Top 10 Electronic Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for electronic engineers in the job market because they demonstrate a level of knowledge and expertise that employers look for when hiring. Certifications can provide potential employers with assurance that the engineer possesses the technical skills and experience necessary to perform the job duties. Additionally, certifications may help electronic engineers stand out from other applicants, improve their chances of getting an interview, and even increase their salary potential.

This article reviews the top certifications for Electronic Engineers and explains how they can help electronic engineers advance their careers.

What are Electronic Engineer Certifications?

Electronic engineer certification is a type of professional certification that demonstrates a person’s knowledge and experience in the field of electronics engineering. It is earned by passing an exam offered by one of several professional organizations, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Certifications are typically valid for three years, after which they must be renewed to remain current.

By earning electronic engineer certification, engineers demonstrate their commitment to their profession, as well as their expertise in the field. This can be beneficial to employers who want to ensure they hire only qualified professionals with up-to-date knowledge. It may also help engineers secure higher salaries or promotions within their organization. In addition, certifications are often required by some employers as part of their hiring process and can give job seekers an edge over other applicants. Furthermore, having a certification may make it easier for engineers to find jobs in other countries where certain certifications are required for certain positions. Finally, earning certification can provide engineers with access to continuing education opportunities and resources that may enhance their understanding of new technologies and trends within the industry.

Always keep your electronic engineer certification up to date. Many certifying bodies require periodic continuing education credits in order to maintain your certification, so be sure to stay on top of any requirements and stay current with the latest technologies in your field.

Related: What does an Electronic Engineer do?

Top 10 Electronic Engineer Certifications

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

1. Certified Electronics Technician (CET)

Certified Electronics Technician (CET) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to work in the electronics industry. The certification is offered by the Electronics Technicians Association International (ETA-I).

To become certified, applicants must pass an exam that covers topics such as electrical theory, digital electronics, analog electronics, communications systems, electronic components and troubleshooting. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

In order to take the CET exam, applicants must first meet certain eligibility requirements. These include having at least two years of documented experience in the field of electronics or completion of a two-year electronics technology degree from an accredited college or university.

The cost for taking the CET exam varies depending on your location and whether you are a member of ETA-I or not. In general, it costs $125 for members and $150 for non-members.

2. Certified Instrumentation and Control Technician (CICT)

Certified Instrumentation and Control Technician (CICT) is a professional certification program offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA). The CICT certification is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the field of instrumentation and control.

To become certified, an individual must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as instrumentation principles, process control theory, calibration techniques, safety procedures, and troubleshooting. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours.

In order to qualify for the CICT exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience working in the instrumentation and control field. Additionally, applicants must complete an approved training program or demonstrate equivalent knowledge through a portfolio review process.

The cost for taking the CICT exam is $495 USD for ISA members or $595 USD for non-members. The cost includes access to study materials, practice tests, and other resources to help prepare for the exam.

Once an individual passes the CICT exam they will be awarded their certification which is valid for three years from date of issue. After three years they will need to retake the exam in order to maintain their certification status.

3. Certified Automation Professional (CAP)

Certified Automation Professional (CAP) is an internationally recognized certification that verifies a professional’s knowledge and experience in industrial automation. CAP certification is administered by the International Society of Automation (ISA). It is designed to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of automation principles, as well as the ability to design, implement, and maintain automated systems.

It typically takes around six months to prepare for the CAP exam. The preparation process involves studying topics such as instrumentation and control, system integration, programming, networking, safety and security, project management, and system optimization. Additionally, applicants must have at least three years of experience in automation engineering or related fields in order to be eligible for the exam.

To get CAP certified, applicants must pass a three-hour online exam consisting of multiple-choice questions covering all areas of industrial automation. The fee for taking the exam is $450 USD for ISA members and $600 USD for non-members.

4. Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)

A Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) is a professional who has been trained and certified to ensure the reliability of products and services. CREs are responsible for identifying potential failure points in the design, development, production, and maintenance of products or services. They use their knowledge of engineering principles and practices to assess risk, develop plans to reduce risk, and monitor performance against those plans.

The certification process typically takes between 18-24 months depending on experience and prior education. The CRE certification is offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). In order to become certified, applicants must pass an exam that covers topics such as quality management systems, reliability engineering principles, failure analysis techniques, preventive maintenance strategies, statistical methods for quality assurance, design of experiments, and more.

The cost of becoming a Certified Reliability Engineer varies depending on the type of exam you take. The standard exam costs $325 USD while the advanced exam costs $425 USD. There may also be additional fees associated with taking the exam such as registration fees or travel expenses if you need to take it at a testing center outside your area.

5. Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)

Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) is a professional certification offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and proficiency in the field of manufacturing engineering. The certification is intended to demonstrate an individual’s mastery of the principles, practices, and techniques of modern manufacturing engineering.

To obtain the CMfgE certification, an individual must pass an exam administered by ASQ. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as quality control, production planning, materials management, and process improvement. The exam also includes a written component that tests the applicant’s ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.

The cost of taking the CMfgE exam varies depending on whether or not you are an ASQ member. For non-members, the fee is $450 USD; for members, it is $375 USD. It typically takes around two months to receive your results after taking the exam.

In addition to passing the exam, applicants must also meet certain educational and experience requirements in order to be eligible for certification. These include having at least three years of full-time work experience in a related field and having earned at least a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

6. Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)

Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is a professional certification offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). The CQE credential is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and skills in quality engineering, management, and assurance.

In order to become a Certified Quality Engineer, applicants must meet certain requirements. First, they must have at least eight years of full-time work experience in quality engineering or related fields. Second, they must pass an exam administered by ASQ. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as statistics, quality control, design of experiments, process improvement methods, and management principles.

It typically takes about one year to prepare for the CQE exam. Applicants should take advantage of study materials provided by ASQ or other organizations that offer preparation courses for the exam. Additionally, applicants can benefit from attending seminars or workshops on quality engineering topics.

The cost of taking the CQE exam varies depending on the country where it is taken; typically it costs around $400 USD in North America and Europe.

7. Certified Electronic Systems Technician (CEST)

Certified Electronic Systems Technician (CEST) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electronic systems. It is offered by the Electronics Technicians Association International (ETA).

The CEST certification program consists of three levels: Certified Electronic Systems Technician Level I (CEST-I), Certified Electronic Systems Technician Level II (CEST-II), and Certified Electronic Systems Technician Level III (CEST-III). Each level requires different levels of experience and knowledge.

To earn the CEST certification, applicants must pass a written exam that covers topics such as safety, electrical theory, electronics components, signal analysis, troubleshooting techniques, digital logic circuits, power supplies, microprocessors/microcontrollers, communication systems and other related topics. The exam is administered by ETA International at its testing centers located throughout the United States.

It typically takes between six months to one year to complete all three levels of the CEST certification program. To get started on the path to becoming certified as a CEST technician, applicants must first become an ETA member and then register for the appropriate level of examination.

The cost of taking each level of the CEST exam varies depending on whether you are an ETA member or not. For non-members, it costs $160 for each level; for members it costs $120 per level.

8. Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP)

Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP) is a professional certification program for individuals who work in the electrical safety compliance industry. This certification is designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and expertise in the field of electrical safety compliance. It is awarded by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

To become certified, applicants must first meet certain requirements such as having at least three years of experience in the field of electrical safety compliance, passing a written exam, and completing a training course. The written exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as NFPA 70E standards, OSHA regulations, and other relevant topics related to electrical safety compliance. The training course includes classroom instruction on NFPA 70E standards and other related topics.

The cost of the CESCP certification program varies depending on where you take the training course and how long it takes you to complete it. Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 USD for the entire program.

In terms of time commitment, it usually takes about two months to complete all of the requirements for this certification program. This includes studying for the written exam and attending classes for the training course. After successfully completing all requirements, applicants will receive their CESCP certificate from NFPA.

