FAQ: What is a Technician/Technologist?

Technician versus technologist: Is there a difference? You bet!

The titles "technician" and "technologist" are found on more and more positions these days, including some which seem to have little technical connection, such as "Accounting Technician".

Are the designations technician and technologist interchangeable? What characteristics actually define the role of a technician or technologist?

Firstly, no one holds copyright on the individual words technician and technologist, so an employer may call their "techs" anything they choose. (CERTIFIED Technician or technologist is another matter. More on that later.) But in reality there is a distinct difference in the training and careers of these professionals. Techs themselves are generally well aware of the capabilities of technicians and technologists in their own fields, but since employers vary so much in how they fit their techs into their overall company structures, it can be confusing for anyone.

Some employers simplify the matter (consciously or not) by using "technician" or "technologist" for anyone in a technical role that isn't an engineer. While this practice isn't illegal, it can be frustrating for techs, since they know the difference and expect to be recognized according to accepted professional standards in their field, like everyone else.

So what's the difference?

Essentially, the difference between a technician and a technologist (as defined by ASET and the national standards now in place) boils down to the depth of education required and the level of work expected.

Technicians are specialists with an education suited to jobs that require expert knowledge in particular tasks, such as troubleshooting, inspection, servicing, manufacturing, testing, sampling, repair, installation, maintenance, basic design or operations. Their training programs are generally between one and two years in length and stress practical skills. Technicians often become the recognized expert in a certain process, machine or plant. Technologists must study more advanced courses in math, engineering theory and scientific principles. Their programs usually run from two to three years. This advanced knowledge allows them to work in design, problem solving, data interpretation, complex troubleshooting, preparation of specifications, scheduling, planning, analysis, project management and decision making. Many technologists move into more advanced levels of engineering as their careers progress.

It is quite true that there is a high degree of overlap between the role of a technician and a technologist, particularly in some fields. In other words, experienced technicians occasionally move into some of the roles filled by technologists as their experience grows. Similarly, younger technologists such as recent graduates often work in technician positions in order to build their experience and gain the confidence of their superiors to tackle higher-level work.

It is not always true that technologists make more money or achieve higher positions than technicians, since highly specialized technician positions can pay extremely well. But generally technologists do find their way into higher positions, and pay, in the long run.

Similarities

Technicians and technologists do have some similarities, including one in particular that has proven to be the source of considerable frustration for many in Alberta.

The difficulty is what has been coined the "glass ceiling" within some companies. Many employers reserve the top positions within the firm for individuals with higher levels of education. This situation can be equally frustrating for both technicians and technologists, since they can find themselves held back within a firm despite their recognized expertise. They are often called upon to help young engineers "learn the ropes" in the company, only to watch them move quickly into management positions and/or higher salary brackets ahead of the techs that have many years of proven abilities.

This situation is particularly true of firms that have origins in the USA, where training programs and job structures are different. There, schools produce "technicians" with skills akin to Canadian trades people, plus "engineers" of differing types. Education standards for engineering programs in the US vary wildly, from what Canadians would consider technician or technologist training up to and including the highest levels of advanced science.

Technologists, therefore, are an unknown commodity in the USA. When US firms come to Canada and are faced with several types of "non-engineer" technical personnel, the natural tendency is to lump them all together and to use the term they know best - "technician", to describe them. Inadvertently, then, employers create job ladders or structures that don't properly reflect the training and experience that their own personnel possess.

Technicians and technologists do have something else in common these days; both are in extremely high demand in a wide variety of fields. Techs hitting "glass ceilings" often leave the company to find other jobs at firms that don't hold them back and that value their skills and capabilities as much or more than the diplomas or degrees they hold. The number of companies doing so is growing - it is not uncommon now to find techs in senior positions, supervising engineers and other professionals.

Standards in place

National standards for the achievement of a recognized professional credential as an applied science/engineering technician or technologist have been in place for years. They include lists of required competencies in a wide range of specific fields, or what are known as disciplines. The Canadian Technology Human Resources Board (CTHRB) sets the standards with ongoing input from employers, industries and training institutes.

These standards are used in two ways. Firstly, educational facilities such as NAIT, SAIT, DeVry and the community colleges use the standards to design their technical training program content. If a program meets the standard, it can receive Nationally Accredited status from the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board. Graduates are then accepted as having met the academic requirements for professional certification by ASET or any of the other nine provincial technology organizations. They must also have appropriate work experience and meet other criteria.

Secondly, the standards are used by ASET and the other certification societies when reviewing applications for certified status. Certified Technician (C.Tech.) and Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.) are the most commonly issued professional credentials in Alberta. In addition, ASET issues the Applied Science Technologist (A.Sc.T.) credential to those in non-engineering roles, plus the Registered Engineering Technologist (R.E.T.) credential to C.E.T.s who have achieved more experience at a senior level.

These credentials are registered trademarks and may only be used by those individuals who have achieved them and who remain in good standing with their provincial organization.

ASET's credentials are transferable across Canada since all provinces use the same CTHRB national standards for certification. The designations are now recognized under the NAFTA, speeding movement into the U.S.A.. Certified members may also transfer their credentials overseas in many cases.

Certification

Achieving Certified Technician (C. Tech.) status requires a certificate from an accredited technician program, or equivalent, plus at least two years of acceptable technician work experience, three professional references plus ASET's professional practice exam.

Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.) or Applied Science Technologist (A.Sc.T.) status requires a diploma from an accredited technologist program, or equivalent, plus at least two years of acceptable technologist work experience, three professional references and ASET's professional practice exam.

Registered Engineering Technologist (R.E.T.) status requires previous C.E.T. status, plus proof of four years of senior-level experience, plus three additional references and a three-hour exam. References used by all applicants must be co-workers, supervisors or other technical professionals who are asked to complete forms attesting to the individual's competence.

As certified technicians or technologists, all members of ASET must subscribe to a code of ethics, which covers professional practice, protection of the public and environment, confidentiality, safety, honesty and integrity. ASET also offers members and employers a number of services, including an annual salary survey, a national job referral system, networking and professional development opportunities.

To members of the general public, who generally can grasp what trades people, engineers and scientists do, technicians and technologists are somewhat "invisible" members of the technical community. At best, many people (including some employers) instinctively label anyone not an engineer or tradesperson as a "technician".

Yet there are important and distinct differences between technicians and technologists about which they are justifiably sensitive and proud. Both are key players on the engineering team. Both are professionals who have unique and valuable skills, and together they form the backbone of Alberta's technical community.