The Professional Engineer Licensure (PE) certifies that an engineer is fully competent and in compliance with industry standards for ethics and quality assurance. In the USA, in order to obtain a PE license from a state board of registration, engineers are required to complete a demanding four-step process.
- Graduate from an accredited engineering program with a four-year degree
- Successfully complete the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
- Gain four years of professional engineering experience under the guidance of a licensed PE
- Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam to apply for licensure.
After earning a four-year degree and completing the FE exam, licence candidates are referred to as Engineer Interns (EI) or Engineers In Training (EIT). Only after they have completed their four years of professional experience and passed the PE exam do they earn the right to apply to state boards for licensure.
You do not necessarily need a PE license to work as an engineer. However, non-licensed engineers may find themselves limited in some aspects of their career opportunities and vocational activities. Restrictions vary by state, but in general PE's enjoy a number of advantages over their non-licensed peers.
Work Authority
A PE license is a prerequisite for engineers who have approval authority and are responsible for the safety of those impacted by their work. Currently, the ability to prepare, sign, seal and submit plans and drawings to public agencies for approval is limited to licensed PEs. Additionally, only licensed PEs are permitted to seal engineering work for public or private clients.
Consulting and Private Engineers
PE licensing is a legal requirement for consulting engineers and private practitioners who are responsible for work performed. The licensing requirement applies whether the engineer is a principal of the firm or an employee.
Government Employment
More and more government agencies (federal, state and municipal) are requiring PE licensing for engineers who are employed in the public sector. Going forward, non-licensed engineers will find it difficult to advance to positions of responsibility in the public sector without it.
Academic Careers
Engineering educators are tasked with preparing future engineers to meet the rigors and challenges of the modern engineering workplace. To ensure that competent professionals are educating today’s students, many states require individuals who teach engineering to maintain PE licensure.
The time and effort taken to become a PE means that many engineers will need to weigh up the cost versus the benefit to their careers carefully. In some career paths it may be entirely possible to thrive without obtaining one, but in general industry trends lean heavily towards PE licensing requirements for private, public and academic engineering professionals. Meanwhile, in other countries the credentials required to work as a professional engineer can vary significantly. As state regulatory bodies continue to eliminate licensing exemptions, is it possible to achieve your full career potential without obtaining one?
Do you carry a professional accreditation such as a PE license or a Chartered Engineer qualification? Have you found that obtaining licensure has significantly benefited your career? Would you advise other engineers to do the same? As ever, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
