Electronic engineering technology and systems technician programs

Electronic technology, devices and systems are part of everyday life and are used across many sectors. There’s growing need for electronic engineering technologists and electronic systems technicians to develop, design, and create devices and systems, as well as assemble, operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair them.

Choose an electronic engineering technology or systems technician program

The education and training you receive through each of these diploma programs prepares you for a rewarding career in electronics engineering or installing and troubleshooting electronic systems. Both programs include a work experience component where you get to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom, on the job.

A woman sits at a desk and works on electronic engineering equipment in a campus learning lab.

Electronic Engineering Technology - 2 years

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles of electricity, microcomputers, communications systems and industrial electronics, and learn how to apply these principles to designing electronic devices.

A student stands at a long desk covered in monitors, wires and other electronic engineering equipment.

Electronic Systems Technician - 2 years

Develop the technical skills to work on electronic systems. Focus on installing, repairing and troubleshooting electronic equipment and technology. This program has replaced Electronic Engineering Technician.

What do electronics engineering technologists and electronic systems technicians do?

Thinking about studying electronics and technology? Wondering what a career in electronics engineering technology or as an electronic systems technician might be like? There are some similarities and differences between the two.

Similarities

Graduates of each program work in a wide range of sectors including telecommunications, manufacturing, oil and gas, biomedical research, healthcare, electrical and electronics engineering, marine research, conservation and alternative energy, security and defence, aerospace and more.

Differences

Electronic engineering technologists

Graduates of the Electronic Engineering Technology program work as electronic engineering technologists. While electronic engineering jobs in Canada often involve maintaining equipment systems, they can also include collaborating with other technologists and engineers to design, create and test new devices.

Electronic systems technicians

Graduates of the Electronic Systems Technician program find work as electronic systems technicians working on alarm systems, fibre optics, naval electronics, medical equipment, audio-visual equipment, robotics and more.

Electrical vs electronic engineering

While there is some overlap between what electrical engineers and electronic engineering technologists learn and do, their focuses differ.

Electrical engineers typically deal with larger-scale projects and systems and the generation, transmission, distribution and use of electrical power.
Electronic engineering technologists specialize in smaller-scale electronic circuits, equipment and devices. This is what you study at NSCC.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits

If you have prior learning (courses, employment, etc.) that's relevant to electronics engineering tech or systems, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all NSCC programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

Explore more programs

View our complete list of engineering technologies programs.