Before delving into an overview of the Electronics Engineering Technician program at Centennial College, which takes two years to complete, this article looks at the industry and the tasks for which graduates are trained.

1. Electronic Engineering Technician Program Offers
Transferable Skills
Typically, to work in areas as diverse as telecommunications, computer
applications, control systems, radio and television equipment and audio-visual
equipment would require attending various programs. However, Centennial College
brings all of these worlds together for students of its program that focuses on
electronic engineering.
The Electronic Engineering Technician offering trains students to work in these
areas completing tasks such as: writing computer or microprocessor software
programs; testing electronics units, using standard test equipment, and analyze
results to evaluate performance and determine need for adjustment; assembling,
testing, and maintaining circuitry or electronic components according to
engineering instructions, technical manuals, and knowledge of electronics, using
hand and power tools; provide user applications and engineering support and
recommendations for new and existing equipment with regard to installation,
upgrades and enhancement; design basic circuitry and draft sketches for
clarification of details and design documentation under engineers’ direction, using
drafting instruments and computer aided design equipment; build prototypes from
rough sketches or plans; and much more. Graduates may also become members of
a multidisciplinary group involved in equipment manufacturing or installation,
research and testing, equipment maintenance and repair, and sales.
“What I really like about the program is that it’s really hands-on,” says student Ali
of the Electronics Engineering program. “We get to deal with a lot of different
components. We actually build a lot of projects that are related to what we’ll be
doing in the future …. We use a Logic Probe all the time and we actually have to
design one. So, from scratch we get to build something that we use in our
everyday work. Basically we get the whole feel of what’s going on in the industry.”
Ali’s point actually constitutes an important aspect of the offering: practicality.
Hands-on components are incorporated into the courses, which students complete
in cutting-edge labs at Progress Campus. This location is not only Centennial
College’s largest campus but also one of the largest trades training centres in the
province. In their courses, students work with computers, communication
transceivers and electronics testing and measurement equipment, while developing
a solid foundation in modern electronics. Some of the specific topics in which
students will gain solid knowledge include: electronics, microcontrollers, control
systems, measurement and instrumentation, electronic communications systems,
digital electronics, electric circuits, technical report writing, computer hardware and
networks and more.
It is worth noting that qualified college or university graduates with a background
in electronics gain direct admission into semester three of this two-year program
and receive their Electronics Engineering diploma in two short semesters.
Additionally, students with a minimum 2.0 GPA may be eligible to transfer into the
fifth semester of the technologist program.