Engineering: Consider Career Training in this Diverse and Growing Career Field

Broadly speaking, engineers use math and science to solve technical problems. They can choose from a wide and rapidly expanding range of specialties, most of which fall under the following branches: chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, and more.

Career Training: Getting Started in Your Engineering Career

Most entry-level engineering jobs require college degrees, typically a bachelor's of science in engineering; however, graduates of two-year associate's degree programs can work as engineering technicians, assisting engineers and scientists with research and development, production, and testing. Working engineers can update their skills or further specialize with advanced college or online degrees, such as a master's degree in a specific area of engineering. A PhD is essential for most teaching and research positions.

Engineers are only as valuable as their knowledge is current. Career training can be a convenient way for engineers to stay on top of the latest technical and scientific advances at every stage of their careers.

Growing Career Opportunities in Engineering
Depending on your speciality, both career opportunities and earning potential vary from position to position. For example, in 2008, environmental engineers earned a median annual salary of $74,020, mechanical engineers earned $74,920, and civil engineers earned $74,600.

Overall engineering employment is expected to increase by 11 percent between 2006 and 2016, with the strongest growth in the civil and environmental engineering fields.