Education · 1 of 5

The path

Shorter than the engineering degree and more hands on. You can stop at two years or carry on to four.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Algebra, trigonometry and physics. Shop, robotics or auto class matters more here than it does for engineers.

2. 2

   Associate degree in engineering technology

   2 years

   Two years at a community college or technical college. Enough to start work as a technician.

3. 3

   First job or an apprenticeship

   Year 1

   Test technician, manufacturing technician or quality technician. A registered apprenticeship pays you the whole way instead.

4. 4

   Optional four year technology degree

   2 more years

   Purdue's Mechanical Engineering Technology degree covers statics, dynamics, strength of materials, thermodynamics, fluid power, industrial controls and machine elements, and can be finished in three years.

5. 5

   Senior technologist

   5 or more years in

   You own a process, a test cell or a product line and sign off on other people's work.