What ABET is and why it matters
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) is the recognized US accreditor for engineering, engineering technology, computing, and applied science programs. ABET accreditation is what employers look for when they hire engineers — and what state engineering boards require for PE licensure. An ABET-accredited program signals that the curriculum, faculty, lab facilities, and student outcomes meet a uniform national standard.
What confuses students about mechatronics specifically is that ABET runs two separate accreditation commissions, and mechatronics programs can be accredited under either one. The commissions accredit fundamentally different kinds of degrees — that's the EAC-vs-ETAC question.
EAC explained — the engineer track
The Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) accredits traditional engineering degrees: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, and yes — Mechatronics Engineering (when the program meets the engineering criteria).
EAC-accredited programs are evaluated against the General Criteria for Engineering Programs PLUS (often) discipline-specific Program Criteria. For mechatronics specifically, ABET has Program Criteria for "Mechatronics, Robotics, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs" — only a small number of US mechatronics programs hold accreditation under those specific criteria. Anderson University, Vaughn College, and a handful of others meet that highest standard.
EAC programs typically include:
- Calculus through differential equations
- Calculus-based physics
- Chemistry
- Engineering design with a significant final capstone
- Sufficient theoretical depth to prepare students for the FE exam
- Math and basic sciences totaling at least 30 semester credits
ETAC explained — the technologist track
The Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) accredits a different kind of degree: engineering technology programs. These programs prepare graduates for technologist careers — applied, hands-on roles that implement, integrate, troubleshoot, and maintain engineered systems rather than design them from first principles.
ETAC-accredited mechatronics programs typically include:
- Less theoretical math (often algebra-based or applied-calculus rather than calc-based physics)
- More hands-on lab time
- Industry-current equipment (PLCs, robotics, motor controls)
- Project-based learning emphasizing implementation
- Tight articulation with AAS transfer pipelines
ETAC programs aren't "watered down" engineering degrees — they're a distinct, intentional educational design optimized for technologist careers. RIT, PennWest California, BGSU, UT Chattanooga, Kent State (ETAC track), ECPI, CCSU, Austin Peay, and ODU are all examples of strong ETAC mechatronics programs.
PE licensure: the actual material difference
Here's the practical impact of choosing EAC vs ETAC: licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE).
The PE pathway nationally looks like:
- Earn an ABET-accredited engineering degree
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam (usually senior year or shortly after graduation)
- Accumulate the required years of supervised engineering experience under a licensed PE (typically 4 years)
- Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in your discipline
- Receive license from your state engineering board
For EAC graduates, this path is clean and accepted in all 50 states. For ETAC graduates, it varies by state — some accept ETAC degrees with extra qualifying experience, some require additional graduate coursework, and some don't accept ETAC degrees for PE licensure at all.
Why does PE matter? Some jobs require it — particularly in civil and consulting engineering, building mechanical systems, oil & gas, public utilities, and any role where engineering drawings need a licensed signature for legal liability. In mechatronics specifically, PE is less common than in civil/mechanical — many mechatronics engineers at OEMs and tech companies never get licensed because their work doesn't require it. But for some senior roles and most consulting work, PE is gatekeeping.
State-by-state PE rules for ETAC graduates
NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) maintains the official state-by-state guidance. As a rough breakdown:
- ~30 states accept ETAC graduates for PE licensure with additional experience requirements (typically 2-4 extra years beyond the EAC standard).
- ~20 states require an EAC degree, additional graduate coursework, or both for PE licensure — including some major engineering markets.
- Some states grandfather ETAC graduates who entered the licensure pipeline before specific date cutoffs.
Always verify current rules at ncees.org and your specific state engineering board before assuming an ETAC degree opens or doesn't open PE in your state. The rules change.
Which should you pick?
Pick EAC if:
- You want to become a licensed PE in any state without restrictions.
- You want maximum optionality — the EAC degree opens engineer roles AND technologist roles; the ETAC degree opens technologist roles AND some engineer roles.
- You're targeting industries where PE is expected at senior levels (civil consulting, building mechanical systems, public infrastructure).
- You want to leave the door open for engineering grad school — EAC degrees feed PhD/MS programs more cleanly.
Pick ETAC if:
- You want a heavy hands-on, applied curriculum and don't care about PE licensure.
- You're transferring in from a community-college AAS — ETAC programs typically articulate AAS coursework more cleanly than EAC programs.
- You're aiming at industries that hire technologists at competitive engineer-equivalent salaries — industrial automation, manufacturing integration, robotics deployment, automation tech support.
- You need lower-cost tuition — ETAC programs tend to cluster at lower-tuition public universities.
The both-options-exist case
A few schools run BOTH an EAC and an ETAC version of their mechatronics degree — most notably Kent State University. At those schools, you can pick by intent: EAC for the engineer/PE track, ETAC for the technologist track. Same school brand, different optionality.
See the full list of EAC-accredited mechatronics programs on our EAC rankings page, and ETAC programs on our ETAC rankings page.