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Product development technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a product development technician. Product development technicians usually study biology, business, or chemistry. 63% of product development technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 914 real product development technician resumes to see exactly what product development technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for product development technicians are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.
There are also many online product development technician courses to help get the education required to be a product development technician.
There are certain product development technician certifications that you should consider. These product development technician certifications include Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) and Certified Fund Specialist (CFS).
What education do you need to become a product development technician?
What degree do you need to be a product development technician?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Associate, 24%
- Master's, 7%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a product development technician?
- Biology, 12%
- Business, 11%
- Chemistry, 11%
- Food Science, 10%
- Other Majors, 56%
Most common colleges for product development technicians
| Product development technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.22% |
| DeVry University | 7.22% |
| Georgia State University | 6.19% |
| Ferris State University | 6.19% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 6.19% |
Best majors for product development technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 12.2% |
| 2 | Business | 11.4% |
| 3 | Chemistry | 11.2% |
| 4 | Food Science | 10.0% |
| 5 | Electrical Engineering | 9.5% |
Best colleges for product development technicians
The best colleges for product development technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A product development 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 product development 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 product development 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 product development technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Strategic Product Development
This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept...
2. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
3. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
4. 50 Personal Development And Personal Productivity Skills
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5. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
6. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
7. Scrum Product Owner & Scrum Product Owner Certification
Introduction to Agile and Scrum Product Owner Role + Preparation to Product Owner Certification Tests + Mock Exam...
8. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
9. Productivity for Mac Users: 10x Your Productivity
Shortcuts and Tools to 10x Your Productivity on Your Mac...
10. Improving software development productivity
Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...
11. Product Management: Mastering Product Roadmaps 2023
A complete guide to building a roadmap that works for both your product team and your stakeholders...
12. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers
Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...
13. Product Management 101
Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...
14. Microsoft Word & Excel 2016/365 Productivity Tips
How to make your workday more productive...
15. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
16. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases
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17. Double Your Productivity and Get Important Things Done
Productivity Course: Boost Productivity. Get Things Done. Procrastination. Time Management. Productivity Tools...
18. Productivity Machine: Time Management & Productivity Hacks
Productivity & Time Management Strategies for Goal Setting, Eliminating Distractions, & Building Habits for Success...
19. Insightful Customer Interviews for Product Managers
Direct conversations with real customers to gain insight, test product concepts, and drive product success...
20. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...
Top 10 most affordable universities for product development technicians
The most affordable schools for product development technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - long beach, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for product development 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 product development 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 product development technicians
The hardest universities for product development technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for product development 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 product development 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 product development technicians
The easiest schools for product development 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 product development 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 product development 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 product development technician salary by education level
| Product development technician education level | Product development technician salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $81,046 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $82,068 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $82,530 |
Product development 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