Yavapai College’s Integrated Systems Engineering Technician Certificate (ISET) paves the way for students to enter into 21st century production occupations, commonly known in this era as the Mechatronics Field. Mechatronic Engineering is one of the newest branches of engineering, and has far reaching applications to every sector of society. The Mechatronic field is a multidisciplinary field of science that includes a combination of mechanical engineering, electronics, computer engineering, telecommunication engineering and computer coding and programming. As technology advances, the subfields of engineering multiply and adapt. A mechatronic engineer is capable of thinking holistically about the entire mechatronic system, rather than focusing on certain domain specific elements of a company’s processes and service. Mechatronic engineering is a bachelor or master level field of study, and is one of the newest branches of engineering. Mechatronic engineers are in high demand as industries seek to apply evolutionary advances in computers, electronics, sensors and actuators to improve their products, processes and services.
Yavapai Colleges Integrated Systems Engineering Technician Certificate is a pathway into the Mechatronics industry. YC’s Integrated Systems Engineering Technician Certificate (ISET) prepares students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to the identification and resolution of production problems in the manufacturing of products. YC’s ISET certification program includes training in machine operations, production line operation, robotics, systems integrations, computer-aided drafting (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). YC ISET Certificate also prepares students to take third-party industry level examinations from the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET).
YC facility member Rick Peters is one of the greatest advocates for the evolution of this program at YC. ISCET is the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians, a globally recognized leader in third party certification of electronics technicians. ISCET offers a number of ways to certify including the Electronics Systems Associate (ESA) program that we use here at YC, as well as associate and journeyman levels. The ESA system is broken down into four exams that cover the following areas of study: DC electronics, AC electronics, solid state devices and digital electronics. When our students pass all four of these, they automatically achieve associate level CET status.
Peters says CET status is a big deal. “I’m a journeyman CET and there are less than 50,000 of us globally. ISCET certification is third-party proof that our students know of what they speak. It’s one of the best ways to move a resume to the top of a stack of applicants. YC is a certified administrator and has access to any and all ISCET exams. All anyone has to do is contact us, and we can set up a proctored exam. ISCET offers certification in a number of specialty fields for journeymen (all applicants must have a least four years of work-related experience) including: computers, communications, industrial electronics, fiber optics and more. Mechatronics at its simplest level is just a combination of electronics and mechanics. Additionally, all of the process and motor control I teach is ‘mechatronic,’ as it’s a blend of electronics controlling mechanical devices (i.e., motors, valves, transducers). Pretty much the whole Electrical and Instrumentation Technology Program is “Mechatronics.’”
The field of Mechatronics is the essence of production in the 21st century, integrating mechanical and electrical along with computer coding and software programs. YC is dedicated to engaging students in the future of automation and innovation manufacturing techniques, by continuing to expand academic program in these field. YC’s ISET Certificate combined with the ISCET Certification from the International Society of Certified Electronics Technician helps students move from YC into good paying jobs, or students can utilize the courses offered to familiarize themselves with a pathway into the newest in demand engineer field of study called Mechatronics. Either choice makes it a win for YC Students. For a complete listing of academic programs and certificates contact YC REDC Career Coach Linda Brannock at 928-776-2170, or CTEC campus James Voska at 928-717 -7726. QCBN
Linda Brannock is a career coach at Yavapai College.