Top 10 Electronics Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for electronics engineers in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and mastery of specific skills. Having certifications in relevant areas can give an engineer an edge over other candidates, as employers often view certifications as evidence that the engineer has dedicated time and effort to honing their skills and staying up-to-date on the latest technology. Certifications also provide employers with an objective measure of ability, so they can easily compare candidates’ qualifications. Furthermore, certain types of certifications may be required by some employers for certain positions.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Electronics Engineers and explains how they can help advance an electronics engineer's career.

What are Electronics Engineer Certifications?

Electronics engineer certification is a professional certification program designed to recognize the knowledge and experience of electronics engineers. It is offered by many professional organizations and accredited universities, and it is used as an indicator of a person's competency in the field. This certification can be beneficial in many ways, such as helping engineers demonstrate their knowledge and expertise to potential employers, providing them with an edge over other applicants when seeking employment, or allowing them to advance their career by obtaining additional certifications or degrees. Additionally, this certification can help employers identify qualified applicants for positions that require specialized engineering skills. Furthermore, having this type of certification may help engineers obtain higher salaries since they will be seen as more knowledgeable in their field than those without it.

Pro Tip: Consider pursuing multiple certifications related to electronics engineering. This will demonstrate your expertise and help you stand out in a competitive job market. You can also look into professional development courses to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and technologies.

Related: What does an Electronics Engineer do?

Top 10 Electronics Engineer Certifications

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

1. Certified Electronics Technician (CET)

Certified Electronics Technician (CET) is a professional certification program for individuals who have demonstrated mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to install, maintain, service and troubleshoot electronic equipment. The certification is administered by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET).

To become certified, an individual must pass both a written exam and a practical exam. The written exam covers topics such as safety, electrical theory, electronics components, circuit analysis and troubleshooting. The practical exam tests the applicant’s ability to identify components, build circuits and diagnose problems.

The certification process typically takes around six months to complete. During this time, applicants must complete all required coursework and pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher.

The cost of becoming certified varies depending on the provider but usually ranges from $200 to $400 USD. This fee includes the cost of the exams as well as any course materials or other resources needed to prepare for them.

2. Certified Professional Engineer (CPE)

Certified Professional Engineer (CPE) is a professional certification program designed to recognize the competency of engineers in various disciplines. It is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). The CPE certification is voluntary and demonstrates an engineer’s commitment to their profession.

It typically takes two years to obtain the CPE certification. To become certified, you must first meet the educational requirements by earning a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited engineering program. You also need to have four years of engineering experience under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer, pass two examinations, and submit a completed application form with all supporting documents.

The cost of obtaining the CPE certification varies depending on your state’s requirements. Generally, it costs around $600-$800 for the application fee, examination fees, and other associated costs such as travel expenses. Additionally, some states may require additional fees for continuing education courses or other services related to maintaining your certification.

3. Certified Electronic System Design Professional (CESDP)

Certified Electronic System Design Professional (CESDP) is a professional certification program offered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the design, development, and implementation of electronic systems. The CESDP certification provides assurance that the individual has met rigorous standards for knowledge and experience in system design.

The certification requires a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, as well as successful completion of an examination covering topics such as system architecture, digital signal processing, embedded systems, analog circuitry, power electronics, communication systems, and more. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and can take up to four hours to complete.

In order to become certified, applicants must submit an application form along with proof of work experience and payment for the exam fee. The fee for taking the exam is $450 USD. Once all requirements are met, applicants will receive a confirmation email from IEEE with instructions on how to take the exam.

After passing the exam, applicants will be issued their CESDP certificate from IEEE within six weeks. This certificate is valid for three years before it must be renewed through continuing education units (CEUs). CEUs can be earned through attending conferences or workshops related to system design or by completing online courses related to system design topics.

4. Certified Automation & Control Systems Engineer (CACE)

Certified Automation & Control Systems Engineer (CACE) is a certification program offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA). The CACE certification is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and experience in automation and control systems engineering.

