Licensing

PROCESS OF LICENSING: Ever wonder what an Engineer goes through in order to get Licensed as a professional Engineer (PE)? According to the mission statement of the California Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, "The mission of the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is to safeguard the life, health, property, and public welfare by regulating the practice of professional engineering and professional land surveying."

In the United States, to get Licensed as a professional engineer there are a several requirements:

[1] Educational; [2] Residency; [3] Qualifying Experience, [4] Examinations & [5] Professional Development and Education: These policies vary from state to state. In general the process is as follows:

• Obtain a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited college
• Pass the 8 hour FE/EIT (Fundamentals of Engineering/Engineering in Training) Examination
• Obtain the required number of years of design experience under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer called "qualifying experience" in ones chosen design field (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.)

For more information on licensing, please visit these sites:

National Society of Professional Engineers - NSPE - A good source of information for Engineers and for Licensing.

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): NCEES is a national non-profit organization composed of engineering and land surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states and territories.

Professional Publications - Has a good message board where you can get many of your questions answered regarding licensing. Also this website has links to various state rules and regulations.