Contributed By Heather Santa Maria, Director of the Engineering Management Certification International.

It's never to early or late to start thinking about what you want to do with that engineering degree your working so hard to complete.  When weighing your options, it is important to know that an engineering degree offers a wide variety of career choices.  Engineering Management may be one of the opportunities that interest you.

WHAT IS AN ENGINEERING MANAGER?
Engineering Managers plan, coordinate, and direct research, design, and production activities. They may supervise engineers, scientists, and technicians, along with support personnel. Using their strong technical and communication skills, engineering managers oversee a variety of team-based activities.

In addition to managing people and tasks, Engineering Managers determine scientific and technical goals within broad outlines provided by top executives. These goals may include improving manufacturing processes, advancing scientific research, or developing new products. In order to accomplish these goals, managers develop detailed business and project plans.

Strong technical knowledge is essential for Engineering Managers and assumed.  Engineering Managers are differentiated from their peers by possession of a strong ability to understand and guide the work of their subordinates and explain the work in nontechnical terms to senior management and potential customers. Therefore, these management positions usually require work experience, formal education and/or certification as an engineer.

In order to advance to higher-level positions, engineers generally must assume management responsibility. Employers seek engineers who possess strong administrative and communication skills in addition to technical knowledge in their specialty.  The usual path to gain these skills is by obtaining a master’s degree in engineering management or a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). Both educational avenues are costly and time consuming for a full-time employee.  Taking two years off from school is sometimes not an economical option for engineers with fiscal responsibilities.

HOW CAN ASME HELP YOU BECOME AN ENGINEERING MANAGER

The Engineering Management Certification International provides a certification that validates an individuals' competency in engineering management.  ASME, in partnership with ASCE, AIChE, and AIME, established the Engineering Management Certification International (EMCI™) to provide global standards and best practices for Engineering Managers.  The program is based on a uniform, globally administered examination that evaluates engineers’ knowledge and skills in planning, organizing, allocating resources, directing and controlling technological activities.

EMCI provides a path for career advancement for trained engineers with a minimum of 3 years of work experience.  For young engineers and graduate students, this is especially valuable; since EMCI provides you with a certification at the Fundamental level, also know as the EMCF. With this certification, engineers possess an even more complete portable set of skills to promote career advancement.

Currently, EMCI has articulation agreements with many universities that recognize the EMCI certification in exchange for university graduate credit.  In addition to advancing your career, the EMCI certification will give you the basis to pursue an advanced degree in engineering management. 

EMCI is a globally recognized program with current traction in the US, Canada, China, Australia, India and Africa.  The program aligns each certified manager with established professionals across industries and countries worldwide. This credential validates an engineer’s expertise in marketing, finance, law, leadership and cultural diversity.

An exciting career and validation of your hard work is awaiting prospective examinees at EMCI!!

For more information, go to our website at www.engineeringcertification.org.