7 Paths for an Electrical Engineer to Pursue a Career in 2022

 

If you pursue an electrical engineer career, it can be cognitively and financially rewarding. In addition, you have the chance to influence how the world functions as an electrical engineer.

Electrical engineering may be the ideal profession for anyone with a flair for mathematics and science and a desire to work on intriguing projects that have the potential to make a difference in the world.

As an electrical engineer, you get a wide range of career options to choose from and may be able to secure employment in various sectors. In this post, we will explore detailed information regarding seven types of electrical engineering jobs and careers and offer advice on how to get started in this field.

So without any further ado, let’s get started.

7 Types of Careers and Jobs for Electrical Engineers

We have jotted down the list of the seven best careers and job opportunities for the ease of electrical engineers. You can read the job descriptions of each type of electrical engineering career and choose the job best suited for you.

1.     Test Engineer

A test engineer is in charge of assessing electrical systems. They conduct usage case investigations, develop test strategies, and communicate with stakeholders to fully comprehend business requirements. In addition, test engineers assist in executing solutions or addressing issues they detect. They participate at every stage of the test program, from setting up the test specifications to identifying problems and formulating the ultimate testing methods.

2.     Design Engineer

A design engineer creates innovative systems and items utilizing CAD software. They develop designs following the guidelines, examine the designs, record their methodology, and seek opinions on the layouts. Design engineers may be required to make adjustments to ensure that the gear complies with standards.

3.     Controls Engineer

A controls engineer is in charge of designing machinery that produces products effectively. Additionally, they develop mechanisms that identify issues with their systems and strategize for upkeep. Finally, control engineers investigate potential solutions, assess their design, and generate efficacy reports demonstrating the system’s effectiveness.

4.     Electrical Project Manager

Electrical project managers oversee the design and execution of novel electrical equipment for building projects. They compose project ideas, set financial constraints, recruit contractors, create project timelines, and monitor employees’ performance. In addition, they place supply orders, complete documentation for regulatory obligations, and engage with other departments on construction activities.

5.     Electronics Engineer

An electronics engineer is responsible for creating, designing, and using electrical products like electric engines, GPS units, and household appliances. They conduct experimental research, evaluate design elements, and adhere to project requirements. In addition, electronics engineers examine existing equipment, compile paperwork detailing the machinery they utilize and related expenses, and ensure that the electronics they design comply with other systems.

6.     Electrical Technician

Electrical technicians build and maintain machinery and equipment that run on electricity. They construct product components, assemble equipment, assess electrical output, and solve operational problems while setting up and fixing the wiring. Moreover, they can recognize the electronic parts of equipment and decide whether basic maintenance or major repairs are required to keep it operating.

7.     Electrical Engineer

An electrical engineer is in charge of creating electrical equipment, such as manufacturing machinery, navigational systems, and electrical systems in various vehicles and mobile devices. Additionally, they evaluate the gear and propose solutions for any faults they detect with its operability or configuration.

Tips for starting a career in electrical engineering

The discipline of electrical engineering is tough and demanding. Therefore, you must create a compelling resume and choose your career path wisely if you want to land your ideal position in electrical engineering. Here are some tips for starting an electrical engineering career:

1.     Become acquainted with the basics:

Gain knowledge about the fundamentals of electrical engineering by attending classes and studying engineering-related textbooks. You must have a solid grasp of the fundamental scientific theories underlying electrical engineering to excel in the electrical engineering field and be able to focus on complex projects.

2.     Practice independently

Spend time working on individual projects where you can hone your circuits and layout design abilities. By doing this, you can strengthen your industrial skills through practical application.

3.     Seek a guide 

Communicate to your lecturers, coworkers, and engineering networks to find a mentor who can guide you in discovering the finest electrical engineering prospects.

4.     Be selective

Make an effort to land different types of electrical engineering jobs to help you achieve your professional objectives in electrical engineering. Look for positions that will enable you to specialize in your field of interest and offer room for advancement.

What is the Best Job for an Electrical Engineer?

Obtaining suitable employment after graduating in electrical engineering may be challenging. You could be confused about what would fit your expertise the most.

