Any Engineering Technologists out there?

ABMax24 · Oct 13, 2015

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone out there is an Engineering Tech and where it has gotten you career wise? I'm currently a 3rd year Steamfitter-Pipefitter, and will be J-Man within the year and am maybe looking at heading back to school, I'm not looking to get out of the construction industry completely, just move up further toward the management end of things or toward the optimizations side of the oil and gas industry. I'm really just wondering if any of you think its worth it?

rider4life · Oct 13, 2015

I have my CET in instrumentation, another year and I'll have my P.Tech, so far it was done great things for my career, I work for a small company which has basically let me set my hours and vacation days, and decent pay, eventually I want to own the company or start my own and without the ability to gain my P.Tech that wouldn't be possible

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

rider4life said:
I have my CET in instrumentation, another year and I'll have my P.Tech, so far it was done great things for my career, I work for a small company which has basically let me set my hours and vacation days, and decent pay, eventually I want to own the company or start my own and without the ability to gain my P.Tech that wouldn't be possible

So your work is oil and gas related I take it? I am currently looking at the mechanical, chemical, or petroleum, tech programs right now but am not ready to rule out any yet. The old man is a Mechanical P. Eng so I'm more leaning toward mechanical, but he nor I know many Tech's and I didn't want a diploma I couldn't do much with but by t sounds of it that's not the case. Thanks a lot, i'll definitely have to look into this further, particularly at what it takes to get the P. Tech designation.

Rotax_Kid · Oct 14, 2015

I know a number of CET's here in Sask. Most of them are in management positions and have worked their way up. Most are very intelligent people. Aside from pure engineering, I think a CET has close to as good of an opportunity of moving up in a company as a P.Eng. I'm a P.Eng, but a piece of paper doesn't define what you can or cannot do. If you work towards it, opportunity is always there no matter what the qualifications are. I know some very intelligent CET's and some very unintelligent Engineers and vice versa.

I feel that once you get to a certain level of experience, the experience outweighs the qualifications. I would think with the current qualifications you have, and what you are aiming for, you'd certainly be a asset to someone. Hiring someone with actual experience in place of a textbook is huge. You' be surprised at how many people have a Masters degree yet have trouble threading a nut to a bolt...

Bigblack · Oct 14, 2015

Rotax_Kid said:
You' be surprised at how many people have a Masters degree yet have trouble threading a nut to a bolt...

No I wouldn't. LOL.

I've been a CET in Alberta for 24 years. In AB, C.E.T. is a designation you can only use if you are a member of ASET.....so I graduated College Civil Engineering Technology 2 yr program and have been paying ASET dues ever since. Did it help? Meh...hard to say. I guess it jumped me ahead a few steps in the early days...but guys I trained with no schooling are just as far ahead now. Some companies look for it, some don't. Fun fact: I haven't worked in my "defined discipline" for 15 years, but maintain my C.E.T. by continuing to pay my dues. My business card and my resume show C.E.T. but it's not *really* for the job I do any more. (although much of the thought processes and academic stuff relates)

rider4life · Oct 14, 2015

ABMax24 said:
So your work is oil and gas related I take it? I am currently looking at the mechanical, chemical, or petroleum, tech programs right now but am not ready to rule out any yet. The old man is a Mechanical P. Eng so I'm more leaning toward mechanical, but he nor I know many Tech's and I didn't want a diploma I couldn't do much with but by t sounds of it that's not the case. Thanks a lot, i'll definitely have to look into this further, particularly at what it takes to get the P. Tech designation.

Actually we try and stay out of the patch, we mainly design municipal water and wastewater systems. The nice thing here in Alberta is once you have your P.Tech your fully licensed to practice engineering and stamp drawings within your scope just as an engineer is, however at this point Alberta is the only province in the country to include P.Techs in the engineering act. It seems at least with the companies we sub consult to, and work with that there is becoming more technologists and less engineers

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

Rotax_Kid said:
I know a number of CET's here in Sask. Most of them are in management positions and have worked their way up. Most are very intelligent people. Aside from pure engineering, I think a CET has close to as good of an opportunity of moving up in a company as a P.Eng. I'm a P.Eng, but a piece of paper doesn't define what you can or cannot do. If you work towards it, opportunity is always there no matter what the qualifications are. I know some very intelligent CET's and some very unintelligent Engineers and vice versa.

I feel that once you get to a certain level of experience, the experience outweighs the qualifications. I would think with the current qualifications you have, and what you are aiming for, you'd certainly be a asset to someone. Hiring someone with actual experience in place of a textbook is huge. You' be surprised at how many people have a Masters degree yet have trouble threading a nut to a bolt...

