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  • Electrical engineering is an evergreen discipline of engineering that has found applications in almost every industry imaginable - from aerospace to medicine and agriculture.

    In order to become an electrical engineer, you will need a formal degree in electrical engineering, offered by leading Universities and colleges all over the world.

    In the United States, leading Universities like MIT and Stanford offer Bachelor of Science (BS) programs for undergraduate studies in Electrical engineering.

    In India, IITs and NITs conduct a degree course in Electrical engineering. At the end of the 4-year degree program, successful students receive a B.Tech degree. Several colleges offer a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree as well.

    The B.E, B.S, B.Tech degrees are mostly similar to each other and are recognized globally.

    Before you choose electrical engineering as your career, let’s look at the most common questions about this engineering discipline.

    Why become an electrical engineer?

    Electricity is one of the best inventions of humankind. It’s impossible to imagine any industry functioning without it.

    Following could be some of the top reasons to become an electrical engineer -

    • Versatile: Work anywhere, in any industry
    • Worldwide Career Opportunities
    • Good salary packages
    • Always in demand and growing
    • Stable, recession-proof career
    • Better scope for post-graduate studies

    It’s observed that EEs have found job opportunities in IT, Mechanical, Pharmaceutical, Defense, Aerospace, Agriculture and Electronics industries.

    What do electrical engineers do?

    Electrical engineers work in industries to research, conceptualise, design, test, install and maintain electrical equipment, machinery and systems.

    While that’s a very broad scope of work, the actual nature of work for EEs may involve people management, project management and effective communication.

    What is the eligibility criteria for becoming an electrical engineer?

    The eligibility criteria for electrical engineering is to complete your secondary school education with at least 50% marks or about 3.00 GPA. It must be noted that the eligibility criteria for admission to engineering degree programs vary by country and University.

    It is advisable to check the eligibility criteria for college or University you are applying to.

    You may have to take the entrance exam like AIEEE, JEE, SAT etc. if mandated for admission.

    How long does it take to become an electrical engineer?

    It takes about 4-years to complete the electrical engineering course and be officially recognized as an electrical engineer.

    Some of the colleges offer 5-year programs to grant PG degrees; which many students opt for. It allows students to save 1 year in advance studies.

    Is Electrical Engineering Difficult?

    Electrical engineering is not difficult. If you have cracked the engineering entrance exam, you already have the required intelligence to sail through EE studies.

    Electrical engineering requires a lot of imaginative power. The topics like circuit theory, electrical machines, system design, motors, transformers involve imagining voltage, current, phase, potential difference, capacitance, inductance - which you cannot see with your eyes. That is one of the reasons some students find it difficult.

    Become an electrical engineer without a degree - possible?

    It is possible to become an electrical engineer without having a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. You may opt for a diploma in EE or complete the syllabus of AMIE (Associate Member of Institution of Engineers) and be eligible for electrical engineering jobs in government and private sector.

    What are job opportunities for electrical engineers?

    Electrical engineering is a versatile discipline of engineering. Electrical engineers have found successful careers across industries. These include-

    • Microelectronics
    • Instrumentation engineering
    • Electrical design engineering
    • Telecommunications
    • Power systems engineering
    • Signal processing
    • IoT
    • Embedded systems
    • Control Systems etc

    Also take note of the large corporations and MNCs that recruit electrical engineers on a regular basis at entry level and senior positions. These include -

    • Boeing
    • Airbus
    • Northrop Grumman
    • Lockheed Martin
    • Meta
    • Reliance
    • Larsen & Toubro
    • Honeywell
    • CISCO
    • Eaton Technologies
    • nVidia
    • Qualcomm
    • Intel
    • Havells
    • Bharat Electronics
    • SAIL
    • SIEMENS

    How much do electrical engineers make?

    The average compensation for electrical engineers in the USA is around $94000.

    In India it is estimated to be in the range of 7.5LPA - 14LPA for an experience of about 3-4 years. The data will be updated timely.

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  • Bruce Wathan

    Member • Feb 22, 2023

    If you are planning to study electrical engineering, following discussion would be useful: Why is electrical engineering so hard?.

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  • Steve Gracia

    Member • Mar 18, 2023

    I've prepared a short guide for about how to become an electrical engineer in the United States.

    Electrical engineering is a rapidly growing and very rewarding engineering field. It offers superb career opportunities.

    You'll find electrical engineers working in designing, developing, testing electrical equipments and systems. They've also found exciting career opportunities in offbeat career paths.

    Becoming an electrical engineer requires imagination, dedication and hard-work.

    Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

    It's the first step toward becoming an electrical engineer. I recommend opting for an accredited University for your bachelors program in engineering.

    A typical 4-year program will cover essential topics in electrical engineering like -

    • Circuit design and analysis
    • Digital systems
    • Microprocessors
    • Power systems
    • Control systems
    • Communication systems
    • Programming languages like C and Java

    Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam

    In the US, aspiring electrical engineers will have to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. This exam is administered by NCEES aka National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

    It's a 6-hour test usually conducted online. You will be tested on your knowledge of mathematics, ethics, engineering economics, electrical and electronic circuits, digital systems, electromagnetics, control systems and communications.

    Professional Experience

    After FE, you'll need to gain some professional experience in the field. In general, 4 years of experience under the supervision of a licensed engineer is required. You'll gain lot of practical experience working as an electrical engineer.

    Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam

    After gaining the necessary experience, you can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in the Electrical and Electronics discipline.

    This 8-hour exam focuses on advanced topics such as power distribution, control systems, electronics, and communications.

    Passing the PE exam qualifies you for licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States.

    Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be happy to help.

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