To help clear your confusion, any work that you find fascinating can be considered the best job in electrical engineering. Therefore, your passion for a particular electrical engineering field will determine which employment is suitable for you.

Every person has a distinct set of criteria for what constitutes the best job, and as a result, each person’s idea of the best job is distinctive. But everyone’s prerequisite list will likely still include a few items that are similar to all of them.

We all undoubtedly want a hefty paycheck, five days a week, work that is only done during office timings, work contentment, a handsome raise at the end of the year, etc. But, to be sincere, no job in the world can provide all of these things at once. So one must make some compromises to achieve more from anything.

We have discussed the details of seven different job opportunities that an electrical engineer can opt for. Now, you can easily compare them and choose for yourself the best-suited job. But, in the end, it all depends on your preferences and priorities.

 

Advantages of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

 

The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam is on the minds of many college-bound engineering students. It is the first step toward obtaining a license as a professional engineer and is commonly referred to as the FE Exam. Your engineering career can benefit substantially from earning a PE degree.

A tool can advance your career in both technical sectors and management. Much like attending graduate school or receiving a certification. Here are a few justifications for you to think about earning your license. Engineers, like many other highly trained professions like those in medicine or law, are subject to legal restrictions. Since a professional engineer is by definition necessary to legally practice engineering, many engineering professions demand one.

Keep in mind that this exam is a fundamentals-based competency examination and your expert guidance

The Reference Handbook, provided on test day, will contain all the equations required to perform well on the exam, so there is no need to memorize formulas when studying for the FE exam. Instead, it is crucial to understand the key ideas presented on the test. Look for Fundamentals of Engineering Guidance that is available with Studyforfe.com which goes through the ideas covered in a first-year engineering curriculum.

It is recommended that first-time PE exam participants enroll in some sort of revision course. Review programs are offered in audio, video, correspondence, and in-person settings. Because it is well-structured and time-bound, classroom coaching is by far the most effective way to help students prepare for the PE exam.

These courses are often taught at universities that provide some sort of engineering curriculum a few months prior to the exam. It is possible that your employer will foot the bill for the course. Even if it could be difficult for a working engineer to start studying again, understand what it takes to pass the PE exam.

The majority of the classroom courses are created to last 3–4 months. The PE exam requires roughly 300 hours of preparation. The first few minutes are devoted to quickly going through the basics. Solving difficulties takes up the majority of the time.

About the company

Study for FE is one of the best coachings that enables you to seek assistance on topics in which you lack confidence. It is hazardous to try to fit it in the last two months because it does not consider any uncertainty. Enroll with Study for FE and get the guidance to conquer the exam.

 

 

How to Transfer Your PE License between States

 

After putting in a lot of effort and clearing the PE examination, you now intend to utilize your PE license in states other than the one in which you took the test.

Will you be able to get approval for that?

The short answer is yes.

However:

Obtaining a professional engineering license in one state does not allow you to practice engineering in other states.

For this:

You will need to transfer the PE license between states to continue working and enjoy all the benefits in a state other than the one in which you are licensed.

This article will discuss acquiring a PE license in a different state and why it is crucial.

So without any further ado, let’s dive right in.

Getting a PE License in a Different State

The following are two ways to get a PE license in different states:

Comity and Reciprocity

In several states, an engineer with a license from another state can register through a procedure known as comity or endorsement. Some states also provide licenses through reciprocity. Unfortunately, many individuals confuse the two terms and frequently use them interchangeably. These terms are all related to the method for acquiring an engineering license in another state. But their definitions are not comparable.

Comity means you must satisfy the state board’s criteria before acquiring a license. This often entails filing an application that includes information about your schooling, professional experience, exam results, and references. If a candidate’s credentials seem satisfactory to the board, it will examine the data and grant a license.

On the other hand:

Reciprocity is automatic. It means that if you already have an engineering license in one state, another state will instantly grant you one as well. However, states rarely issue licenses based on professional engineer reciprocity, and comity is people’s most popular method to transfer PE licenses between states.

NCEES® Records Program

With the help of its Records Program, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying has made it significantly convenient to obtain a PE license in another state. In comparison to applying to one state at a time, it expedites the process of licensing in multiple states. The first step is to set up an NCEES® account, which most candidates will already have done as part of prepping for their first examination and getting their license.

