Professional Engineer PE Certification
The work that engineers perform greatly impacts the lives of people and animals as well as the environment. They contribute to the planning and construction of houses, office buildings, highways, bridges, and other structures and infrastructure. They also engage in the design, development, and production of diverse products, such as food, medicines, clothing, cosmetics, toys, furniture, automobiles and airplanes. Many of these civil, electrical, mechanical, environmental and other types of engineers hold the title of professional engineer (PE).
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Professional Engineers
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To use the PE title, engineers must be licensed by the states in which they practice. In many states, engineers cannot practice engineering or use the title of engineer unless they have a license. All states require engineers to possess a license if they offer their services directly to the public. Those who are involved in construction and other projects that affect the well being of the public must have a license, too. Without a professional license, engineers cannot sign or seal projects for clients, nor prepare or submit engineering plans to public agencies.
State Licensing Body
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All 50 states, all well as the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, have laws that govern the engineering practice. Each state board of professional engineers is responsible for enforcing licensing requirements. Some states allow engineers to obtain licenses in their particular discipline, such as civil engineering, electrical engineering, structural engineering or forensic engineering.
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Engineer-in-Training
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Minimally, engineers must hold a bachelor's degree in engineering from a school that is accredited by ABET, Inc. (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). They must complete an internship or training period before they are eligible to apply for a PE license. They first obtain an engineer-in-training or engineer intern license from the state where they want to work. This requires passing the state-administered Fundamentals of Engineering examination. Once engineers have this intern license, they must work for at least four years under the supervision of professional engineers.
PE License
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Engineers must be licensed by every state in which they wish to practice. To obtain the PE license, engineer interns must pass the state board examination called Principles and Practice of Engineering. To renew their PE license, engineers must fulfill a continuing education requirement, which varies in each state.
PE License vs. Professional Certification
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PE licensing should not be confused with professional certification programs for engineers. Unlike the PE license, professional certification is not a state-mandated requirement. Professional certification is voluntary. Engineers may seek certification from professional engineering societies that serve their particular disciplines. For example, civil engineers might obtain professional certification from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Salaries
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Engineers earn salaries that vary according to their experience, engineering discipline, employer, and location. Experts in the field state that professional engineers earn higher wages than unlicensed engineers. The May 2009 Occupational Employment Statistics salary survey, conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported that the estimated annual salary for most engineering occupations ranged from $37,380 to $116,590.
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References
- National Society of Professional Engineers: Licensure
- "Career Opportunities in Engineering"; Richard A. McDavid and Susan Echaore-McDavid; 2007
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- North Carolina State University College of Engineering: Becoming a Professional Engineer
Resources
- Photo Credit construction image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
