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Choosing between engineering and engineering technology (ET) is a matter of preference for hands-on vs. theoretical work as well as consideration of working environment, opportunities for advancement, financial constraints, and time in school. An engineer and a technologist both go to school for four to five years. A technician usually goes to school for two years to obtain an associate’s degree or gets a certificate in one year or less.

Engineering technologists and technicians use the principles and theories of science, engineering, and mathematics to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance. Their work is more limited in scope and application-oriented than that of scientists and engineers. Many engineering technicians assist engineers and scientists, especially in research and development. Others work in quality control, inspecting products and processes, conducting tests, or collecting data. In manufacturing, they may assist in product design, development, or production.

Engineering technicians who work in research and development build or set up equipment, prepare and conduct experiments, collect data, calculate or record results, and help engineers or scientists in other ways, such as making prototype versions of newly designed equipment. They also assist in design work, often using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) equipment.

ET is a field that concerns itself with the application of technology. A technologist is an expert at applying technology to solve problems. An engineer may design a product to solve a problem, but the technologist will build, install and maintain it. There is some overlap in the two fields. Occasionally, with additional coursework, the technologist will also design a product, but most of the time, that is the work of an engineer. Conversely, some engineers are also involved in the build process, but most of the time that is the work of a technologist.

For example, every machine has a designer, a builder, an installer, and a maintainer. Engineers are usually the designers; technologists typically build, install, and maintain the machine; and the technicians usually install and maintain the machine.

An advantage of engineering technology is that students can hit the ground running when it comes to getting a job after graduation. Employers are happy to hire technicians and technologists because of their training has given them the knowledge, hands-on skills, and ability to succeed in the workplace with minimal training. In some states, a technologist with a bachelor’s degree can take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam - the first step toward becoming a professional engineer.

Other advantages of ET degrees include:

• Less time in college (this option saves money too)
• Not as much math and science (depending on your perspective, this may not be an advantage)
• Great salary right out of school
• Abundant job opportunities worldwide
  

Disadvantages of ET degrees include:

• It's difficult to transition from a technician to an engineer because the science classes in an ET program are not calculus based.
• You may find that many years down the road, there is less flexibility in the career and less opportunity for advancement unless you seek advanced training.
• Salary increases may get smaller over time.
  

An advantage of engineering is that over the long term, you can climb higher on the totem pole. Engineers more often escalate to management positions and earn more over the life of their careers. If a career in research is interesting, an engineering degree can open the doors to further study. A terminal degree from an ABET accredited college in engineering is a doctoral degree, whereas a terminal degree in ET is a master's degree.

Advantages of an engineering degree include:

• More room for advancement
• Easier to continue to graduate school
• Great salary right out of school
• Education is very broad - engineers can also become doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers, and business people
• Abundant job opportunities worldwide.
  

Disadvantages of an engineering degree include:
The work can be stressful - especially when the equipment has the potential to save lives. For example, in designing a new medical device, the project must be done to specification, on time, and on budget. If something goes wrong with the design in a few years or even 20 years down the road and it threatens the life of a patient, the engineer's job may hang in the balance.