The CACE program consists of two parts: a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam covers topics such as system design, programming, networking, safety, troubleshooting, and maintenance. The oral exam focuses on the application of these skills in the workplace.

To become certified as a CACE engineer, you must pass both the written and oral exams. The written exam takes approximately four hours to complete while the oral exam takes approximately two hours.

The cost for taking the CACE certification exams is $450 USD for ISA members and $600 USD for non-members. This fee includes registration fees, study materials, and other related costs. Additionally, there are additional fees for retaking either or both exams if you do not pass them on your first attempt.

5. IEEE Senior Member Certification

IEEE Senior Member Certification is a recognition for engineers, scientists, and technical professionals who have demonstrated professional maturity and significant accomplishments in their field. It is the highest grade of membership within the IEEE and requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience.

The process to become an IEEE Senior Member takes approximately 6-8 months. The first step is to submit an application form and supporting documents that demonstrate your qualifications. These documents include proof of professional experience, letters of recommendation from two senior members, and a statement of professional accomplishments. After submitting these documents, you must pass an interview with the IEEE Membership Committee, who will review your application package and decide if you meet the criteria for Senior Membership.

The cost to apply for Senior Membership is $25 USD. If accepted, there are additional fees associated with becoming an IEEE Senior Member including annual dues which vary depending on your geographic region.

In addition to recognition as a senior member within the IEEE community, some benefits include access to exclusive publications, discounts on conferences and events, access to career development resources, and voting privileges in elections for officers or directors within the organization.

6. 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 program is designed to provide instrumentation and control technicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their job duties safely, accurately, and efficiently.

The CICT certification requires applicants to pass two exams: the ISA Certified Instrumentation & Control Technician Exam (CICTE) and the ISA Certified Automation Professional Exam (CAPE). The CICTE exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as electrical safety, process control fundamentals, instrument calibration, troubleshooting, and system design. The CAPE exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as automation systems engineering principles, project management, system integration, networking technologies, and data analysis.

It typically takes three to six months to complete the CICT certification process. During this time period, applicants must complete both exams with a passing score of 70% or higher. They must also submit an application form along with proof of work experience in order to be eligible for the certification.

The cost for taking both exams is $400 USD for ISA members or $450 USD for non-members. Additionally, there may be additional costs associated with purchasing study materials or attending training courses related to the exams.

7. Certified Electronics Engineering Technician (CEET)

Certified Electronics Engineering Technician (CEET) is a professional certification program offered by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET). It is designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of experienced electronics technicians who have demonstrated competence in electronics technology. The CEET certification is based on a comprehensive examination that covers topics such as electrical safety, test equipment operation, digital logic, circuit analysis, and troubleshooting.

The CEET certification program requires applicants to have at least two years of experience in electronics technology or related fields. Applicants must also submit documentation verifying their work experience and pass an exam administered by ISCET. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering all aspects of electronics technology.

The cost for the CEET certification program varies depending on the type of application submitted and the number of exams taken. Generally speaking, it costs between $200 and $400 to apply for the CEET certification program.

The time required to complete the CEET certification process depends on the applicant's experience level and how quickly they can study for and pass the exam. Most applicants take between 3-6 months to complete all requirements for their CEET certification.

8. Certified Telecommunications Network Professional (CTNP)

Certified Telecommunications Network Professional (CTNP) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have the knowledge and skills needed to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot telecommunications networks. The CTNP certification is offered by the Society of Telecommunications Professionals (STP).

The CTNP certification requires applicants to pass an exam that covers topics such as network architecture, protocols, switching systems, transmission systems, and troubleshooting. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

To get certified as a CTNP, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. These include having at least three years of experience in the telecommunications industry or having completed an accredited telecommunications program. Applicants must also submit proof of their work experience or educational qualifications when applying for the certification.

