An engineering technologist is a specialist dedicated to the development, design, and implementation of engineering and technology. Engineering technology education is more of a broad specialized and applied engineering education. Engineering Technologists often work under traditional engineers. However the Engineering Technologist Mobility Forum indicates that an engineering technologist’s work should have required the exercise of independent engineering judgment for manufacturing firms, product improvement, design and construction, and government agencies applying engineering principles and technical skills. Engineering technologists also may assume senior management positions in industry or become entrepreneurs.

Engineering technology deals with the same topics as engineering, but the knowledge is more applied, as opposed to theoretical knowledge. The mathematics and sciences, as well as the technical courses, in technology programs are taught with more application based examples. Engineering courses may also require additional, higher-level mathematics, including multiple semesters of calculus and calculus-based theoretical science courses to prepare students for continued studies and perform research at the graduate level. Engineering technology courses generally have labs associated with the courses that require hands-on applications of the studied topics.

Internationally, the Sydney Accord is an agreement signed in 2001 acknowledging the academic equivalence of accredited engineering technology programs in the signatory nations. In some countries, only those individuals who have graduated from an accredited curriculum in engineering technology and have a significant amount of work experience in their field may become registered technologists. A technologist’s recognition may be in the form of a certification or a professional registration.