How to become an electrical engineer

1. 1Take calculus and physics in high school

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1

   Engineering programs expect students to start calculus in the first semester, so take math through precalculus or calculus, plus physics. Courses in electronics, drafting, programming or robotics help you see whether you like building and debugging circuits. If your school offers AP or dual-enrollment calculus and physics, the credit can lighten a heavy first year. Admission to engineering colleges often depends on math grades more than anything else.

2. 2Earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

   Time: 4 yearsCost: $11,299/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 5, 6, 3

   The degree starts with calculus, differential equations, physics and programming, then moves into circuit analysis, electronics, signals and systems, electromagnetics and digital logic, with a lab attached to many courses. Later you choose electives in power systems, controls, communications or embedded systems, and finish with a senior design project. Choose an ABET-accredited program: NCEES says licensing boards generally require an EAC/ABET-accredited degree for the PE license, and you can confirm accreditation with ABET's program search.

3. 3Get internship or co-op experience

   Time: 1-3 summers or co-op termsCost: Usually paidSources 1

   Employers put a lot of weight on practical work, and internships often turn into full-time offers. Utilities, consulting firms, manufacturers and defense contractors all hire engineering interns. A co-op program alternates semesters of school and paid work and can stretch the degree beyond 4 years, but graduates come out with real project experience and references. Join a student chapter or design team if you can, because hands-on projects stand out on a first resume.

4. 4Take the FE exam near graduation

   Time: One 6-hour appointmentCost: $225 (2026)Sources 3, 9

   The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first step toward a PE license. NCEES runs it year-round as a computer-based test at Pearson centers, with 110 questions in about five hours and twenty minutes of testing time. Choose the Electrical and Computer version. NCEES aims it at students close to finishing an accredited degree, when the material is fresh. Passing lets you register with your state as an Engineer in Training or Engineer Intern.

5. 5Start work and build supervised experience

   Time: About 4 yearsSources 2, 8

   Entry-level electrical engineers work under senior engineers, doing calculations, drawings, testing and site visits. If you plan to get a PE license, keep a record of your projects and who supervised you, because most states require about 4 years of progressive engineering experience that a licensed engineer can verify. Under the NCEES model law, a master's degree in engineering can cut the experience to 3 years, and states may offer other paths, so read your state board's rules early.

6. 6Pass the PE exam and apply for a state license

   Time: One 9- to 9.5-hour appointment, plus board reviewCost: $400 exam fee (2026) plus state feesSources 4, 2, 9

   The PE Electrical and Computer exam comes in three versions: Power, offered year-round; Electronics, Controls, and Communications; and Computer Engineering, the last two offered once a year. All are computer-based at Pearson centers, with 80 or 85 questions. Power is the usual choice for utility and building design engineers. Once you pass, your state board reviews your education, experience and references before issuing the license.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Circuit and power-system math

Sizing a feeder or setting a protective relay means solving equations with complex numbers and phasors, and a wrong answer can start a fire or black out a plant.

Design software

Drawings, schematics and simulations are built in CAD and analysis tools, and employers expect new engineers to pick them up quickly.

Programming

Control systems, test scripts and data analysis increasingly involve code, from PLC logic to Python and MATLAB.

Code and standards knowledge

Designs must meet the National Electrical Code, utility standards and safety rules, and inspectors and clients will check them.

Clear technical writing

Specifications and reports are what contractors build from, so an ambiguous sentence can cost a project weeks.

Systematic troubleshooting

When equipment trips or fails a test, you have to rule out causes one at a time instead of guessing.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: writing, reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking.

Training cost

$45.2K–$45.8K

Before financial aid

Time

4 years to start; about 8 years to a PE license

Typical path

Median pay

$120,630

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 4 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for electrical, electronics and communications engineering bachelor's programs, $11,299 = $45,196. High: the same degree plus the FE exam fee of $225 and the PE Electrical and Computer exam fee of $400 paid to NCEES per attempt in 2026. Not included: fees, books, housing, state board application fees and out-of-state or private tuition, which can cost far more. Graduates of these programs carry a median federal loan debt of $21,333.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Professional Engineer and senior or lead engineer

  After about 4 years of experience and the PE exam, engineers can seal designs and lead projects, which most consulting firms expect of senior staff.

• Engineering manager

  Usually takes several years as a lead engineer; some managers add an MBA or engineering management degree.

• Computer engineer$161,740 median

  Electrical engineers who focus on digital hardware can move into computer hardware design, often with electives or a master's in computer engineering.

• Project manager$102,320 median

  Engineers who enjoy scheduling and budgets move into project management; a PMP certification is common but not required.