How to Become an Electrical Engineer: Steps

Electrical engineers typically earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program and start working right after graduation. A Professional Engineer (PE) license, earned by passing the FE exam, gaining several years of supervised experience and passing a PE exam, is important in power and building systems but optional in much of electronics and tech. Internships and hands-on projects carry real weight in hiring.

A wide field with very different jobs

Electrical engineering covers anything that generates, moves or uses electricity or electronic signals. Two electrical engineers can have almost nothing in common day to day.

Power and energy: utility grids, substations, renewable energy and the electrical design of buildings and plants.
Electronics and hardware: circuit boards, chips, sensors, medical devices and consumer products.
Controls and automation: the systems that run factories, vehicles and robots.
Communications and signal processing: wireless systems, radar, audio and networking hardware.

Across all of them, expect simulation software, lab testing, design reviews, documentation and debugging that can take days. Much of the job is finding out why something that should work does not.

Education routes

Bachelor’s in electrical engineering: calculus, differential equations, physics, circuits, electronics, signals, electromagnetics and programming, plus labs and a senior project. ABET accreditation matters for licensing and many employers.
Computer engineering: a close cousin that blends hardware with software. Many students switch between the two in the first year or two.
Master’s degree: common in chip design, signal processing and research roles.
Electrical engineering technology: a more applied degree leading to test, field and technician roles. Electricians follow a separate trade path; see how to become an electrician.

When a license matters

Electrical engineers who design power systems or building electrical plans for the public often need a PE license, because only a licensed engineer can seal those drawings. The path runs through the national FE exam, roughly four years of experience under a licensed engineer and a PE exam in electrical and computer engineering, taken in a focus area such as power. Engineers in product companies often never get licensed. Requirements vary by state, so check your state engineering board if you lean toward power or utilities.

Getting there from high school

Take calculus and physics, and any computer science or electronics class your school offers.
Build things: kits, small microcontroller projects, a repaired amplifier, a robotics team. Curiosity shows.
Choose an accredited electrical or computer engineering program. Choosing a major covers how to decide between close options.
Join a student project team and keep a simple record of what you built and what broke.
Get one or two internships; they often lead straight to job offers.
If you lean toward power, take the FE exam near graduation.

Ways to test the fit

Take an intro circuits course early. It is the class that tells most students whether they love or tolerate the subject.
Do informational interviews with a utility engineer and a hardware engineer at a product company.
Spend a weekend building a simple circuit project from an online tutorial.
Tour a manufacturing plant or utility facility if your area offers public tours.

Who stays, and who moves on

Electrical engineers who thrive enjoy abstract math that turns into real devices and stay patient during long debugging sessions. Some leave because the coursework is heavy and abstract, or they find they prefer software, which many electrical engineers move into. Others shift to product management, technical sales, patent work or management. The careers for people who like technology guide shows nearby roles.

Career changers

A science or math degree can shorten the route, since some prerequisites carry over, but most changers still need an engineering degree for design roles. Electricians and electronics technicians, including military technicians, bring practical knowledge that makes the theory click. See the mid-career pivot and transferable skills for a career change. For current pay and outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Where a mentor helps

Electrical engineering is one of the heavier majors, and students often stall in the second year. A mentor helps them explore which corner of the field fits, plan courses and internships, keep a weekly study routine, prepare applications and handle the first engineering job. Mentors are not tutors, credentialed career counselors or licensing experts. See career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.

Common questions

Do electrical engineers need a PE license?

Not always. It is often needed in power, utilities and building design, where drawings must be sealed, and is optional in most electronics and tech roles.

Is electrical engineering harder than other engineering majors?

Many students find it more abstract because you cannot see electricity the way you see a beam or a gear. Strong math habits help more than raw talent.

What is the difference between electrical and computer engineering?

Computer engineering blends electrical engineering with computer science, focusing on processors, embedded systems and the hardware that runs software.

Can an electrician become an electrical engineer?

Yes, but it requires an engineering degree. Field experience is a real advantage once you are in the program.

Get started

Considering electrical engineering and want a plan to get through the hard parts? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

How to Become an Electrical Engineer: School, Skills and Licensing