I completely agree that a degree or diploma doesn't necessarily prove competence, but it sure is a lot easier to get in to a management or supervising position around here with the technology diploma. Part of what I'm trying to do is make my career recession proof, so that I have more qualifications than the next guy so would take a pay cut instead of a ride on the pogy wagon. With the Alberta economy slowing down it is a little tougher move up the ladder than it used to be. Pure engineering isn't what I'm trying to get into either so the tech program is more suited to me. Besides I tried my first year engineering right out of high school and had incredible difficulty with the calculus and linear algebra courses, I am significantly more determined now than I was back then, but I know I would still struggle with it if that was the route I took.

I know exactly what you mean about the difference in actual and textbook experience, some of the drawings I have seen in the past few years just make me shake my head, i've built chemical injection skids that route their psv discharge lines back to the potable water supply for the plant office. Sometimes you can argue until you're blue in the face but because they have the stamp they are still right lol.

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

Bigblack said:
No I wouldn't. LOL.

I've been a CET in Alberta for 24 years. In AB, C.E.T. is a designation you can only use if you are a member of ASET.....so I graduated College Civil Engineering Technology 2 yr program and have been paying ASET dues ever since. Did it help? Meh...hard to say. I guess it jumped me ahead a few steps in the early days...but guys I trained with no schooling are just as far ahead now. Some companies look for it, some don't. Fun fact: I haven't worked in my "defined discipline" for 15 years, but maintain my C.E.T. by continuing to pay my dues. My business card and my resume show C.E.T. but it's not *really* for the job I do any more. (although much of the thought processes and academic stuff relates)

I see what your saying, it helps you get in the door but unless your actually using the designation it doesn't help much down the road. I guess the good thing being you could go back and still do more work related to the degree whereas a person without it wouldn't be able to.

Bigblack · Oct 14, 2015

ABMax24 said:
I see what your saying, it helps you get in the door but unless your actually using the designation it doesn't help much down the road. I guess the good thing being you could go back and still do more work related to the degree whereas a person without it wouldn't be able to.

I'm about as interested in going back to school as I am in getting the clap at this point in my life....LOL.

Rotax_Kid · Oct 14, 2015

ABMax24 said:
I completely agree that a degree or diploma doesn't necessarily prove competence, but it sure is a lot easier to get in to a management or supervising position around here with the technology diploma. Part of what I'm trying to do is make my career recession proof, so that I have more qualifications than the next guy so would take a pay cut instead of a ride on the pogy wagon. With the Alberta economy slowing down it is a little tougher move up the ladder than it used to be. Pure engineering isn't what I'm trying to get into either so the tech program is more suited to me. Besides I tried my first year engineering right out of high school and had incredible difficulty with the calculus and linear algebra courses, I am significantly more determined now than I was back then, but I know I would still struggle with it if that was the route I took.

I know exactly what you mean about the difference in actual and textbook experience, some of the drawings I have seen in the past few years just make me shake my head, i've built chemical injection skids that route their psv discharge lines back to the potable water supply for the plant office. Sometimes you can argue until you're blue in the face but because they have the stamp they are still right lol.

In my experience, the more a guy can diversify, the easier it is to employ. I would rather have a guy who is a jack of all trades, than a master at one in my workforce. It also opens up the field of employment down the road of things don't work out. A guy used to be able to get away with staying at the same job for his entire career - very few of us do these days, thus why I feel it's important to have a relatively diverse portfolio.

I understand what you and a few others in here are saying with getting the foot in the door. It's unfortunate that things seem to be hired on paper more these days than in the past. I remember going through my Law and Ethics seminar years ago in Saskatoon - the front row of that course had a number of international applicants who all needed translators to understand the course. Something is wrong with that picture when you can easily register here yet local communication skills are not a priority.

I manage a small group of Engineers, EIT's, technologists, and a couple with varying diplomas. Drawing skills have degraded with each new hire. The stuff some of them produce is 100% unbuildable as basic dimensions are lacking. Lately, the first project I give someone new here is a dummy project. It isn't something that we will use in our line of work. I make our guy design it, and then dump it on him to go into the shop and don't come back until it's built. Some succeed, some sure struggle, but all seem to come back looking a things a lot different than when they left.

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

rider4life said:
Actually we try and stay out of the patch, we mainly design municipal water and wastewater systems. The nice thing here in Alberta is once you have your P.Tech your fully licensed to practice engineering and stamp drawings within your scope just as an engineer is, however at this point Alberta is the only province in the country to include P.Techs in the engineering act. It seems at least with the companies we sub consult to, and work with that there is becoming more technologists and less engineers

See that's what I would like, the ability to not necessarily have to rely on the oil patch for a steady income. And you're right the ability to now have a P. Tech is a huge benefit.

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

Bigblack said:
I'm about as interested in going back to school as I am in getting the clap at this point in my life....LOL.

Haha, that's why I'm trying to figure this out before I get to that point, I'm also only 22 but I'm at the point where next fall i'm either going to be looking at buying a house or going back to school, either way it's a big commitment yet an investment in the future at the same time.

blubbles · Oct 14, 2015

I'm and Instrumentation Engineering Technologist as well. Honestly its done very well for me, I took a bit of a different route and went to the sales side of things. But it for sure got me through the door. Instrument guys are always in high demand, you can go work in the field... Sales Office, drafting, management etc really whatever you like. I had 6 job offers to pick from when I graduated, pretty much everyone had a job. Lots making over 100k within a year or two of graduating when working in overtime etc.

