Top 10 Circuit Design Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for a circuit design engineer in the job market because they provide the engineer with additional knowledge and skills, as well as demonstrate their competency to potential employers. Certifications can also show that an engineer has gone through rigorous training and is knowledgeable in the latest technologies. This is especially important in a competitive job market where employers are looking for qualified candidates. Additionally, certifications can help engineers stand out among other applicants and may even give them an edge when it comes to salary negotiation.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the top certifications for Circuit Design Engineers and explain how they can help advance their career.

What are Circuit Design Engineer Certifications?

Circuit design engineer certification is a type of professional certification that demonstrates an individual's expertise in designing electrical circuits. This certification is typically earned by engineers who have completed specialized courses and gained relevant experience in the field. It is designed to demonstrate a mastery of the principles and techniques involved in circuit design, as well as provide a comprehensive understanding of component selection and integration, testing, troubleshooting, and other aspects of the engineering process.

Having circuit design engineer certification can be advantageous for both employers and employees. For employers, it provides assurance that their team members are qualified to handle complex engineering projects. Additionally, having certified engineers on staff can help them attract new clients who need experienced professionals to complete their projects. For employees, having this certification can make them more attractive to potential employers or clients looking for engineers with specialized skills. Furthermore, it can open up opportunities for advancement within the engineering field as well as increased pay due to the increased level of expertise demonstrated by the certificate holder.

Pro Tip: To ensure that your circuit design engineer certification is up-to-date, make sure to stay abreast of the latest industry developments and certifications. Additionally, keep track of any continuing education requirements associated with your certification so you can stay ahead of the curve.

Related: What does a Circuit Design Engineer do?

Top 10 Circuit Design Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Circuit Design Engineers today.

1. Certified Electronics Technician (CET)

Certified Electronics Technician (CET) is a professional certification program offered by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET). The CET certification is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals who work in the electronics industry.

The CET certification requires a minimum of two years of documented experience in the electronics field. This experience must be verified by a qualified supervisor or employer. Applicants must also pass an examination that covers topics such as electrical safety, electronic components, circuit theory, digital systems, troubleshooting techniques, and more.

To get the CET certification you must first complete an application form and submit it to ISCET along with your documentation of experience. Once your application is approved, you will receive instructions on how to register for the exam. The exam fee is $125 USD plus applicable taxes.

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within three hours. After passing the exam you will receive your official CET certificate and can use the designation “Certified Electronics Technician” after your name.

2. Certified Design Engineer (CDE)

Certified Design Engineer (CDE) is a professional certification program offered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). It is designed to recognize and validate the skills and knowledge of experienced design engineers. The program provides an opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their expertise in engineering design, analysis, and problem solving.

The CDE certification requires applicants to have at least five years of professional experience in mechanical engineering or related fields. Applicants must also pass a written examination that covers topics such as materials selection, stress analysis, manufacturing processes, and design optimization. Additionally, applicants must submit a portfolio demonstrating their design experience and accomplishments.

The entire process takes approximately three months from application to completion. The cost of the exam is $450 for members of ASME and $550 for non-members.

3. Certified Analog Design Engineer (CADE)

Certified Analog Design Engineer (CADE) is a professional certification program offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA). It is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge and skills of analog design engineers. The CADE credential is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in analog engineering.

The CADE program consists of two parts: an online exam and a hands-on lab assessment. To become certified, applicants must pass both parts within three years of their initial application date.

The online exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as analog circuit design, signal processing, system analysis, and troubleshooting. The lab assessment requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to design, build, and debug an analog circuit.

The cost for the CADE program varies depending on the country where you are applying from. In the United States, it costs $400 for ISA members or $500 for non-members. This fee includes both the online exam and the lab assessment.

In order to apply for the CADE program, applicants must have at least two years of experience in designing analog circuits and systems or hold a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field with coursework in analog electronics.

4. Certified Digital Design Engineer (CDDE)

Certified Digital Design Engineer (CDDE) is an international certification program that recognizes the knowledge and skills of digital design engineers. The CDDE certification is offered by the International Council on Digital Design Engineering (ICDDE). It is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of digital design engineering, from basic principles to advanced concepts.

