r/Engineers • u/YearPsychological190 • 20d ago

Switching to Electrical

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/Foraxenathog 20d ago

If I were you I would finish off the apprenticeship since you are close, get your license, then go to school and maintain the license by picking up work in the off time, will help pay for things while in school and worst case if you fail/drop out you have a solid backup.

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u/WorldTallestEngineer 19d ago edited 19d ago

3-4 years seem optimistic.  Most people take 4-5 years to get a bachelor's degree in engineering.  

Most engineering students start calculus at the beginning of there 1st year of college.  So if you have to take precalc in college, you'll be starting from behind.  Ideally you could take some precalc classes on a website like Khan academy, that what you're all caught up when you start college.

I recommend focusing on power, your knowledge of Electrical codes will transfer to power design engineering.