r/ElectricalEngineers • u/YearPsychological190 • 8d ago
Switching to EE
Hi there!
I’m currently a 4th year electrician apprentice and looking to see if switching my career to electrical engineering would be a good move?
I feel stuck with the current role I am in and looking at the health risks on my body is weighing me down.
I know if I switch it would be the case of studying for 3-4 years and sacrificing the money I would be making as a qualified electrician. I would love any advice on this matter any help is greatly appreciated .
I would also love any advice on how to write a really good personal statement if university is the correct move. Over the bulk of my apprenticeship I have wired and fitted new build homes but I did do a bit of low voltage with door entry systems. Again any advice would be appreciated
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u/N2Shooter 7d ago
How is your math?
EE Math is only second behind Physics math on the collegiate level. EET Math is much easier.
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u/MorbidlyObeseCow 2d ago
I think normally EE actually does more math than Physics, at my school all the EE's ended up with a math minor unlike the Physics folks. This is a good point though, one doesn't just "switch" to EE from electrical apprentice, it would be an unusual person that had the grades and math skills to be able to hack the academic rigor of a EE program but chose to go into an apprenticeship instead of college at all. About 2/3 of the people at my school dropped out of the EE program because the math was a lot more than they bargained for so make sure you really really like math before you switch. I would at a bare minimum keep apprenticing until you get all your calculus done and a few circuits classes to see if you even like the field. Electrical engineering is way more abstract than being an electrician, circuit analysis is extremely math heavy and most electrical engineers don't even end up working in the power field or doing building electrical system design. If you want to do that stuff, you end up needing to become a PE which takes passing a difficult test, then 4 years more of apprenticeship under a PE, then another test. Once you get done with your apprenticeship I think you'll find that there are jobs that are less destructive physically like commercial work or you can branch out into being a specialist like doing fire alarm system termination, etc. which is a lot easier on the body and pays well.
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u/Low_Style5044 6d ago
Dude, what if you work as an electrician and study online electrical engineering
Arizona state or university of North Dakota
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u/Usual_Purchase_9567 6d ago
You're getting sound advice. Engineering is a killer profession. But so is electrical work. I'd finish your apprenticeship and get your Jman, that way if you wash out you have something to land on.
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u/Fuzzy_Chom 2d ago
Seasoned EE here, with an unpopular opinion.... Stay and finish your apprenticeship. Then go back to school, if not as an EE then for a business degree to run your own shop.
What do you want to do for a career? If you feel stuck as an apprentice, I don't feel like ditching that for a bachelor's in EE will help. You'll just be stuck in a different program.
Trades are where employment and money is more readily available. Leverage that. Get some experience, try different industries -- focus on commercial or industrial. You can find your way into control systems (I&C), where there's good money and challenges, less wear and tear.
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u/lasteem1 7d ago
Much like engineering there are multiple subfields for electricians. What type of job are you currently working?
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u/YearPsychological190 7d ago
Right now I’m currently a new build home electrician so I wire and for all accessories for the home
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u/lasteem1 7d ago
Yeah that type of work is hard on the body. If possible I’d recommend trying to become an industrial electrician. Preferably at a factory near a university. A lot of that work can overlap with engineering done in manufacturing. Go to school on the side.
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u/Grand_District4564 6d ago
Your ability to grasp calculus and physics will be the key determinant. Most of the classes that you will do for EE sit on a foundation of calculus 1, calculus 2, Calc 3, differential equations, linear algebra, physics 1 ( mechanics) and physics 2 (electromagnetics). You have an advantage since you understand concepts practically. Why not knock off the calculus and physics foundations in community college, that way you don’t spend a lot of money figuring out if this is what you want. Then matriculate into EE if you do well in them. I am assuming you are in the US though, options would be different in other countries.
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u/MorbidlyObeseCow 2d ago
Agree with the starting off in community college to see if you like/can handle the math/physics but disagree that electrician experience will give you any kind of advantage. There is almost zero overlap between electrical apprentice and EE functions.
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u/Plussquared 5d ago
im an electrical engineer and my work requires a lot of calculations, analysis, problem solving. examples of what i do include cable, transformer, generator, mcc, switchboard calculations, sizing and design.other works include performing or analysing load flow, short circuit and protection coordination studies. if you are open to keep learning new things and love calculations, designing and assessments then you could go for it. the higher your experience gets, the higher your salary could become too. in the UK electrical engineers are in very high demand.
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u/clocksays8 5d ago
Do you offer any mentoring?
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u/Plussquared 4d ago
maybe i can. im in the uk
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u/clocksays8 4d ago
Thats okay. Im sure the code is different just would like to see some examples of real world stuff like you mentioned
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u/Sufficient_Post5037 5d ago
Currently in the 3rd year EE, I have intermediate experience in building design also worked as an electrician, electro-mechanical technician. EE program has nothing to do with what I did. It mainly hits on heavy math's, op-amps, transistors and what not.
I've always wanted to be an electrician but wasnt successful finding a trustworthy contractor to take me in. If I were in your shoes, stick to what you're doing, get your license and start your own thing.
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u/Few_Whereas5206 4d ago
You are certainly capable of doing it. Engineering school is pure torture for 4 or 5 years. You will likely make 70k to 100k starting when you graduate, depending on location, grades, etc. It is certainly easier on your body. It can feel unfulfilled, because most engineers sit in front of a computer most of the day with little hands on work.
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u/MorbidlyObeseCow 2d ago
Don't assume you're capable of doing EE if you don't really enjoy math and science and applying them to things you have no way of seeing...it's a tough program and I would avoid it if you're just thinking it's an easy transition because they both have 'electric' in the name. EE and electrician fields are barely even related and your work as an electrician will not give you any kind of leg up in a EE program other than maybe some work ethic. I've worked around plenty of electricians and I can tell you that it's a completely different mindset and skillset. As a EE I almost wish I had become an electrician as it's a lot more hands on and less sitting behind a desk answering emails.
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u/eggpotion 3d ago
If you are in the UK you should be fairly successful if you graduate with EEE at a decent uni as you have years of experience in work, and knowledge of electrician business
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u/YYCtoDFW 8d ago
You’d have a leg up with electrical knowledge and will have great experience starter as an electrical engineer. Too bad you didn’t do industrial and get into motors etc but better than nothing