Whether you’re an experienced mechanical engineer or just starting out in your engineering career, you cannot underestimate the value of professional certifications. Successful completion of certification exams can help you grow as a professional engineer, as they serve as evidence of your technical skills and comprehensive knowledge. Mechanical engineering certifications may provide value within a competitive job market.
In this article, you’ll learn about the various professional certifications for mechanical engineering. You’ll also discover mechanical engineering salaries and job outlook, as well as the certification prep courses and other educational resources you can use to get ready for exams.
What Is a Professional Certification?
A professional certification is the formal proof of a professional’s comprehensive knowledge, experience, and technical skills in a particular discipline. Each industry has various certifications that new and experienced professionals can earn as evidence of their skills. Each certification has its own education requirements, experience requirements, and licensure requirements that applicants need to meet to qualify.
What’s the Difference Between Certification and a Certificate?
The difference between certification and a certificate is that certification is awarded to a professional of a certain level after an assessment process and is awarded by a regulatory body in the industry, while a certificate is a diploma awarded by a college or university for the completion of an academic program at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Why Is Certification in Mechanical Engineering Important?
Certification in mechanical engineering is important because it can help you grow in the industry and achieve your career goals. Certifications can help improve quality and drive process improvement in engineering projects, making you a more valuable asset to employers.
Mechanical Engineering Certifications based on Salary
Many of these certifications are globally recognized credentials and are valuable for civil engineers, structural engineers, environmental engineers, and systems engineers. Earning these credentials can demonstrate expertise and commitment to professional standards across the engineering industry.
These certifications are ranked based on average reported salaries from PayScale as of November 2025.
| Certification | Provider | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM) | American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM)1 | $162,5492 |
| Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) | INCOSE – International Council on Systems Engineering3 | $138,0004 |
| Certified Associate in Engineering Management (CAEM) | American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM)5 | $122,1076 |
| Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) | INCOSE – International Council on Systems Engineering7 | $119,2138 |
| Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) | SME9 | $103,16610 |
| Certified Energy Manager | Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)11 | $102,00012 |
| Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) | American Society for Quality (ASQ)13 | $98,00014 |
| Autodesk Certified Professional in Inventor for Mechanical Design | Autodesk15 | $71,00016 |
| Certified HVAC Designer (CHD) | ASHRAE17 | $66,60918 |
Best Mechanical Engineering Certifications to Further Your Career
How to Choose the Best Mechanical Engineering Certification for Your Career
In order to choose the best mechanical engineering certifications for your professional career, there are certain factors that you should carefully consider, such as your desired career path, the reason you want to get certified, and the value of the career paths you have available to you. The best certification for you will also depend on your specific engineering field, as different engineering fields may require specialized or emerging certifications.
The following section includes tips to help make your decision-making process easier.
Determine Your Purpose of Becoming Certified
When choosing the best mechanical engineering certification for you, the first thing you should consider is your reasons for becoming certified. This can help you determine which certifications will help you achieve your goals. With the myriad of certification focuses available, knowing your goals will help you narrow down your options.
Consider Your Career Path
Everyone should have an idea of the career path they plan to follow to achieve their career goals. Depending on where you are along your career path, a certification designed for a mid-level mechanical engineer may be more beneficial than one designed for a senior-level project management professional and vice versa.
Research the Value of the Different Available Certifications
Researching the value of available certifications will help you determine which one will best allow you to achieve your career goals. There is a broad range of certifications available in the engineering industry, and not all of them provide the same return on investment. Consider looking up the average salary for the holders of different certifications you are considering.
How to Prepare for Your Mechanical Engineering Certification Exam
You can prepare for your mechanical engineering certification exam through a number of ways. Your mechanical engineering exam prep could be in the form of online certification prep courses, books, or study guides. All of these resources can be used simultaneously to help you familiarize yourself with the basic knowledge needed to meet the examination requirements
How to Prepare for Your Mechanical Engineering Certification Exam
You can prepare for your mechanical engineering certification exam in a number of ways. Your mechanical engineering exam prep could be in the form of online certification prep courses, books, or study guides. All of these resources can be used simultaneously to help you familiarize yourself with the basic knowledge needed to meet the examination requirements.
Courses to Prepare for Mechanical Engineering Certification Exams
This section includes mechanical engineering prep courses you can use to prepare for your certification exams in 2025. Some of these certification prep courses focus on human factors, medical devices, and process improvement, helping engineers develop valuable skill sets for specialized roles.
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These online certification programs are offered by a wide variety of organizations, including MOOCs, universities, and other organizations in the engineering industry.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
ASEM Certification: CAEM/CPEM Exam Prep19
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
Premier Certified Energy Manager Training Program20
Certification Training International
INCOSE SEP Exam Preparation Course21
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Certified Quality Engineer Certification Preparation22
SME
Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) Exam Review Course23
Other Resources to Prepare for Your Mechanical Engineering Certification Exams
There are many other resources you can use to prepare for your mechanical engineering certification exams. Other common mechanical engineering exam prep resources include mechanical engineering books written for a specific exam, general mechanical engineering books, study guides, and online engineering communities.
Eng-Tips (Mechanical Engineering)
- Type of Resource: Online Community
- Ideal For: People looking to connect with other industry professionals to learn and grow
This online community is designed to connect professionals in the mechanical engineering industry.24 It includes forums, blogs, and other helpful resources that can help new and seasoned professionals learn and grow in the field.
