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05.04
Kick Your
Career Up a Notch — Become a Licensed
Professional Engineer
By Cameron
H. G. Wright, Ph.D., P.E.
Contrary to what many in
the profession believe, being
licensed isn't just for civil or power engineers;
electrical and computer engineers and others can also benefit. For some types of work, having a
professional engineer (P.E.) license
in your state is a legal necessity. In the corporate world, a licensed P.E. can also
enjoy improved job security and increased chances for advancement. For
most P.E.s, licensure gives them the personal satisfaction of having an official
"stamp of
approval" for their technical competence and professional ethics.
Legally, if you ever want
or need to become a consulting engineer and offer services to the
public, you must be a licensed P.E. in that state. You must also be licensed to sign and seal engineering
documents (e.g., plans, drawings, schematics) being submitted
to a government authority at any level, or to public or private
clients. If you are ever asked to testify in court as an expert
witness regarding engineering-related issues, you'll find that
most states limit such testimony to licensed P.E.s. Sometimes called "forensic engineering,"
this activity is
becoming a well-paid specialty in its own right, as more and more
legal decisions hinge on highly technical issues.
Even if you work for a
large corporation, having a P.E. license can be a boon to your
career. If "rightsizing" or restructuring hits your company, P.E.s
often have an advantage over their non-licensed peers. With many
jurisdictions eliminating licensure exemptions for industry and
utilities, and because
corporate liability lawsuits are on the rise, employers are
gaining a greater
appreciation for engineers legally identified by a P.E.
license as having the highest ethics and competence. Some
companies will pay a bonus to employees who become P.E.s. And if you
choose to change employers, your P.E. license maybe what
differentiates you from other job candidates.
The Path to a P.E.
License
How do you become a
licensed P.E.? It's not as difficult as you might think. There are
four primary criteria: You must possess an ABET-accredited
engineering degree; pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
exam; verify work experience (usually four years) and demonstrate
adherence to high ethical standards; and pass the Electrical and
Computer Engineering exam, usually referred to simply as the PE
exam.
Most U.S. IEEE members already
have an ABET-accredited engineering degree. But, if your degree is not
accredited by ABET, many states accept additional work
experience as a substitute.
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While
having a P.E. license can add to your job options
and enhance your career, many P.E.s also take significant
pride in attaining this professional credential. It's a mark
of distinction that identifies you as having outstanding
technical competence and high professional ethics. |
The FE exam is an
eight-hour, multiple-choice exam you can take during your
undergraduate senior year or later. The morning session is
composed of 40 questions covering math, physics, chemistry,
engineering science, and engineering economics topics typical of an
undergraduate engineering curriculum. The afternoon session
consists of 40 questions in a specialty area of your choice; most
IEEE members choose electrical engineering.
Many P.E. candidates verify
work experience by having coworkers and supervisors fill out a
recommendation form. Most states don't require these
recommendations to be completed by P.E.s only. So, not working with
or for a P.E. shouldn't preclude you from pursuing your license.
The PE exam is an
eight-hour, multiple-choice exam you take after your state board of
registration accepts your work experience. The morning session is
a 40-question breadth module that covers general electrical and
computer engineering questions typical of an undergraduate
electrical and computer engineering (ECE)
curriculum. The afternoon session consists of a 40-question depth
module in one of three areas: computer engineering; electronics,
control and communication engineering; or power engineering. You
choose the module you want to take. Each of the 80 questions
stands alone and was designed to be answered in about six minutes.
Get Preparation Help
If the prospect of having
to prepare for the FE and PE exams has you discouraged, keep in
mind that excellent study guides and videos are available
from the IEEE and other organizations. In addition, the
National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying makes official practice
exams available.
The overall process of
obtaining a P.E. license is similar across the United States. However,
each state board of registration has its own set of rules and
regulations. (Links to each state board are available at
www.ieeeusa.org/committees/LRC/index.html). And, once
you've obtained your P.E. license in one state, you can take
advantage of the well-established system of comity that makes it
easy to get a license in another state.
Investigate your state
requirements and pursue a P.E. license. It's a noteworthy
achievement to add to your career toolbox.
Cameron H.
G. Wright, Ph.D., P.E., an IEEE Senior Member, is chair of the
IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee and is on the
faculty of the University of Wyoming. Opinions expressed are the
author's.Comments on this article may
be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.
Opinions expressed are the
author's.
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