Plastics Engineers

High School

Aspiring engineers will need to take college-prep classes in high school. You should take additional classes in mathematics, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus, and the sciences, particularly biology, chemistry, and physics. English and communications classes are helpful for research and writing needed in engineering work. Computer programming classes are also essential.

Postsecondary Training

The level of education required beyond high school for plastics engineers varies greatly depending on the types of plastics processes involved. Companies that design proprietary parts usually require a bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical engineering. The field of plastics engineering, overall, is still a field where people with the proper experience are scarce—experience is a key factor in qualifying a person for an engineering position.

A small percentage of engineering schools offer a degree in plastics engineering. Plastics programs are sometimes listed under polymer science, polymer engineering, materials science, and materials engineering.

Students who plan to enter the military should investigate branches of service that offer training in plastics. The United States Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard, and Army publish procurement specifications, operate repair facilities, and carry on their own research and development.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in plastics engineering, general engineering, manufacturing engineering, advanced manufacturing, engineering management, and emerging fields such as advanced artificial intelligence. For example, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell offers the following graduate certificates: elastomeric materials, medical plastics design and manufacturing, plastics design, plastics engineering fundamentals, plastics materials, and plastics processing. Visit https://www.uml.edu/engineering/plastics/programs-of-study/graduate-certificates.aspx for more information. Certificate programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Plastics engineers take classes and attend workshops and educational programs throughout their careers in order to learn new skills and stay current on industry developments. Organizations that offer continuing education opportunities for engineers include SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals, American Society for Engineering Education, American Chemistry Council, National Society of Professional Engineers, SME, and the Society of Women Engineers, to name only a few. Contact these organizations for more information.