above, obtaining licensure as a Professional Engineer allows the
holder to work in a wider array of vocations that demand a greater deal of responsibility.

(Sources: https://www.onlineengineeringprograms.com)