Each of the 17 major engineering disciplines has professional societies and career development organizations. Associations, institutes and private engineering schools offer certification, advanced courses and seminar programs. Engineers continue learning in the classroom, at conferences and seminars, and on the job. Fundamentals are available from free massive open online courses (MOOCs).
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
ASCE provides continuing education to civil engineers seeking advanced training and certifications. Options include face-to-face instruction, live webinars, P.E. and S.E. exam reviews and on-site corporate training.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Professionals can sign up for career development programs at ASME that provide certification training in HVAC, nuclear quality assurance, and bioprocessing. Assessment tests are offered for certification candidates.
Canvas Network
Canvas provides open, online engineering courses taught by educators from major universities at no cost. Current courses are available in unmanned aerospace systems, physics for animators, communications boot-camp, project management, technical documentation, and data privacy.
Coursera
This MOOC pioneer has partnerships with the nation’s elite engineering colleges and universities, allowing Coursera to offer free classes in topics such as big data, machine learning, strategic management and innovation, applications in engineering mechanics, dynamics of motion, and mechanics of materials.
CourseTalk
Another MOOC aggregator, CourseTalk has 325 course listings in the engineering disciplines, including studies in circuit analysis, aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence and robotics, VLSI CAD, compilers, nanotechnology, nuclear science, and fuel cells.
edX
A MOOC offering free courses, edX currently lists 115 engineering classes in subjects such as astrophysics, robotics, big data, Six-Sigma, structural engineering for bridges, wastewater engineering, circuits and electronics, nanotechnology, thermodynamics, signal processing, and climate change.
Engineering.com
The engineering megasite maintains an extensive resources section that publishes white papers, ebooks, research findings and webinars. Members receive unlimited access to resources and newsletters.
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
Professional engineers can receive LEAN and Six Sigma “green belt” training from the IIE. Other training programs from the institute provide courses in engineering management and industrial engineering.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers free online classes through practice exercises and instructional videos from top engineering college partners including NASA, MIT, and The California Academy of Science. Courses are coordinated through a personalized dashboard that tracks student progress through the curriculum.
MIT OpenCourseware
Massachusetts Institute of Technology was a pioneer of MOOCs and today hosts nearly 900 classes from its engineering faculty, offered free of charge. Engineering fields represented include mechanical, electrical, materials, civil and environmental, biological, chemical, nuclear science, and aeronautics.
MOOC List
Engineering students seeking free courses from top universities can find a wide range of classes, from introductory to post-graduate level engineering topics, at the MOOC aggregator. Recent classes included practical machine learning, signals and systems, hydraulics, numerical methods for engineers, dynamic controls, structural engineering for bridges, vehicle dynamics and robotics.
National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL)
The seven Indian Institutes of Technology have created this tech MOOC offering e-courses in topics such as non-linear dynamics, manufacturing systems, wireless communications, modern construction materials, the physics of materials, and propulsion systems.
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Every year, NSPE offers 15 free courses to member engineers. Current offerings include studies in engineering ethics, sustainable development, team building, trends in seismic shifts, designing for high wind, and engineering leadership.
Open Learning Initiative, Carnegie Mellon University (OLI)
Carnegie Mellon’s OLI program has served up free courses to more than 45,000 students. Current offerings include classes in biochemistry, evidence-based practice in managing, logic and proofs, probability and statistics, and public policy analysis for engineers.
PDHdirect
Engineers seeking professional development hours, courses, or certificates to meet continuing education requirements will find more than 200 online, interactive courses and webinars in civil engineering, electrical engineering, environmental, industrial, materials, sustainability, HVAC, petroleum, and others at PDHdirect.
PDHengineer
PDH provides online engineering continuing education for professionals renewing their PE licenses. Subject areas include civil, electrical, geotechnical, HVAC, industrial, materials, oil and gas, renewable energy, and state-specific engineering.
RedVector
Professional training firm RedVector provides 1,300 continuing education courses for professional engineers. Programs include OSHA 30 training and CE training in engineering disciplines of chemical, architectural, construction, energy, minerals and mining, pulp and paper, and facilities management.
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
The largest society of petroleum engineers and scientists offers a SPE-certification course curriculum, webinars, and recorded classes. It also provides advanced PE courses, offered at locations across the globe.
Stanford Online
Engineering students have free access to Stanford University lectures and classes via iTunes and through Stanford Online. Recent courses include the Stanford LEAD certificate, economics of energy technologies, statistical learning, and the science of decision making.
Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA)
Designed to promote education and career development of young engineers, the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created YEA to offer technical training weekends, HVAC Design Essentials scholarships, awards programs and the YEA Connection newsletter.
