This is true in some organizations, but in other places the difference between "technician" and "engineer" literally is an engineering degree. I currently work at such an organization: you can't have the title "engineer" unless you have an engineering degree, technicians cannot rise above a certain level in the organization (which effectively puts a ceiling on their pay, as well), and technicians cannot be placed in positions of authority over engineers. A lot of this is stupid and makes no sense: I know "technicians" who are doing the same work as "engineers," better than many of the engineers they work with, but they are paid less and work under less experienced team leads, all because they lack a degree. Unfortunately, I'm sure there are plenty of other places that do things the same way.