Engineer Boards
- Type of Resource: Online Community
- Ideal For: Engineering professionals in any industry looking to connect, learn, and grow in their respective fields
This is another online community designed to connect professional engineers of all kinds together to share ideas, start conversations, learn, and grow.25 Membership in this community is free and allows members to share relevant and helpful resources and online courses that promote shared growth. New and experienced members can ask questions and get help from their peers.
Mechanical Engineering Exam Prep: Problems and Solutions
- Type of Resource: Book
- Ideal For: New and experienced professional mechanical engineers preparing for any certification exam
This book by L.S Mayboudi is filled with 1,500 questions commonly found across various types of mechanical engineering exams, along with their answers.26 It puts emphasis on the typical engineering curriculum and covers topics like math, physics, thermodynamics, materials, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mechanical systems, engineering mechanics, and technical drawings.
Autodesk Inventor Certified User Exam Study Guide (Inventor 2024 Edition)
- Type of Resource: Book
- Ideal For: People preparing for the Autodesk Inventor Certified User certification exam
This is a study guide written by Thom Tremblay and designed for those with Autodesk Inventor skills who are preparing for the Certified User exam.27 The guide covers relevant topics, tutorials, quizzes, and exam objectives in detail. It even comes with free exam software that simulates the actual exam.
Mechanical Engineering Job Outlook and Average Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024, the job outlook of mechanical engineers is projected to grow nine percent through the year 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.28 This shows that the field of mechanical engineering is projected to keep growing at a healthy rate, leading to steady work for those interested in pursuing this field.
Additionally, the average salary for mechanical engineers sat around $102,320 in May 2024, which is more than twice the national average.29 The right certification may help significantly enhance your earning potential. The field of mechanical engineering can be lucrative and may present many opportunities for professionals to increase their earning potential.
Mechanical Engineering Associations to Explore in 2025
Like many other professional fields, there are various mechanical engineering associations that students and professionals in the industry can join to improve their career prospects and opportunities.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
This is a nonprofit global engineering organization designed to allow professionals to connect and share knowledge across all engineering disciplines.30 You can join this association as a mechanical engineering student, entry-level professional, or experienced professional. Members of this association get access to learning resources, network building, and career resources.
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
This is a global association of mechanical engineers that aims to connect professionals in the field with their peers across the globe.31 Home to over 100,000 members, it provides opportunities for many of them to meet, share ideas, learn, and innovate.
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
This association aims to connect manufacturing engineers by giving them a platform where they can learn, innovate, and grow in the industry.32 This nonprofit organization allows professionals, educators, and students to connect, support, and improve the manufacturing engineering industry. Different membership levels are available, each with its own benefits.
Are Mechanical Engineering Certifications Worth It?
If you’re looking for a way to improve your career growth and future job prospects, mechanical engineering certifications can definitely be worth it, as long as you know where you want to go and which certification will help get you there. Many certifications are globally recognized credentials that validate your expertise and are respected across the industry. Certifications qualify you for more job opportunities and prove to prospective employers that you have advanced, specialized skills. Certifications can also open you up to a higher earning potential.
Mechanical Engineering Certifications FAQs
Which certification is best for mechanical engineers?
The best certifications for mechanical engineers are the ones that will get you where you want to go in your career. Some of the certifications that can help you in your future engineering projects are the Certified Quality Engineer certification, Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), Certified Professional in Engineering Management, Certified Associate in Engineering Management, and Certified Energy Manager, because they can provide improvement in earning potential.
What is the highest qualification in mechanical engineering?
The highest qualification in mechanical engineering is a doctoral degree in engineering. That being said, the vast majority of mechanical engineers stop at a master’s degree and instead earn certifications to improve their professional career growth.
What are mechanical engineer qualifications?
The typical mechanical engineer qualifications are a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or in a related field, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or in a related field, as well as any relevant industry certifications.
Is mechanical engineering in demand?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024, these mechanical engineers have a projected job outlook of nine percent, which is faster than average. This means that there is projected to be a demand for mechanical engineers in the field through 2034.28
Sources:
2 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Senior_Engineering_Manager/Salary
3 https://www.incose.org/certification/becoming-certified/applying-for-csep
6 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Engineering_Manager/Salary
7 https://www.incose.org/certification/becoming-certified/applying-for-esep
8 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Senior_Systems_Engineer/Salary
10 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Senior_Manufacturing_Engineer/Salary
11 https://www.aeecenter.org/certified-energy-manager/
12 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Certified_Energy_Manager_(CEM)/Salary
14 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=ASQ_Certified_Quality_Engineer_(CQE)/Salary
15 https://www.autodesk.com/certification/all-certifications/inventor-mechanical-design-professional
16 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Autodesk_Inventor_Certified_Professional/Salary
18 https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=HVAC_Designer/Salary
19 https://www.uah.edu/opce/partnerships/american-society-for-engineering-management-asem
20 https://www.aeecenter.org/resources/premier-certified-energy-manager-training-program/
21 https://certificationtraining-int.com/training/incose-sep-exam-prep-course/
24 https://www.eng-tips.com/categories/mechanical-engineers.10016/
25 https://engineerboards.com/
26 https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Engineering-Exam-Prep-Solutions/dp/1683921348
27 https://www.amazon.com/Autodesk-Inventor-Certified-Study-Guide/dp/163057595X
28 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm#tab-1
29 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm#tab-5
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