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Prototype technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a prototype technician. Prototype technicians usually study automotive technology, electrical engineering, or business. 38% of prototype technicians hold a associate degree, and 25% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 716 real prototype technician resumes to see exactly what prototype technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for prototype technicians are the Henry Ford College and the Henry Ford College.
There are also many online prototype technician courses to help get the education required to be a prototype technician.
What education do you need to become a prototype technician?
What degree do you need to be a prototype technician?
- Associate, 38%
- Bachelor's, 25%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a prototype technician?
- Business, 8%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for prototype technicians
| Prototype technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Henry Ford College | 18.42% |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | 13.16% |
| Schoolcraft College | 9.21% |
| Baker College | 6.58% |
| Jackson College | 5.26% |
Best majors for prototype technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive Technology | 21.0% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 14.0% |
| 3 | Business | 8.5% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 6.6% |
| 5 | Mechanical Engineering | 5.9% |
Best colleges for prototype technicians
The best colleges for prototype technicians are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A prototype 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 prototype 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 prototype technicians.
1. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
2. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$14,704
Enrollment
9,447
3. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,686
Enrollment
11,139
4. Baker College
Owosso, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$9,800
Enrollment
8,319
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
7. Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR • Private
In-state tuition
$8,607
Enrollment
8,623
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
20 best online courses for prototype technicians
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1. Rapid Prototyping and Tooling
In the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization, students learn how to make effective prototypes. Why is rapid prototyping important, and how does it facilitate the overall engineering design process? At what point in the process should rapid prototyping be employed? How can electronics bring a prototype to the next level? When is it appropriate to make a prototype out of cardboard rather than aluminum? When should you use 3D printing instead of a laser cutter? Real examples provide answers...
2. Adding Electronics to Rapid Prototypes
Hello, everyone! Welcome to this course on Adding Electronics to Rapid Prototypes. This is part of the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization. In this course, I’ll cover the basics of electric circuits, breadboards, and multimeters. I’ll then discuss different options for connecting electrical components as well as discuss different types of motors and actuators. Finally, I’ll end this course by discussing microcontrollers and how to use them to make even more sophisticated prototypes. By...
3. Rapid Prototyping for Entrepreneurs Build a Demo in 2 hours
Learn how to wireframe and create realistic interactive prototypes in just 2 hours, all without using code...
4. Adobe XD UI/UX Design, prototype, and handoff from scratch
Learn how to design and prototype apps and webpages using Adobe XD...
5. Rapid Prototyping Using 3D Printing
This specialization will help you understand how prototyping can be accelerated by the use of 3D printing. It first provides insights into the core processes in engineering and product design & development to bring out the importance of prototyping. It then guides learners through different types and characteristics of prototypes, and the different ways of producing prototypes. Learners are then introduced to a wide array of 3D printing technologies and their capabilities to develop a skill in...
6. Design a Remote Sprint to Test Prototypes in Miro
By the end of this project, you will be able to design and build a remote 5-day sprint to develop and test prototypes. As you work through your project, you will understand how this process helps teams efficiently and effectively deliver products with high levels of user acceptance. To do this, you will gain hands-on experience applying agile thinking to place the right people on a cross-functional team, assign roles, and create a roadmap for prototype development and testing success, and...
7. Axure RP 9 Fundamentals and Mobile prototyping for UX Design
Learn the fundamentals to advance level of Axure RP skills to create an interactive prototyping for mobile device...
8. Electric Vehicle Crash Course
EV Projects & Prototype Development...
9. Creative Design, Prototyping, and Testing
Designing the customer and user experience is essential to creating great products today. Gone is the old paradigm of “form follows function” model of design. The process must be iterative and follow the best product design and development processes. While designing a great user experience can be a lengthy and expensive process, there are approaches to doing it faster and smarter, without compromising results. This essential product management course explains key design thinking principles...
10. Create a High-Fidelity Prototype with Figma
In this 1 hour guided project, you will first learn the fundamental principles of high-fidelity prototyping. Then you will learn the basic techniques of using Figma to create a high-fidelity prototype for a pizza restaurant mobile application. High-fidelity prototypes closely resemble the final product and give users and developers a real taste of how the features work. Finally you will learn how to share your work with team members and clients to refine your design with them. Prior knowledge...
11. Game Prototyping without code using Unity & Playmaker
Build your own FPS-style 3D game prototype from scratch using Unity, Playmaker and a 3D app. Whiteboxing & game systems!...
12. UI UX Design & Prototyping using Adobe XD
Learn Adobe XD for UI/UX Design, User Interface, User Experience Design & Adobe XD Prototyping...
13. Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals
In this foundational Pharmacy Technician Career Training Specialization, students will take four courses to master the fundamentals of a career in pharmacy. The first two courses teach how to communicate and engage professionally in any healthcare setting and the necessary knowledge of human anatomy and physiology required for any medical role. Next, students dive into two pharmacy-related courses - Pharmacy Technician Essentials and Pharmacy Dosages & Prescriptions Essentials - to round out...
14. Become a Pharmacy Technician
A Video Study Guide for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam...
15. Motor Starter Circuits (Motor Control)
Motor starter schematics or wiring drawings. Learn to design power & control circuits for motor starters...
16. Complete Eagle CAD PCB Design: Theory and Practical approach
Complete PCB Design Course for Freshers & Professionals...
17. Fusion 360 CAD/CAM for CNC routers
Make any part using your CNC router with Fusion 360...
18. Learn Figma in 14 Days - Master UI Design and Prototyping
Quickly learn Figma to Design and Prototype an awesome looking Mobile App with screen transitions and hone UI UX Skills...
19. Diving In with InVision Studio
A guide to creating interactive digital prototypes with In Vision Studio...
20. Software Testing:Effective Test Case Writing & Formatting
Must for all Manual Testers Standard Test Case Format Manual Testing Concepts Test Case Designing Techniques...
Top 10 most affordable universities for prototype technicians
The most affordable schools for prototype technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - long beach, and purdue university.
If the best universities for prototype 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 prototype 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. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
4. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
9. National University College - Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$6,675
Cost of attendance
12,941
10. West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV • Private
In-state tuition
$7,464
Cost of attendance
17,166
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for prototype technicians
The hardest universities for prototype technicians to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for prototype 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 prototype 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. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
8. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
9. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
10. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,309
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for prototype technicians
The easiest schools for prototype 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 a prototype 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 prototype 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. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
6. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
7. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,070
8. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
9. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
10. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
Average prototype technician salary by education level
| Prototype technician education level | Prototype technician salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $44,149 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,644 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $44,868 |
Prototype technician education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025