Radio Frequency Engineers

High School

Radio frequency engineers must have a solid educational background. Take classes in algebra, trigonometry, calculus, biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, and computer-aided design. Strong communication skills are needed for effective collaborations with other engineers on projects, so be sure to also take classes in business, English, speech, and social studies. Knowledge of a foreign language is helpful, and honors-level courses are also highly recommended for engineer students.

Postsecondary Training

Radio frequency engineers have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in electronics, computer engineering, network technologies, telecommunications engineering, or other related fields. Many have a master's degree also. High school students are encouraged to apply to college engineering programs early due to the highly competitive admission process. Engineering programs usually have strict admission requirements and require students to have excellent academic records and top scores on national college-entrance examinations.

Radio frequency engineering courses may cover such topics as cellular technology concepts, radio propagation factors, and frequency reuse principles. Many states require engineers to be licensed, and graduation from an (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) ABET-accredited school is required for licensing. Find information about accredited schools at https://www.abet.org.

Other Education or Training

Radio frequency engineers continue their education throughout their careers, to keep up with industry developments and new technologies. They may take continuing education classes and pursue professional development programs through groups such as the American Society for Engineering Education, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the National Society of Professional Engineers, among many others.