How to Become an Engineer

Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Do you thrive when you get to take ownership of a project and develop something new? Then a career as an engineer might be the right path for you. As an engineer you could be responsible for laying the groundwork for tangible projects like a skyscraper or a suspension bridge, an application like new software, or a system like a manufacturing process. Would you like to learn how to become an engineer? Read on for details on the degree and the licenses you need to practice in this field.

What Is an Engineer?

Engineers design structures, processes, plans, and products, while considering safety factors and complying with applicable standards and regulations. They often work closely with architects or designers, who focus more on appearance, while engineers focus more on function. There are many subsets of engineers, and responsibilities will vary for each role. These are the most common engineering jobs:

What Does an Engineer Do?

Engineers plan, design, and test projects such as buildings, products, and materials. Some engineers have management responsibilities, which could involve supervising a project, process, or team. Other engineers are responsible for improving the work of others, such as reviewing a faulty design to solve a technical problem or testing products or constructions.

These are some examples of common job responsibilities for engineers:

plan and design new products, systems, materials, structures, or processes
create drawings, plans, models, and prototypes
work with regulatory agencies to get permits and meet regulatory demands
collaborate closely with other team members and stakeholders, such as designers, suppliers, architects, and clients
plan and overview manufacturing processes
inspect and test designs
gather and analyze data
write specifications, standards, and reports
review existing designs to suggest improvements and solve technical problems
supervise manufacturing and construction processes

For more specific details of job responsibilities for different engineer specialties, take a look at Monster’s engineering job descriptions.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Engineer?

In all, it takes about eight to ten years to become a professional engineer, depending on whether you decide to get a master’s degree. There are four basic steps along the typical engineering career path:

Obtain a bachelor’s degree: approximately four years.
Pass the FE exam, which you can do close to graduation, or afterwards.
Work as an engineer-in-training (EIT) or engineering intern (ET): at least four years of post-college work experience in your specialty.
Apply for a PE license.

What Degree Do You Need to Be an Engineer?

Your first step in becoming an engineer is to get an engineering degree in the specialty you want to practice, so you should decide what type of engineering you want to work in before you apply to college or university. Common degrees for engineers are a bachelor of science in engineering (BSE) or a bachelor of engineering (BE). Senior positions might require a master’s degree.

If you already have a degree in another major, you may wonder how to become an engineer without an engineering degree. Becoming an engineer is possible with another major, depending on the specialty. A chemical engineer, for example, could have a degree in physical science, and a materials engineer could have a materials science degree.

For computer engineers, a common option is a degree in computer science, but a degree isn’t always required due to the high demand in this field. Other education options include online classes or computer engineering boot camps.

What Classes Do Engineers Take in College?

These are some examples of classes required for an engineer education:

engineering math; calculus for engineering
general chemistry and physics
computer-aided design (CAD)
structures and properties of materials
mechanics
engineering economics
project management
quality control

How to Become an Engineer: Engineering Licenses and Certifications

To practice certain types of engineering, you might need a license, depending on your state. Licensure is often required in fields where safety is important, such as civil engineering or electrical engineering. In some circumstances, licenses and certifications aren’t required but give you an edge in the job market.

Besides licenses for a specific profession, a common step in an engineering career path is to acquire licenses to show your expertise in a subspecialty. Since licenses and certifications often require that you have taken specific classes in college, consider reviewing requirements even before you choose your educational program. You might want to look for a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), for example.

A common state engineering requirement is to become licensed through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). This is a two-step process, starting with passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to become an engineer-in-training (EIT) or engineering intern (ET). After you have a few years of engineering background working under supervision you can get a professional engineering license by passing the Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) exam.

Some examples of optional engineering certifications and accreditations include:

For computer engineers: certificates from CompTIA, Cisco, C++, JavaScript, Python
For design engineers: Autodesk AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS,
For civil engineers: board certification from the American Society of Civil Engineers

How Much Does an Engineer Make?

Average salaries for engineers vary depending on the specialty. Use Monster’s salary tool to find out what different types of engineers make in your area. You can also compare salaries for similar professions, as well as research salary differences between locations. These are some examples of median nationwide salaries for engineers:

How to Become an Engineer After You Graduate

After you’ve graduated from college and passed the FE exam, it’s time to apply to engineering jobs. But don’t rush to send out applications—make sure you have a stellar resume and cover letter first. We have a variety of samples that you can use for inspiration. Here are some examples:

Once your resume is ready to go, check out engineer job listings in these states with the highest need for engineers:

Or look at these top cities for engineering jobs:

Build a Solid Structure for Your Job Search

When you have your degree, licenses, and job application ready, you may wonder what’s the next step in becoming an engineer. Don’t worry about designing a plan for your job search—Monster already has the infrastructure in place. Start by creating a profile. This will enable you to add your resume to our database where over 14,000 companies are searching for job candidates. By creating a profile, you can also respond directly to job ads, as well as get notifications when employers post new openings for engineering roles.