The majority of the supporting paperwork needed, such as transcripts, examination results, job validation, and references for PE licensing in other states and territories, can be gathered by creating an NCEES® Record.

You must sign into your NCEES® account, choose “Start an NCEES® Record,” or hit the “Multi-State Licensure” option to obtain your NCEES® record. After that, you will be presented with several requirements, each of which has a distinct color. For example, green indicates that everything is in line, yellow denotes there is more work to be done, and white demonstrates that you have not yet started working.

Why Transfer a PE License From One State to Another?

Earning your state’s Professional Engineer (PE) License provides you with many renowned privileges in the engineering sector. Technically, obtaining a PE entitles you to sign and seal engineering documents for various governmental organizations, academic institutions, and municipalities. Career-wise, being a PE gives you more diverse employment opportunities that enable you to pursue a specialty or earn a better income.

You can reap these perks as a PE in your home state. However, if you serve for a corporation that is aiming to expand, you might be asked to work in or supervise tasks done in several states. In this case, you’ll need to feel just as comfortable outside your home state as you do inside it. Remember that a license in one state does not permit you to practice engineering in another.

That’s why transferring the PE license between states is essential to avail of all the benefits!

Although the PE license requirements by state differ in some cases, the criteria are generally the same nationwide:

• Evidence of clearing the PE examination.
• Submission of documentation specific to each state.
• Transcripts from the school, supplementary employment records, and references.
• Completing the application for a PE license relevant to a given state.

Reasons Why You Should Take PE Exam Course

 

Are you interested in learning the Professional Engineer Examination Passing Secret? Now let's get to it. The key to passing the PE Exam is preparing with PE Exam Course for it. The secret to passing is to realize that this is easier said than done. Please do not attempt to enter the exam unprepared. Of course, you will need to be alert and prepared on test day, and there are additional strategies that will improve your chances of passing.

The exam's challenging aspect is that there is a lot of content that could be covered, even within your own field of study. As a result, you cannot predict the exact type of questions that will be on the exam, thus you must be prepared for a wide range of questions. Additionally, you have not been exposed to a lot of the material in the last few years, which necessitates even more review.

Prepare with Study for FE and conquer the PE Exam

The exam standards include information on the subjects that will probably be included in your exam, which is a good thing. On the NCEES website, you may find the requirements for the PE Exam in your field of study. PE Exam Free Downloads are readily available with Study for FE.

You must make a schedule so that you can cover each of those topics after you determine exactly what you should be prepared for. The majority of people allot three to four months studying for the PE Exam. Decide when you will cover each topic during that time, and then stick to your strategy. The benefit of a schedule is that it makes it possible to segment the exam into manageable parts.

The majority of your preparation time should be spent doing problems, with some time set aside for learning and reviewing theory. The majority of the exam questions are probably going to include solving issues, but some sections of it have theoretical problems. You need expert help that gives you the right path with Studyforfe.com

If the PE Exam was simple, everyone would pass; however, it is difficult.  Study for FE is one platform that helps you believe that a solid study plan and thorough preparation are essential for passing the PE Exam. The key to passing the PE Exam should enable you to realize your passing potential.

About the company

Professional engineers with both industry and classroom experience instruct the courses at the Study for FE. Their instructors offer thorough lectures that cover the topics included on the NCEES exam because their primary goal is to assist you in passing your PE exam.

FE exam Vs PE exam – Differences and Similarities

 

The FE exam is often seen as a precursor to the PE exam. But are they really that similar? In this post, we’ll compare and contrast the two exams and help you decide which one is best for you. Spoiler alert: the answer isn’t always simple! Read on to learn more.

Both exams are rigorous, but there are some key differences. The FE exam focuses on theory, while the PE exam is more practice-based. The FE exam also has a broader range of topics, whereas the PE exam specializes in a few areas.

Which one is right for you? That depends on your career goals and experience level.

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams are challenging in their own respects.

In this post, I will focus on the FE exam vs the PE exam. Both of these exams have undergone some format changes in 2022. In this article, we will conduct a side-by-side comparison of both exams.

