I am curious to learn about professional engineering certification practices around the world, and more generally, about levels of engineering education and the titles used to describe those who work in engineering.
To start the discussion, I will provide a description of the structure for education, credentialing, and titles used in my region. I am located in Alberta, Canada. Our education system for engineering related occupations has two broad levels. To become an engineer one must attend university and obtain a 4-year baccalaureate degree in one of the many engineering disciplines (civil, mechanical, chemical, computer, electrical ,etc). To become a technologist, the standard educational path requires attending a polytechnic institute to obtain a two year diploma in one of many technical fields, including electronics. In some cases polytechnics offer one-year certificate programs in certain technical fields. Graduates of one-year programs are normally referred to as technicians.
Following graduation and accumulation of sufficient supervised work experience, one can apply to obtain professional certification from one of two associations. Engineers can work toward a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) credential through our provincial engineering association. Technologists can work toward a Professional Technologist (P.Tech) credential through our provincial science and engineering technology association. There are other credentials available from both associations including Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) and Engineer in Training (EIT).
I believe, but could be wrong, that our Professional Technologist credential is unusual. This credential, conferred by a joint board of examiners representing the engineering and technologist associations, grants the recipient a license to perform engineering in a defined scope of practice. For example, a technologist that demonstrates sufficient quality and depth of supervised work in say embedded system design, can, upon review of experience and passing a suite of ethics and professional practice exams, obtain a license to practice embedded system engineering design. This means a professional technologist can stamp design drawings and take professional responsibility for those drawings.
Does this level of professional designation for technologists exist where you are?
What names are used to refer to the various levels of engineering practice where you are, and how much education is required for each level?