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Process technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a process technician. Process technicians usually study business, electrical engineering, or biology. 36% of process technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 14,784 real process technician resumes to see exactly what process technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for process technicians are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online process technician courses to help get the education required to be a process technician.
There are certain process technician certifications that you should consider. These process technician certifications include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
What education do you need to become a process technician?
What degree do you need to be a process technician?
- Bachelor's, 36%
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 22%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a process technician?
- Business, 20%
- Biology, 9%
- General Studies, 7%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for process technicians
| Process technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 20.41% |
| DeVry University | 8.16% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 6.73% |
| San Jose State University | 5.92% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 4.90% |
Best majors for process technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 19.9% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 12.3% |
| 3 | Biology | 9.3% |
| 4 | General Studies | 6.6% |
| 5 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 6.3% |
Best colleges for process technicians
The best colleges for process technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A process 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 process 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 process technicians.
1. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$11,105
Enrollment
13,729
6. University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$9,457
Enrollment
7,445
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. Texas State University
San Marcos, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,280
Enrollment
34,187
9. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
10. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
20 best online courses for process technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
2. Statistical Process Control (SPC) Using Microsoft Excel
A Deep Dive into Analyzing your Process Data to Drive Quality Improvements within your Organization...
3. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
4. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
5. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
6. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
7. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Advanced Guide
Enhance your process flowchart knowledge advanced symbols, concepts, and best practices! - ECBA/CCBA/CBAP endorsed...
8. Certified Quality Process Analyst Training
Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) Exam Preparation Course - Confidently Pass the Exam on the First Attempt...
9. Certified Process Mapping / Flowcharts Expert Accredited
Accredited Process Mapping / Process Flowcharts Training And Certification Use Process Mapping For Process Improvement...
10. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Beginner's Guide
Use business analysis to model process flows with real-world examples & project-based hands-on activities -IIBA Endorsed...
11. Process Capability Analysis
A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...
12. Introduction to Natural Language Processing
Learn basics of Natural Language Processing (NLP), Regular Expressions and Text Pre-processing using Python...
13. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS
Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...
14. Introduction to Business Process Modeling
Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...
15. Process Mapping and Flowcharts Certification (Accredited)
Complete Process Mapping and Process Flowcharts Guide - Beginners Process Mapping Specialist Certification Earn PDUs...
16. Executive Briefing: Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Natural Language Processing for Executives and Top-Level Managers: understand NLP in under 30 Minutes...
17. Python Digital Image Processing From Ground Up™
Image Processing : Edge-Detection Algorithms , Convolution, Filter Design, Gray-Level Transformation, Histograms etc...
18. NLP - Natural Language Processing with Python
Learn to use Machine Learning, Spacy, NLTK, Sci Kit-Learn, Deep Learning, and more to conduct Natural Language Processing...
19. SAP PI Process Integration - Beginner to Paid Professional
SAP PI Hands-On will teach you to develop integration scenarios using SAP PI Process Integration...
20. Introduction to process control and instrumentation
Learn how process control is ensured in process industries & how the main instruments measure the key process variables...
Top 10 most affordable universities for process technicians
The most affordable schools for process technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - long beach, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for process 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 process technicians.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
10. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for process technicians
The hardest universities for process technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for process 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 process 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
Admissions rate
30%
SAT average
1,339
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for process technicians
The easiest schools for process technicians to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a process 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 process technicians.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
5. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
10. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
Average process technician salary by education level
| Process technician education level | Process technician salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $42,436 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,269 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,723 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,218 |
Process 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