9. Certified Radio Frequency Professional (CRFP)

Certified Radio Frequency Professional (CRFP) is a certification program offered by the International Association of Certified RF Professionals (IACRF). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and expertise in radio frequency (RF) technology. The CRFP certification is a globally recognized credential that verifies an individual’s ability to effectively design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot RF systems.

To become certified as a CRFP, applicants must pass an exam administered by IACRF. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as RF fundamentals, antennas, propagation, modulation techniques, system design principles, and safety regulations. Applicants must also possess at least two years of experience working with RF systems or equipment.

The cost for the CRFP certification varies depending on the applicant's country of residence and whether they are applying for the full or partial certification program. In general, the cost ranges from $400-$600 USD for the full program and $200-$300 USD for the partial program. It usually takes around four weeks to complete all requirements necessary to become certified as a CRFP.

10. Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD)

Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) is a professional certification offered by BICSI, an international association for the advancement of information and communications technology. The RCDD certification is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge in the design, integration and implementation of telecommunications and data communications systems.

To become certified as an RCDD, candidates must pass a two-part exam that covers topics such as telecommunications cabling design, network architecture, standards and codes, project management, system components and applications. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

Candidates must first register with BICSI to take the exam. Registration fees vary depending on membership status; non-members pay $395 USD while members pay $295 USD. Once registered, candidates can schedule their exams at any of BICSI's testing centers worldwide.

The cost of the RCDD certification varies based on whether or not you are a member of BICSI. Non-members will pay $395 USD for the exam plus an additional $100 USD for the credentialing fee if they pass the exam. Members will pay $295 USD for the exam plus an additional $50 USD for the credentialing fee if they pass the exam.

Do You Really Need a Electronic Engineer Certificate?

The decision to pursue an electronic engineer certificate should not be taken lightly. The field is highly specialized and requires a great deal of study, practice, and dedication. It is important to consider if the certificate is necessary for your career goals before investing time and money into obtaining it.

If you are considering a job in electronics engineering or other related fields, such as computer engineering, having a certificate can be beneficial. Many employers require certification from accredited schools or organizations to prove that you have the knowledge and skills to do the job effectively. Having an electronic engineer certificate will also make you stand out from other applicants for any position in this field.

On the other hand, if you are already working in electronics engineering or another related field and want to move up in your career, an electronic engineer certificate may not be necessary. In some cases, experience alone may be enough to get promoted or take on more responsibility within a company. It's important to research the requirements of each job opportunity thoroughly before deciding whether a certificate would give you an edge in securing it.

Ultimately, earning an electronic engineer certificate can open up many opportunities for those looking to advance their careers in this field. However, it is important to weigh your individual situation carefully before making this investment of time and money.

Related: Electronic Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Electronic Engineer Certifications

Q1: What is an Electronic Engineer Certification?

A1: An Electronic Engineer Certification is a professional certification that recognizes the knowledge and skills of those who have completed a specific program in electronic engineering. It is designed to demonstrate the holder's proficiency in designing, developing, and maintaining electrical and electronic equipment.

Q2: How do I get certified as an Electronic Engineer?

A2: To become certified as an Electronic Engineer, you must complete a degree or certificate program from an accredited institution. You may also need to pass a certification exam administered by a professional organization such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

Q3: Is there any cost associated with obtaining an Electronic Engineering Certification?

A3: Yes, there may be costs associated with obtaining an Electronic Engineering Certification, such as tuition fees for courses taken or exam fees for professional certifications.

Q4: How often do I need to renew my Electronic Engineering Certification?

A4: Most certifications require renewal every two years. Renewal usually requires completion of continuing education credits or passing a new exam.

Q5: Are there any prerequisites for obtaining an Electronic Engineering Certification?

A5: Yes, some certifications require applicants to have already obtained certain qualifications or experience before applying for certification.