To work as an agricultural engineer one must first earn at least a bachelor's degree in engineering with a concentration in agricultural engineering. This degree should come from a program accredited by ABET. ABET is an international organization that accredits engineering programs in 24 countries including the United States. Prospective students should use ABET's Accredited Program Search. It will usually take four years to complete a bachelor's degree which combines classroom, laboratory and field studies.

Engineers who offer their services directly to the public must be licensed. These licensed engineers are called Professional Engineers (PE). Candidates for licensure must have a degree from an ABET-accredited program and about four years of relevant work experience. One must also pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineering (PE) exam, both administered by NCEES (the National Council for Engineering and Surveying). Other requirements vary by state. The Licensed Occupations Tool from CareerOneStop will help you learn about the licensing requirements in the state in which you plan to work.

In addition to education and licensing requirements, there are several personal characteristics agricultural engineers must have. If you want to succeed in this field you must be good at problem solving. Your math skills have to be strong. Since a lot of your work will involve working on a team, you must be able to collaborate with people who work in yours and other fields. Good listening skills are essential.

Education