What is really the difference between FPGA and ASIC?

Career Advice: How difficult it is to move from an FPGA design and verification role to that of an ASIC design and/or system architect?

• I am working in company specializing in image processing systems (embedded image processing systems), as an FPGA design engineer. If I ever want to change my job from the FPGA design to that of ASIC design or System Architect what new skills will be needed? Do companies consider FPGA designers for the ASIC Design roles? I am a post graduate in VLSI and Computer Engineering.

• Answer:

  Along with your skills on developing logical design for Image Processing applications, you have to be well enough to understand the FPGA Back end flow. Also, write RTL more in co ordination with FPGA hardware architecture rather than describing the technology (Image Processing) in the behavioral manner. Learn placement, routing, and mapping manually to understand the internal flow. If possible also try to understand the library files given by the FPGA vendor.