Difference Between FE Exam and PE Exam – [FE exam Vs. PE exam]

1. The Order in Which You Take the Exam

The very first difference between the FE exams Vs. the PE exam is the order you have to take both exams in.

The FE exam is the stepping stone to getting the PE license to become a licensed engineer, that’s why you have to take it first.

That being said, it is clearly evident that the PE exam comes second in order – you can only take it once you clear the FE exam.

2. Cost

The FE exam typically costs $175, which must be paid directly to NCEES® at the time of registration. However, certain states may require the submission of a separate application as part of their authorization procedure. As a result, you might have to deposit an extra filing fee to take the FE exam.

On the other hand:

The PE exam generally costs $375, but again, it can vary for each state’s licensing board, directly payable to NCEES®.

3. Format

There isn’t any difference between the FE exam Vs. the PE exam when it comes to the exam format. Both the exams are administered via the computer-based testing (CBT) format.

4. Questions

All the FE exam disciplines contain the same number of problems, i.e., 110 multiple-choice questions, divided between the morning and afternoon portions. So, each portion contains 55 questions.

But for the PE exam, the number of questions varies depending on the PE exam discipline but lies in the range of 80-85 problems.

For more clarity, the PE exam for Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Power, and Environmental disciplines comprises 80 questions, whereas, it contains 85 problems for the rest of the disciplines.

5. Time

The total FE exam time for all the disciplines is six hours excluding the scheduled break and you will get five hours and 20 min of actual exam time to solve the problems.

Whereas:

The total and the actual time of the PE exam depends on the discipline you intend to take the test in.

The total time for the Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Power and Environmental PE exams is nine hours, and eight hours for the actual exam excluding the scheduled break.

The total exam duration for the rest of the PE exam disciplines is 9.5 hours, and 8.5 hours for the actual exam excluding the scheduled break.

6. Break

The FE exam has a scheduled break of 25 min duration.

But:

As the duration of the PE exam is longer than the FE exam, that’s why you get 50 min of a scheduled break during the PE exam.

You can either relax, eat, check out on your car, or even take a nap during these scheduled breaks.

7. When Should You Take It?

Ideally, you should take the FE exam immediately after you graduate. It’s because the concepts are still fresh in your mind and you won’t have to put in a lot of effort to study for the FE exam.

However, you can also take the FE exam years after completing your degree. But, in that case, you will have to spend much more time preparing for the FE exam as you won’t be used to taking and studying for the exams. 

Talking about the PE exam, you are bound to take it only after passing the FE exam.

8. Pass Rates

On average, the FE exam passing rate for all the disciplines is 71% for first-time test takers.

In contrast:

The PE exam pass rate across all the disciplines for first-time test takers is 65% on average.   

9. Difficulty Level

In terms of the difficulty level, the FE exam lies in the range of medium-hard. It is due to the fact that it is only the first step on the road to obtaining your PE license and is specially designed to be taken by students during their studies or just after graduation.

On the other hand:

The PE exam can prove to be extremely tough as no one would want just anybody to design structures to withstand earthquakes, heavy winds, and everyday life!

10. Required Study Time

Though it completely depends on the person who’s going to take the FE exam, it is recommended to spend at least three-five hours per day for two-three months for preparation.

Whereas for the PE exam, it is suggested to devote at least 215-230 hours over a 3-month period.

11. Open Book?

Both the FE and the PE exams are closed-book. However, you only get access to the NCEES® reference handbook’s electronic version during the exam, which contains essential equations, formulas, unit conversions, etc.

12. Get a Title After Passing

After passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, you will achieve the Engineering In Training (EIT) title.

The EIT certification or title can just serve to highlight your knowledge of engineering fundamentals and capacity for more challenging tasks. It also lets the employers know that you have aced your FE exam and are all set to attain the PE license.

Contrarily:

You will be awarded the Professional Engineer (PE) after you clear your Principles and Practice Engineering exam, which grants you legal benefits such as signing and sealing stamps.

There is no substitute for studying hard and by putting in the conscious effort you will only increase your chance of success. But equally important is studying smart. I’ve authored several books on the topic of FE Electrical & Computer and PE Power exam and created online courses for both exams and understand the challenges involved in preparing for these exams.