The cost of the CTNP certification exam varies depending on where it is taken. In most cases, it costs around $250 USD. There are also additional fees associated with taking the exam such as registration fees and proctoring fees.

Once certified, individuals can use their CTNP certification to demonstrate their expertise in telecommunication networks and gain recognition from employers and peers in the industry.

9. National Instruments Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD)

National Instruments Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) is a certification program that verifies an individual’s proficiency in using the LabVIEW programming language. It is designed to demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamentals of LabVIEW and its application in engineering and science.

The CLAD certification requires individuals to pass a two-hour, multiple-choice exam. The exam covers topics such as dataflow programming, debugging, and graphical user interface development. It also tests an individual’s ability to create applications with LabVIEW that meet specific requirements.

In order to take the exam, individuals must first register for it online or through their local National Instruments office. The cost of the exam is $150 USD and it can be taken at any NI authorized testing center around the world. Once registered, individuals will receive their exam voucher which they can use to schedule their test date and time.

Once the exam has been completed, individuals will receive their results via email within five business days. Those who pass the exam will receive their CLAD certificate in the mail within four weeks of completing the test.

The CLAD certification is valid for two years from the date of passing the exam and must be renewed every two years in order to maintain its validity.

10. National Instruments Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD)

National Instruments Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD) is a certification program that validates an individual’s ability to design, develop, debug, and deploy applications using the LabVIEW graphical programming language. It is awarded by National Instruments after successful completion of an exam.

The CLD exam consists of two parts: a written exam and a hands-on programming exercise. The written exam tests the candidate's knowledge of LabVIEW fundamentals, including topics such as data types, structures, loops, debugging techniques, and application development. The hands-on programming exercise requires the candidate to create a working application in LabVIEW.

The CLD certification process typically takes about 2-3 months to complete. To get started, candidates must first register for the CLD Exam on the National Instruments website. Once registered and payment has been received, candidates will receive their login information for the online exams within 1-2 weeks. After completing both parts of the exam with a passing score, candidates will be notified via email that they have achieved CLD status.

The cost of taking the CLD Exam is $300 USD per attempt.

Do You Really Need a Electronics Engineer Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual and their career goals. For those looking to work in the electronics engineering field, a certificate may be beneficial as it can provide additional training and knowledge that could help them stand out from other applicants. It also may give them an edge when interviewing for positions or seeking promotions.

For those who have already attained a degree in electronics engineering, a certificate may not be necessary. However, depending on the individual’s career goals and the needs of their current employer, they may find that obtaining an electronics engineer certificate is beneficial. For example, if they are looking to move up into management positions or pursue higher-level roles within their organization, having an additional certification could help demonstrate their expertise and commitment to the field.

Ultimately, whether or not someone should pursue an electronics engineer certificate is a personal decision based on their career aspirations and current job situation. In some cases, it could prove invaluable in helping them reach their professional goals.

Related: Electronics Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Electronics Engineer Certifications

1. What certifications are available for electronics engineers?

Answer: There are several certifications available, including Certified Electronics Technician (CET), Certified Electronic Systems Technician (CEST), International Society of Automation (ISA) Certified Control Systems Technician, and IEEE Senior Member.

2. What is the cost of getting an electronics engineer certification?

Answer: The cost for an electronics engineer certification varies depending on the type of certification chosen, but typically ranges from $100 to $500.

3. How long does it take to get an electronics engineer certification?

Answer: Depending on the type of certification chosen, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year or more to complete the requirements for certification.

4. What are the benefits of obtaining an electronics engineer certification?

Answer: Earning an electronics engineer certification provides professional recognition and demonstrates expertise in the field. It can also open up opportunities for higher-level positions and increased pay.

5. Are there any prerequisites for getting an electronics engineer certification?

Answer: Yes, most certifications require applicants to have at least two years of experience in their field as well as passing a written exam or completing a certain number of hours in specialized training programs.