If you are passionate about making a career in the aerospace industry, aviation technology can be just the right path for you to achieve your goals. The field of aviation technology offers aspiring candidates a host of career possibilities to choose from. And according to the Federal Aviation Administration, job prospects in air transportation will be quite good over the next decade. Therefore, a large number of aviation technology graduates will be required to fill the job positions. The industry is growing and candidates can avail themselves of the job potential waiting for them. Whether you are looking to pursue a career in aeronautical technology, aviation management or professional flight technology, you have some of the most profitable career opportunities waiting for you.

By choosing aviation technology as a career, you can choose from a range of jobs. Most of the people believe that entering the field of aviation just means becoming a pilot. However, an aviation technological career is not just limited to the job position of a pilot. You can also choose to become a maintenance technician, a safety inspector or work in the air traffic control and flight operations department. So, depending on your interest and individual preferences, you can choose to take up a job position and make a successful career in the aviation industry.

Training & Educational Requirements
There are several aviation technology schools offer degrees including associate of applied science and bachelor degrees of sciences and certifications. A bachelor's degree in aviation technology provides students with an in-depth understanding of how to pilot an aircraft, air traffic control and the mechanical and technological aspects of aeronautics. Classes taught in this degree program include flight principles, drafting fundamentals, aircraft instrument systems, aviation law etc. Students also have the opportunity of choosing from air traffic control degrees, aviation administration degrees and professional piloting degrees.

Candidates can obtain their degrees and certifications by enrolling into these degree programs, approved by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Most of these programs take around 18-24 months to complete. Coursework includes subjects like physics, mathematics, electronics, mechanical drawing and computer science among others. Technically, students will be trained and educated in aviation electronics, turbine engines and aircraft constrictions.

Degree programs and courses in aviation technology can be obtained both online and via campus mode. So, candidates have the flexibility to choose an option according to their specific requirements. There are multiple colleges and professional schools across the United States offering relevant courses and degrees for candidates. Online degrees save students both a lot of money and time and provide a lot of flexibility.

Aviation Field Specializations
Each commercial pilot on an aircraft is accompanied by four maintenance technicians. To make a flight travel for one hour, around four hour's maintenance is required. So, if you have a passion for maintenance of complex machines and have an interest in flying, the field of aviation technology offers you a range of career possibilities for you to choose from. Candidates can also choose to specialize in an area of their interest.

Candidates with a keen interest in aviation technology can not only become a pilot. They can also become -

Air Maintenance Technician
Aviation Electronics Technician
Assembly Inspector
Flight Dispatcher
Aviation Safety Inspector
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Aerospace Products and Parts Manufacturer

Career Outlook
With the increasing growth in population and the economy expanding once again, the passenger traffic also increases creating good job opportunities for aviation technology trained professionals. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for aviation industry jobs will grow as fast as the average of all professions, through to the year 2014. Excellent employment opportunities will come to those who are equipped with an aviation technology bachelor's degree and those trained in aircraft mechanics.

Also sometimes referred to as naval architects, marine engineers are involved in the designing of maritime crafts including naval ships, oil tankers, submarines and other related seagoing crafts and equipment. The work of a marine engineer is quite diverse, owing to the wide range of crafts and floating equipment. Depending on their interest and the diverse marine engineering career possibilities, these engineers may also choose to specialize in the designing and construction of a specific kind of seagoing craft. Job opportunities for marine engineers are available both in government departments and the public sector including national defense departments, ship builders and oil companies among others.

Job Description
Job responsibilities of marine engineers may vary depending on where they choose to work and the specific requirements of employers. These engineering professionals spend most of their time in office, creating prototype models for new crafts, ships and other floating equipment. Crafts that move through water come in multiple shapes and sizes. Marine engineers' major role is to supervise the designing of these crafts and inspect the seagoing crafts and other equipment to ensure proper functioning and complete safety.

For creating prototypes for new ship design, engineers make use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. Whether it is a submarine, roll-on-roll-off care ferry, sailboats, aircraft carriers, oil tankers or naval ships, marine engineers are formally trained to work on the designs of all these seagoing crafts. There are multiple aspects to the designing of a ship. Some of the important factors include the weight of the ship, altitude of its center of gravity, stability of the ship, steering, navigation of the vessel, propulsion etc. Engineers need to work on the all these aspects of marine crafts and put together the systems to create completely safe and stable crafts for the crew to sail.

Besides spending much of their time in office creating new craft designs, marine engineers may also work in the shipbuilding yard. Right from the stage of laying the keel to finally launching the vessel, engineers work on multiple types of constructions, plan and schedule work during the entire procedure. Managing engineers have profitable careers awaiting them.

Educational Requirement & Training
A bachelor's degree in marine engineering is the minimum requirement to obtain entry level jobs in this field. Candidates can also land jobs in this field of engineering with a degree in mechanical engineering or ocean engineering. Those who aspire to become a merchant marine engineering officer need to fulfill the licensure requirements. Apart from that, candidates need to obtain a graduate degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, or from any of the six state academies. A master's degree in marine engineering is required to have a successful career in this field. Students also need to think carefully before they decide to get enrolled in an engineering program. Do remember to go through the detailed coursework of the marine engineering degree program that you enroll into.

Career Prospects in Marine Engineering
The field of marine engineering offers diverse career possibilities. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for these jobs are expected to grow as fast as the average of all other professions, increasing 11% from 2006 through to the year 2016. The need for these professionals will increase with the increase in the demand of sailboats, naval ships, military ships and vessels. Job positions will also arise as a large number of professionals reach their age of retirement or leave this engineering field for their own reasons.

