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Electrical controls technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an electrical controls technician. Electrical controls technicians usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or industrial technology. 59% of electrical controls technicians hold a associate degree, and 15% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 479 real electrical controls technician resumes to see exactly what electrical controls technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for electrical controls technicians are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online electrical controls technician courses to help get the education required to be an electrical controls technician.
What education do you need to become an electrical controls technician?
What degree do you need to be an electrical controls technician?
- Associate, 59%
- Bachelor's, 15%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become an electrical controls technician?
- Other Majors, 32%
Most common colleges for electrical controls technicians
| Electrical controls technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 8.11% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 8.11% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 8.11% |
| DeVry University | 8.11% |
| Renton Technical College | 5.41% |
Best majors for electrical controls technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 32.1% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 26.9% |
| 3 | Industrial Technology | 5.1% |
| 4 | Mechatronics And Robotics | 3.8% |
| 5 | Electromechanical Instrumentation And Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | 3.8% |
Best colleges for electrical controls technicians
The best colleges for electrical controls technicians are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
An electrical 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 electrical 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 electrical controls technicians.
1. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
4. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Enrollment
24,841
5. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,785
Enrollment
7,711
6. Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$8,184
Enrollment
11,675
7. Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$40,749
Enrollment
2,582
8. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$11,870
Enrollment
53,194
9. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
10. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$19,080
Enrollment
19,127
20 best online courses for electrical controls technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. PLC & AC Drive with Automatic & Manual Industrial Control
this course will take newbies to a higher level to deal with complex PLC projects, Motor Drives ( VFD ) & Manual Control...
2. Fundamentals of Electrical Controls
Learn the parts and wiring techniques used in a motor control installation, become a Controls Electrician...
3. Electrical Control & Protection Systems
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
4. Variable Frequency Drive PowerFlex 525 VFD Programming Setup
Electrical Hardware Engineering & Variable Frequency Drive Programming PLC, HMI, Allen Bradley RSLogix 5000...
5. Electrical Control & Protection Part 4
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical network...
6. Electrical Control & Protection Part 3
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical network...
7. The Complete Electrical Power Control and Protection
Your Complete Practical Guide in Electrical Control & Protection Systems for Stations , Substations & Distribution Zones...
8. Control Systems Made Simple Beginner's Guide
Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...
9. Electrical Schematics (Industrial Controls)
Learn to read, understand & design power & control circuits. Foundational course to learn electrical wiring drawings...
10. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
11. AutoCAD Electrical 2020 for Electrical & Automation Eng
Control panel schematic & layout...
12. High Voltage Electric Vehicle Safety
Electric Vehicle Safety Battery Pack Fire Safety Electric Shock Safety Accidental Safety High Voltage Components...
13. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)
Modeling + state space systems + Model Predictive Control + feedback control + Python simulation: UAV quadcopter drone...
14. Motor Starter Circuits (Motor Control)
Motor starter schematics or wiring drawings. Learn to design power & control circuits for motor starters...
15. Advanced AC Drive- VFD, Servo & Stepper - Powerflex & Delta
Learn programming and PLC Interfacing of Allen Bradley & Delta AC Drives - VFD and Servo by LIVE Examples...
16. 3 Phase Motor Control Bootcamp
Take your electrical motor control skills from zero to hero!...
17. AutoCAD Electrical for Electrical and Automation Engineers
Become proficient in Auto CAD Electrical quickly and showcase your skills...
18. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design
Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...
19. PLC, Arduino and HMI Projects over Modbus TCP: From Scratch
Design from A-Z control projects using Arduino, Soft PLC, HMI, VFD, Mod Bus TCP and Electrical panel with full simulation...
20. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control
Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for electrical controls technicians
The most affordable schools for electrical controls technicians are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.
If the best universities for electrical 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 electrical 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. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
6. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
8. West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV • Private
In-state tuition
$7,464
Cost of attendance
17,166
9. National University College - Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$6,675
Cost of attendance
12,941
10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for electrical controls technicians
The hardest universities for electrical controls technicians to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for electrical 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 electrical 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. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
9. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for electrical controls technicians
The easiest schools for electrical controls technicians to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and pennsylvania state university - altoona.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an electrical 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 electrical controls technicians.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
4. Pennsylvania State University - Berks
Reading, PA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,107
5. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
6. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
7. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
8. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
9. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average electrical controls technician salary by education level
| Electrical controls technician education level | Electrical controls technician salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $60,008 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,583 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $60,891 |
Electrical controls technician education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025