Degree most useful to aspiring electronics technician?

[BillJarrett]

Title sums it up.

I've been considering taking courses to learn more about electronics and "how things work". I've dabbled in building my own effects pedals, and repaired a few more obvious amp problems over the last couple of years and it has got me thinking of turning it into a profession. Seeing as how the closest qualified, reliable amp tech is almost an hour away, I think I could do some good in the area, once I become more familiar.

Any suggestions on a degree that would best fit the goal? EET? EE? Bunch of books and testing equipment?

Help me out!

[Phalex]

I have an associates in EET. It was a two year course. I've worked for the same employer for almost 23 years at this point. I have been at the pinnacle of my career here for the past 15 years or so. There is no higher place for me to go. It's comfy. and the benefits are good but......

Several of my friends went the extra year for their bachelors degree. Most of them went on to work in the automotive field, and as a result they haven't got the time in that I do. They all make a buttload more money that I do, but they all work a ton of hours too (When they aren't laid off).

So.....

With an associates degree, I do what ever the guys with the EE degrees are too lazy to do. (And let me tell you, they are lazy!) With an EE degree, you can crap all over the guy like me.

If you are going to go to school for anything, stay in school as long as you can and get the highest degree that they offer if possible. You can't have too much by way of education.

[sbassface]

Well put Phalex, words of wisdom, interesting topic. Fred

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Phalex

If you are going to go to school for anything, stay in school as long as you can and get the highest degree that they offer if possible. You can't have too much by way of education.

+1

I did two years in trade schools (note the plural) and never got any degree, or even a certificate. I started my career by building synthesizers on the production line, then challenged my way into being a QC tech after three months or so. Then I managed to apprentice in a hi-fi repair place and quickly became the shop rat for guitar amp and PA system repairs. I was fixing appliances for my neighbors at age ten on my own though, so a lot was self-taught.

Over the years I got to the job responsibility level of an MSEE, but never the pay grade. My last employer had a catch all category called "Expert", and if that work opens up again I will try for that. I had people looking out for me and have been published a few times as co-author on scary government environmental science projects, but it all would have been immensely easier and more lucrative with even just a BSEE. It is truly amazing how many degreed engineers cannot even solder properly, much less troubleshoot a defective circuit board. As Phalex says, be prepared to take up a lot of slack for guys without real world skills and experience. Or, just be one of those guys yourself...

Best of luck Bill. My best advice would be to learn surface mount device repair right away. Many of us old geezers don't have that in our bag of tricks, and there is plenty of work there.

[BillJarrett]

My local state college offers an EET course, but not a 4 year EE. After my visit with them I've learned that nothing from the EET can be carried over into EE. =(

However, I still like the "hands on" approach. So, what I may do is use the EET degree and start hammering out my Engineering math courses on the side, that way I can transfer into a university and persue the EE degree in the long run.

@Passingwind - I plan on trying to pick up some testing equipment as I work through these first 2 years. Is there anything specifically you can think of I would need for surface mount troubleshooting and could you possibly recommend a decent O-scope that I could use for repair that wouldn't break the bank?

[NKUSigEp]

Electronic Engineering and Electronic Engineering Technology. I have an Electro-Mechanical Engineering degree which covered a lot of electronics stuff and I'd imagine an Electrical Engineering degree would cover the basics as well. But make sure you know the difference between Electronic and Electrical. Electronics basically covers devices, gadgets, and gizmos while the electrical stuff is the delivery of electrical power to something.