T.T. as of right now, but just finished my NPPE so I should be getting my CET designation in a few weeks. Lots of opportunity now as the P Tech is getting more recognized.

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

Rotax_Kid said:
In my experience, the more a guy can diversify, the easier it is to employ. I would rather have a guy who is a jack of all trades, than a master at one in my workforce. It also opens up the field of employment down the road of things don't work out. A guy used to be able to get away with staying at the same job for his entire career - very few of us do these days, thus why I feel it's important to have a relatively diverse portfolio.

I understand what you and a few others in here are saying with getting the foot in the door. It's unfortunate that things seem to be hired on paper more these days than in the past. I remember going through my Law and Ethics seminar years ago in Saskatoon - the front row of that course had a number of international applicants who all needed translators to understand the course. Something is wrong with that picture when you can easily register here yet local communication skills are not a priority.

I manage a small group of Engineers, EIT's, technologists, and a couple with varying diplomas. Drawing skills have degraded with each new hire. The stuff some of them produce is 100% unbuildable as basic dimensions are lacking. Lately, the first project I give someone new here is a dummy project. It isn't something that we will use in our line of work. I make our guy design it, and then dump it on him to go into the shop and don't come back until it's built. Some succeed, some sure struggle, but all seem to come back looking a things a lot different than when they left.

I definitely agree that diversity is a good thing, I like being able to go into work a have a variety of different tasks to complete, its also helped to keep me employed when I can go to site a measure and install piping, or run equipment at the shop or, maintain equipment, or build excel spreadsheets for tracking employee hours or whatever when i'm not needed full time as the shop foreman.

It seems that way everywhere, I have a few welders I can give a rough sketch to and get and finished product and then some I can give a fully detailed drawing and the finished product still be wrong.

I see for sure what you mean about drawings, we have got some that have been unbuildable as so much information is lacking, that's one thing I'm hoping I'd have that would be an asset to a company is he ability to read and develop a drawing that a fabricator can actually use.

ABMax24 · Oct 14, 2015

blubbles said:
I'm and Instrumentation Engineering Technologist as well. Honestly its done very well for me, I took a bit of a different route and went to the sales side of things. But it for sure got me through the door. Instrument guys are always in high demand, you can go work in the field... Sales Office, drafting, management etc really whatever you like. I had 6 job offers to pick from when I graduated, pretty much everyone had a job. Lots making over 100k within a year or two of graduating when working in overtime etc.

T.T. as of right now, but just finished my NPPE so I should be getting my CET designation in a few weeks. Lots of opportunity now as the P Tech is getting more recognized.

Great, it seems like Engineering Technology has done well for a lot of people, and it's good to hear that many are able to be employed right out of school, definitely seems like a path in which there is a high demand right now. It's also good to hear that the pay is quite respectable, that's one concern I've had as Tradespeople are highly paid up here, and it would be hard to justify going back to school to make less money, but for that it's justifiable particularly if the hours are more regular.

Good for you on getting your CET, and yes the P. Tech designation sounds like it really has opened up the doors for the Engineering Technologists.

ABMax24 · Nov 8, 2015

Here's another question, does anyone know if there is a significant difference in schools between NAIT or SAIT? Or if there is one that is more preferred by employers? I have applied to both and have been accepted to NAIT for both Chemical and Mechanical Tech, and am still awaiting a decision from SAIT.

j335 · Nov 9, 2015

ABMax24 said:
Here's another question, does anyone know if there is a significant difference in schools between NAIT or SAIT? Or if there is one that is more preferred by employers? I have applied to both and have been accepted to NAIT for both Chemical and Mechanical Tech, and am still awaiting a decision from SAIT.

Don't think an employer would really care, as long as you got that little paper... At least when I used to recruit new grad engineers I didn't care what school they went to, it was their character and experience that got the job.

I'm sure there are advantages to each school, I know the petroleum program is better at SAIT mostly cause you get more donations and have more semi retired professionals there.

Keep in mind rent is probably more expensive in Calgary, but you are closer to the mountains...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ABMax24 · Nov 9, 2015

joshua335 said:
Don't think an employer would really care, as long as you got that little paper... At least when I used to recruit new grad engineers I didn't care what school they went to, it was their character and experience that got the job.

I'm sure there are advantages to each school, I know the petroleum program is better at SAIT mostly cause you get more donations and have more semi retired professionals there.

Keep in mind rent is probably more expensive in Calgary, but you are closer to the mountains...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, that's what I was think too, but wasn't sure. I know I was looking more at Sait because they have residence, and taking a week off work costs me more than an extra couple hundred dollars month in rent would.

Now just to figure out whether to take Mechanical or Chemical.

Any Engineering Technologists out there?

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