How to Become a Professional Engineer

"Professional engineer" is a term used to describe an engineer who has met the requirements for licensing by the jurisdiction in which he or she will be practicing. It requires a combination of education and practical experience, the successful completion of a series of examinations and fulfilling other requirements of the licensing body.
Professional engineers are permitted to independently design, perform necessary engineering calculations, submit plans and, in general, practice the profession of engineering or one of its 25 specialties, including mechanical, civil, chemical, environmental and electrical engineering.

Instructions

How to Become a Professional Engineer

1. Graduate from college. The first step in the process of becoming a professional engineer is graduation from a college with an engineering program approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), an organization formed by the principal engineering societies to establish uniform standards for the training of engineers.

2. Take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination during the final year of engineering school. This exam is offered every April and October so that students may take the exam before they start to forget details from their coursework.
   Completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam usually entitles the newly graduated engineer to use the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation.

3. Gain experience. Most states have specific requirements for the kinds of practical experience that the EIT must gain before he or she is allowed to take the final examination for a professional engineering license.
   This experience must be gained under the tutelage of a licensed engineer and is similar to an internship but with better pay. The duties assigned to the EIT may range from drafting assignments and calculations all the way to final preparation of plans. The EIT is a staff engineer but may not sign off on plans or work independently.
   This experience will also introduce the EIT to the business end of engineering and widen his or her exposure to clients, some of whom might one day be clients of the new professional engineer.

4. Complete the PPE exam. After gaining sufficient experience to satisfy the legal requirements of the desired jurisdiction, the next step is successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PPE) examination.
   The PPE is offered in all of the 25 recognized specialties of engineering. While most of the PPE specialty examinations are offered in October and April, the applicant should confirm the schedule for a particular examination with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, which conducts the testing, or with his or her engineering professor or employer.

Tips & Warnings

• Investigate engineering school programs carefully, and pick the program that matches your passion to avoid disappointments in both education and career.

• Engineering is math intensive, and programs at the best engineering schools have been described as "trying to drink water from a fire hose."

Resources

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
• Directory of Accredited Engineering Schools