Controls technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a controls technician. Controls technicians usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or business. 38% of controls technicians hold a associate degree, and 36% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 10,639 real controls technician resumes to see exactly what controls technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for controls technicians are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online controls technician courses to help get the education required to be a controls technician.

There are certain controls technician certifications that you should consider. These controls technician certifications include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).

What education do you need to become a controls technician?

What degree do you need to be a controls technician?

The most common degree for controls technicians is associate degree, with 38% of controls technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 36% and bachelor's degree degree at 13%.

Associate, 38%

Bachelor's, 36%

High School Diploma, 13%

Diploma, 5%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a controls technician?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a controls technician. 21% of controls technicians major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a controls technician include electrical engineering technology and business.

Electrical Engineering, 21%

Electrical Engineering Technology, 15%

Business, 13%

Computer Science, 5%

Other Majors, 46%

Most common colleges for controls technicians

Controls technicians often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Purdue University. Here are the most common colleges for controls technicians in the US based on their resumes.

Controls technician common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	18.14%
DeVry University	13.85%
Purdue University	5.79%
Strayer University	5.79%
American InterContinental University	4.53%

Show more common controls technician colleges

Best majors for controls technicians

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	21.0%
2	Electrical Engineering Technology	14.9%
3	Business	13.0%
4	Computer Science	4.8%
5	Computer Information Systems	4.2%

Show more common controls technician majors

Best colleges for controls technicians

The best colleges for controls technicians are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

A controls technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for controls technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become controls technicians.

1. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

2. Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$10,616

Enrollment

9,325

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

5. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Enrollment

11,139

6. Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$13,097

Enrollment

17,114

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

20 best online courses for controls technicians

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1. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)

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Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

3. Control Systems Made Simple Beginner's Guide

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Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...

4. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design

4.2

(338)

Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...

5. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

4.6

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6. Applied Control Systems 1: autonomous cars: Math + PID + MPC

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7. Introduction to PLC's [Programmable Logic Controllers]-07-21

(502)

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8. PLC & AC Drive with Automatic & Manual Industrial Control

4.2

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this course will take newbies to a higher level to deal with complex PLC projects, Motor Drives ( VFD ) & Manual Control...

9. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2

4.7

(718)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

10. Fundamentals of Electrical Controls

4.5

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Learn the parts and wiring techniques used in a motor control installation, become a Controls Electrician...

11. The Complete Electrical Power Control and Protection

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Your Complete Practical Guide in Electrical Control & Protection Systems for Stations , Substations & Distribution Zones...

12. PLC Programming - Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000

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PLC programming from scratch training class by a controls engineer equipped with PLC systems - Allen Bradley RSLogix 500...

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This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical network...

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This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical network...

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16. Model a Car and Design a PID Controller in MATLAB/SIMULINK

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Model and simulate an electric car (Tesla Model S) in MATLAB & SIMULINK and design your own PID speed controller...

17. Bank Reconciliations & Cash Internal Controls

4.5

(645)

Mastering Internal Controls and Cash Management: Safeguarding Business Assets and Ensuring Financial Accuracy...

18. Internal Controls - Design, Implementation and Monitoring

4.4

(1,188)

Become a compliance specialist, maintain strong internal controls for SOX or FCPA, prepare for internal & external audit...

19. Electrical Schematics (Industrial Controls)

4.4

(1,274)

Learn to read, understand & design power & control circuits. Foundational course to learn electrical wiring drawings...

20. System Dynamics and Controls

4.8

(617)

Mathematical Modeling of Systems and More...

Top 10 most affordable universities for controls technicians

The most affordable schools for controls technicians are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and california state polytechnic university, pomona.

If the best universities for controls technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for controls technicians.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

4. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

6. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV • Private

In-state tuition

$7,464

Cost of attendance

17,166

7. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

10. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for controls technicians

The hardest universities for controls technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for controls technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for controls technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

4. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

6. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

7. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for controls technicians

The easiest schools for controls technicians to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, pennsylvania state university - altoona, and capitol technology university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a controls technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for controls technicians.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

3. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

4. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

5. Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington

New Kensington, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,091

6. Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,019

7. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

8. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

9. Pennsylvania State University - Berks

Reading, PA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,107

10. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

Average controls technician salary by education level

According to our data, controls technicians with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $58,932 annually. Controls technicians with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $56,461.

Controls technician education level	Controls technician salary
Master's Degree	$58,932
High School Diploma or Less	$53,018
Bachelor's Degree	$55,596
Some College/ Associate Degree	$56,461

Controls technician education FAQs

What is the best college for Controls Technicians?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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