ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN


The work of a Technician is the application of technological knowledge and proven techniques within the context of a specific industrial process.

The tasks of the Electrical Engineering Technician in the workplace could entail ...

  • installation
  • maintenance
  • repair or modification
  • measurement and testing
  • manufacture of, for example - control equipment, electronic circuits, power line carriers, automatic telephone exchange equipment, etc.
  • preparing and supervising maintenance programmes;
  • writing and developing computer systems
  • designing and building hardware.
  • These tasks would be performed on the latest available technologies.


A career in Electrical Engineering not only provides great financial benefits, but immense job satisfaction is derived. Many women, as well as men, enter the world of Electrical Engineering by becoming Technicians.

Education for Electrical Engineering Technicians

In order to become an Electrical Engineering Technician you need to study a three year National Diploma (N Dip) course at technikon.

Technikons require their students to be exposed to “experiential training”. This is an extension to the formal component of the tuition provided and may assume various forms with the object of exposing you to the work environment (ie ethos, organisation, demands, structures, etc) and or extending to you the opportunity for experiential performance within this environment. The object of experiential training is to guide the exploration of an occupation in order to allow you first-hand experience of the demands of the working environment.

You don’t have to go to technikon immediately to become an Electrical Engineering Technician. You can commence your studies at technical college and then move on to technikon to ultimately qualify as an Electrical Engineering Technician.

After obtaining your N Dp at technikon you need to have three years practical experience as an engineering technician-in-training to be able to register as a Registered Engineering Technician. Read about the benefits of Professional Registration under the relevant section in this book.

Technikon diploma courses provide advanced education and training and combine theory and practical training. Emphasis is placed on the job-readiness of students.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement to study the N Dip for Electrical Engineering is usually a Senior Certificate. Two of the subjects have to be Mathematics and Physical Science and one, Language. Not all applicants wishing to enter technikon get accepted because space is limited. To give you a better chance to be successful at obtaining technikon entry is to ensure that your marks are at least a C symbol. This will also make it easier for you to obtain financial assistance for your studies. Some technikons may also have other entry requirements. ENSURE THAT YOU FIND OUT WHAT THESE ARE BEFORE YOU APPLY.