The CDDE certification requires applicants to pass an online exam, which consists of multiple choice questions covering topics such as digital design principles, circuit analysis, logic design, signal processing, and embedded systems. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

To be eligible for the CDDE certification, applicants must have at least five years of experience in the field of digital design engineering or a related field. They must also have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field.

The cost of taking the CDDE exam varies depending on where you take it. In general, it costs between $200 and $400 USD. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with taking the exam, such as registration fees or travel expenses if you are taking it at an off-site location.

Once you have passed the exam and met all other requirements for certification, you will receive your official CDDE certificate from ICDDE. This certificate will demonstrate your expertise in digital design engineering and can help open doors for career opportunities in this field.

5. Certified VLSI Design Engineer (CVDE)

Certified VLSI Design Engineer (CVDE) is a professional certification program offered by the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in the design and development of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) systems.

The CVDE certification requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge and experience in the areas of VLSI system design, architecture, verification, testing, and implementation. The program also includes topics such as system-level integration and verification, software engineering principles, embedded systems design, analog/mixed signal design, digital signal processing, and hardware/software co-design.

It typically takes around two years to complete the requirements for the CVDE certification. This includes completing an approved course or courses on VLSI system design and taking an exam administered by INCOSE. The cost of the certification varies depending on where you take your courses and how many courses you need to take. Generally speaking, it can range from $2,000-$5,000 USD.

6. Certified Printed Circuit Board Designer (CPCBD)

Certified Printed Circuit Board Designer (CPCBD) is a certification program designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated expertise in the field of printed circuit board design. The certification is administered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The CPCBD certification requires applicants to pass an exam that covers topics such as electrical engineering, computer-aided design (CAD), and printed circuit board design principles. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete.

In order to be eligible for the CPCBD certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience in printed circuit board design or a related field. Applicants must also have a minimum of three years of experience in electrical engineering or a related field.

The cost for the CPCBD certification is $400 USD for IEEE members and $500 USD for non-members. The fee includes the application fee, exam fee, and processing fee.

Once an applicant has passed the exam, they will receive their official CPCBD certificate within four weeks.

7. Certified Electrical Engineering Technician (CEET)

Certified Electrical Engineering Technician (CEET) is a professional certification offered by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET). The CEET certification is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals who work in the field of electrical engineering technology.

The CEET program consists of two parts: a written exam and a practical exam. The written exam covers topics such as electrical theory, circuit analysis, troubleshooting techniques, safety practices, and industry standards. The practical exam evaluates the candidate’s ability to apply their knowledge in a hands-on environment.

It typically takes 6-12 months to complete the CEET program depending on the individual's experience level. In order to become certified, candidates must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher.

The cost for taking the CEET exams varies depending on location and other factors but generally ranges from $200-$500 USD.

8. Certified System-on-Chip Designer (CSOCD)

Certified System-on-Chip Designer (CSOCD) is a professional certification program designed to recognize the expertise of experienced system-on-chip (SoC) designers. The certification is issued by the International Society for SoC Designers (ISSCD). It is intended to demonstrate mastery of the principles and practices of SoC design and verification, as well as knowledge of industry best practices.

The CSOCD certification requires applicants to have at least five years of experience in SoC design and verification, including two years in a lead or supervisory role. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as system architecture, design methodology, verification techniques, and debugging tools. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

To obtain the CSOCD certification, applicants must submit an application form along with a nonrefundable fee of $350 USD. Once approved, applicants will be required to take the CSOCD exam within six months from the date of approval. Upon successful completion of the exam, applicants will receive their official CSOCD certificate and badge.

9. Certified FPGA Designer (CFPD)

Certified FPGA Designer (CFPD) is a professional certification program offered by the Programmable Logic Designers Association (PLDA). It is designed to recognize the skill and knowledge of experienced FPGA designers. The CFPD certification is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, verify, and debug complex FPGA designs.

