Hi, I’m here to answer your question!
I know what it’s like to be a college student, and I know that you’re probably wondering whether or not you can call yourself an “engineer” without a degree. Well, let me tell you: of course you can!
While it’s true that many engineers have degrees in engineering, there are plenty who choose not to go through school. Some of those people are self-taught engineers; others just haven’t decided if they want to go back to school yet. And still others didn’t even know they wanted to be engineers until after they’d graduated from high school!
So don’t worry about whether or not you can call yourself an engineer because of where you went to school—just make sure you’re doing the work and learning about your field. If that’s what matters most to you, then congratulations—you’re an engineer!
Can I Call Myself An Engineer Without A Degree
Introduction
It takes all kinds to make up the world of engineering. Whether you’re an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, or software engineer, there’s no one way to enter the industry. Many engineers have college degrees in engineering fields. However, a significant number of engineers do not have formal education beyond high school or associate degrees and certificates. In this article, we’ll explore how to become an engineer without a degree and why you can still call yourself an engineer without a degree (spoiler alert: it’s because you can).
The engineering industry has loosened up
I’m sure you’ve heard the statistic that engineers with a degree have more opportunities than those without. This is true, but what about engineers without a degree? Do they have any options at all?
Yes, in fact there are several ways to get your foot in the door as an engineer without a degree. The first and most obvious way is to work for an engineering firm or organization directly after graduating from high school or college. If you can manage to acquire experience working on projects with professional engineers over time, it may be possible for them to provide recommendations for further education and training later on down the line. It’s also important to note that many companies are willing to take on interns who do not yet possess degrees if they show promise and drive during their time at internships (i.e., working hard).
Many engineers do not have a degree
Many engineers do not have degrees. In fact, the engineering industry has relaxed its requirements over time. It’s not uncommon for someone with an associate degree to be called an engineer, and in some places of the world (like Europe), it’s common for anyone who has been doing engineering work for five years or more to be referred to as an engineer.
However, here in America and other parts of the world where the educational system is stricter about titles and credentials, it is rarer but still possible for someone who has not earned a degree from an accredited school to call themselves “engineer.”
You can still call yourself an engineer
You may be able to call yourself an engineer without a degree. The key is to make sure your employer knows that you are not an engineer by training and license, but rather by experience and talent. You can also call yourself an engineer on your resume if you want, but be clear with the reader about what kind of work you do and how much experience you have in that field.
If you are called on to perform engineering tasks, it is usually helpful to refer to yourself as a “technologist” rather than an “engineer.” However, if someone asks if they should hire someone who has only taken college courses in physics or chemistry over one who has completed all four years of engineering at their school (with A’s), I would recommend hiring the person who did all four years at their school because they will have more practice applying their knowledge from those classes into real-world situations than the other candidate would have gotten from just taking classes in those subjects on his own time outside of class time.
Takeaway:
You can still call yourself an engineer. And there are many engineers who do not have a degree. The engineering industry has loosened up on its requirements, which has allowed more people to enter the field and gain experience under their belts. If you’re interested in becoming an engineer, consider taking the time to develop your skills and knowledge through online courses or apprenticeships before pursuing your degree.
Conclusion
I hope my answer has helped you. If you’re still confused, I recommend contacting your local engineering society and seeing what they have to say. It might seem like a stretch to call yourself an engineer without a degree, but I don’t think it is. After all, the definition of an engineer is someone who applies scientific principles to solve problems. As technology and industry change, more and more people will continue be able to do this without going through traditional training programs.
