Education · 1 of 5

The path

Degree, supervised experience, exam, licence. The licence is optional in practice for many robotics jobs.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Advanced Functions, Calculus, Physics and Chemistry are required for admission. Mechatronics programs want marks in the 90s.

2. 2

   Accredited engineering degree

   4 to 5 years with co-op

   Mechatronics at Waterloo, McMaster, Ontario Tech or Simon Fraser, or robotics engineering at Sherbrooke. Mechanical, electrical or computer engineering with a robotics option works just as well.

3. 3

   Engineer-in-training

   About 4 years

   Register as an engineer-in-training (EIT) with your provincial regulator. Robotics is not a separate discipline, so your experience counts under mechanical, electrical or software.

4. 4

   Professional practice exam

   During your EIT years

   A law and ethics exam, written during your first years of work.

5. 5

   P.Eng (professional engineer) licence

   After 4 years

   Many robotics jobs never require it, but you need it to call yourself an engineer.