The CFPD certification process involves passing both a written exam and a practical lab exam. The written exam covers topics such as FPGA architecture, logic synthesis, timing analysis, and verification techniques. The practical lab exam requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to create an FPGA design from scratch using PLDA's development tools.

It typically takes 8-10 weeks to complete the CFPD certification process. Applicants must first register on the PLDA website and pay the associated fees before they can begin studying for the exams. Once registered, applicants will receive access to online study materials as well as practice exams that can help them prepare for the written and practical lab exams.

The cost of obtaining the CFPD certification varies depending on where you live and which package you choose. Generally speaking, it costs around $500-$1000 USD for all of the necessary materials and exams needed to become certified.

10. Certified Embedded Systems Engineer (CESE).

Certified Embedded Systems Engineer (CESE) is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in the design, development and implementation of embedded systems. It is offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA).

It typically takes about six months to complete the CESE program. The program consists of three parts: a self-study course, a hands-on lab project and an online examination. The self-study course covers topics such as embedded system architecture, software development tools and techniques, hardware/software integration, debugging and testing, and system performance optimization. The hands-on lab project requires students to build an embedded system from scratch using real-world components. Finally, the online examination tests students’ knowledge of embedded systems engineering principles.

The cost of the CESE program varies depending on which components you choose to take. The self-study course costs $450 USD while the hands-on lab project costs $600 USD. Additionally, there is an exam fee of $250 USD for those who wish to take the online examination.

Overall, obtaining your CESE certification can be a great way to demonstrate your competency in embedded systems engineering and can help you stand out from other job applicants in this field.

Do You Really Need a Circuit Design Engineer Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual and their career goals. For those who are interested in pursuing a career as a circuit design engineer, it is likely beneficial to obtain a certificate in this field. A certificate can provide an individual with the necessary education and training required for this profession. It can also demonstrate an individual's commitment to their chosen profession and help them stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs.

Additionally, having a certificate may be beneficial if one is looking to advance their career and become more specialized in the field of circuit design engineering. Having such a credential can demonstrate that they have mastered certain skills related to the field and are highly qualified for positions requiring more advanced knowledge or experience.

That said, whether or not someone needs to obtain a circuit design engineer certificate ultimately depends on the person’s individual goals and circumstances. If someone already has sufficient knowledge or experience in the field, they may not need additional certification. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide if obtaining a certificate is worth their time and money.

Related: Circuit Design Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Circuit Design Engineer Certifications

Q1: What are the benefits of becoming a Certified Circuit Design Engineer?

A1: Becoming a Certified Circuit Design Engineer can open up new opportunities for professional growth, increased job security, higher salaries, and industry recognition. It also helps demonstrate to employers and clients that you have the technical knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in this field.

Q2: How do I become a Certified Circuit Design Engineer?

A2: Becoming a Certified Circuit Design Engineer requires passing an examination administered by an accredited organization. Depending on the organization, this exam may include topics such as circuit analysis, design principles, component selection, testing methods, debugging techniques, PCB layout and fabrication processes. Additionally, some organizations may require applicants to have completed coursework or other training related to circuit design engineering.

Q3: What is the cost of becoming a Certified Circuit Design Engineer?

A3: The cost of becoming a Certified Circuit Design Engineer will vary depending on the organization administering the exam. In general, costs for exams range from $100-$500 USD. Additionally, some organizations may charge additional fees for materials or other services related to certification.

Q4: How long will it take me to become certified?

A4: The amount of time it takes to become certified depends on how much preparation you do prior to taking the exam. Generally speaking, expect it to take several months or longer depending on your level of preparation and experience with circuit design engineering concepts. Additionally, some organizations may require applicants to complete coursework or other training prior to taking the exam which could add additional time for certification.

Q5: What resources are available for studying for my certification exam?

A5: There are numerous resources available online that can help prepare you for your certification exam including textbooks and online courses covering topics such as circuit analysis, design principles, component selection, testing methods and debugging techniques. Additionally many organizations offer practice exams which can help identify areas where further study is needed prior to taking the actual examination.