Annual Salary
Salaries of marine engineers vary depending on the geographical location and the years of experience professionals carry. The median annual salary of most of the professionals is $84,672. A marine engineer's salary ranges between $53,534 and $120,325.

The field of civil engineering offers diverse career possibilities. Civil engineers are formally educated and trained to plan and design harbors, tunnels, bridges, buildings, highways, airfields etc. These engineers may either be involved in field work or perform their work in offices. Their job responsibilities may also combine both the aspects. Professionals can be employed by government agencies (federal, state and local), private construction companies and architectural firms. Civil engineering is a wide ranging field. Civil engineers can also choose to specialize in an area of their interest - construction, environmental, hydraulics, transportation, structural etc.

Job Description
With the increase in population, the requirement for construction and repair of roads, bridges, buildings and other similar structures also increases. Besides planning and designing of a variety of construction projects, civil engineers are also responsible for administrative and supervisory jobs. Some of the civil engineers are also involved in teaching jobs at professional schools, colleges and universities.

Most of the time, civil engineers are employed close to commercial and industrial centers. While some projects are to be completed inside the country, some others may be located outside the country. Many times construction and supervisory engineering work need to be done in remote areas. Depending on the project requirement, civil engineers may need to travel from one place to another.

Civil engineers work in close contact with professionals including architects, other engineers and the construction team. While working on urban planning projects, civil engineers make use of their specialization skills and techniques. In addition to performing their job responsibilities, these engineers also need to take into consideration the safety concerns of thousands of people. More than half of all the civil engineers are employed architectural and engineering firms where their main work responsibilities include designing and development work of different construction projects.

Educational Requirement & Training
A bachelor degree in civil engineering is the standard requirement to land jobs in this field. Candidates need to obtain the engineering degree from an accredited institution or college. Before getting enrolled in the degree program, students should remember to go through the coursework. Besides acquiring the civil engineering degree, candidates also need to meet the licensing requirements of the state where they work. Candidates should select a program that focuses on their specific areas of interest. During the course, students are trained in areas like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structural design and circuitry among others.

Requirements of qualifying for the licensure are as follows -

Completion of a degree program approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET)
Four years of professional working experience
Passing the state licensing examination (Fundamentals of Engineering exam & Principles and Practice of Engineering exam)

For the advancement of engineering career, professionals can also go for additional specialized courses in areas like construction engineering and management, water resources management and transportation among others. Other skills that candidates need to possess include excellent communication skills, logical thinking skills and innovative skills.

Career Prospects in Civil Engineering
Job prospects for civil engineering jobs are strong. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for these jobs is expected to grow at an increasing rate of 18% through to the year 2016. With the expanding growth in country's population, the need for expansion in transportation systems, water supply systems, buildings and other similar structures has also immensely increased. Whether it is the government agencies or the private sector, employment opportunities for civil engineers are abundant.

Annual Salary
Salaries of civil engineers vary depending on the geographical location, where they are employed (government or private sector), their additional certification and experience. The annual salary of these professionals ranges between $44,205 and $62,128. With growing skill set and experience, professionals can earn a higher annual salary.

The field of mechanical engineering deals with the application of physics and other science fields for creating useful vehicles, structures and other mechanical objects. Candidates can either take up the general path to become a mechanical engineer or specialize in a field of interest - aerospace, automotive, robotics etc. Engineers are trained to utilize a variety of skills and techniques for designing, development and testing of mechanical objects. A mechanical engineer can either work alone or as part of a team, depending on the nature of the project undertaken.

Job Description
A host of expert technical skills are required for becoming a successful mechanical engineer. These professionals play an important role in the creation of effective tools for a wide range of industries. For instance, the engineer may be given the task of formulating an air-conditioner which is better and more efficient than the existing air-conditioning equipment. Mechanical engineers may also be busy checking flaws in various equipment and engineering products. Computer efficiency is a must to have a successful career as a mechanical engineer. The designing and documentation work behind engineering research is often done with the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD).

The work environment and the work setting of mechanical engineers depend on the industry they choose and their job description. Though engineers spend most of their time in front of computer, they may also be involved in some hands-on work with mechanical objects, materials and structures. Engineering professionals are involved in a variety of projects that may include working on engines, tools and machines to make them more efficient and user-friendly.

Mechanical engineers are employed not only in the development and manufacturing field, but they are also found in fields like sales, maintenance and management. The field of mechanical engineering is not a limited field, but it encompasses a wide range of disciplines. These engineers remain busy in the development, repair and testing of a variety of mechanical structures and objects. Some of these are listed below.

Machines
Engines
Tools
Turbines
Generators
Air-conditioning Equipment
Refrigeration System
Industrial Manufacturing Equipment
Elevators
Robotics Manufacturing

Educational Requirement & Training
Candidates who aspire to become a mechanical engineer need to have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. The bachelor's degree is the least requirement for obtaining entry level jobs in this field of engineering. A master's degree helps candidates in landing higher salary jobs and making the most of their career. If you want to enter the area of management, you can also decide to obtain a master's degree in engineering management. Engineers who serve the public also need to fulfill the necessary licensing requirements.

To be able to obtain this license and become a licensed mechanical engineer, candidates need to first complete a degree program which is approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), pass two exams (Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam) along with spending a few years as an engineering intern or engineer-in-training.

Career Prospects
In the year 2006, the United States had employed around 227,000 mechanical engineers. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for mechanical engineering jobs is expected to increase at a rate of 4% through to the year 2016. However, industries like biotechnology, nanotechnology and materials science will bring the maximum job opportunities.

Annual Salary
The annual salary for entry level job positions ranges between $49,333 and $68,268. Mechanical engineers who work for the federal government earn a high salary of around $84,720 annually. Salaries also vary depending on the geographical location and the work experience you carry.