Job Duties
On the job duties for engineering technicians may be to decontaminate, test, inspect, and assist in the operation of equipment that controls and remedies environment to pollution, including waste site management and treatment.
Environmental technicians may also collect and analyze samples, conduct pollution surveys, and review technical documents, as well as maintaining computer program files. They can work in laboratories or in the field, recording data and test results, testing samples, ordering lab equipment and materials, and so on. Primarily, the responsibility is to make sure that environmental regulations are followed for the particular sector worked in, such as wastewater management. Environmental technicians may also safely dispose of hazardous materials like lead or asbestos according to environmental safety standards. Technicians may also help environmental engineers develop solutions to and devices for the remediation of pollution, for example. Oftentimes, technicians also measure pollution effects on the environment and then keep track of these measurements on graphs and charts.
What does it take to become an Environmental Technician?
Again, although environmental technician jobs are not specifically engineer jobs, they do require some education and training to be able to perform adequately in these positions. An associate's degree in environmental engineering technology, hazardous materials information systems technology, or environmental technology, for example, may be what's needed for a particular job. Most community colleges and technical schools offer this type of training, as does the military.
If you have a strong attention to detail, you have a strong grounding in math and science, and you enjoy being analytical and working to solve problems, a job as an environmental technician may suit you very well.
Certification
Although not absolutely necessary, it is helpful to obtain certification offered by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. Because this is a competitive and growing field, this will give job candidates a leg up over candidates who do not have the certification. Certification requires that candidates have a specific level of job related experience, has written examination, and then have a supervisory evaluation done to determine qualifications.
Getting a Job as an Environmental Technician
Although there is quite a lot of competition for environmental technician jobs, the field itself is also growing, which means that jobs are plentiful and qualified applicants should have no trouble finding work. Once you've gotten your required associate's degree (along with certification if applicable), you should be able to find many positions at job fairs, on the Internet, and at college job placement offices or job placement agencies.
These types of "assistant to engineering" jobs also pay quite well, with average salaries of about $38,000 a year plus benefits.