Can't do engineering without a degree

[Ecomike]

I am actually hoping to take the PE exam shortly. You can do that even with not having a degree, but you do have to demonstrate proficiency and years of experience.

IIRC Texas closed the loop holes back in the mid 90's here. Now it takes an ABET accredited 4 year engineering degree (not a tech degree!), minimum, to apply for a PE license, several years of practice under a licensed PE, and 2-3 PE recommendations. They do let you take the PE fundamentals exams just before or right after graduation from an ABET accredited engineering college. I forget the details, but IIRC there is a final review board approval required, and a final practice exam of some kind required.

I think, unless you are dealing with the public (which was a big part of the trumped up issue on this one), the PE license is mostly a pay grade and reputation credential. You do not need to be a PE to teach engineering courses at a university, but instead a Ph.D. in the topic is required (with out the PE), unless you have a PE licensee, and probably at least a masters degree in engineering, and are a specialist in a new field, or sub-field. IIRC I did have one or two PE engineers with just bachelors degree teach a course, but it was very rare. Several had Ph.Ds in engineering, but were not PEs.

I was planning on going the PE route in 1996, but never got around to taking the exams, and never needed it. My father was a licensed PE in 48 states (he got bored easily, LOL), in civil, electrical, mechanical and plumbing. He made his living his last 25 years doing civil engineering for builders (K-Marts and JC Penny stores, which I did some early drafting work on when I was 19...many,many moons ago). His last 10 years were as a consultant to Aramco and 3DI. That was where I got my early intro / education in the fields.

Old_man is right about this:

"Actually from what I have seen over the last 40 years, you can't call yourself a PE without the PE license. A non-degreed engineer has the right to call himself an engineer but in a contractual situation it needs to be set forth that he is non-degreed"

I might add that the key point is whether he or she is a PE Engineer, or a non PE, Engineer.

 

[alaskan]

I have a PE and think that's ridiculous. From what I've seen from the Texas board that complaint would get tossed out in about two seconds. If he didn't advertise, put in writing or otherwise claim to be an engineer, didn't produce any construction documents and didn't falsify a seal then he wouldn't be in the wrong.

I find it humorous that the county I deal with frequently for work has a non-PE review our engineering plans and specifications on a regular basis. That's significantly further along the line toward practicing without a license than a citizen group protesting a widening project.

Old_man is right about this:

"Actually from what I have seen over the last 40 years, you can't call yourself a PE without the PE license. A non-degreed engineer has the right to call himself an engineer but in a contractual situation it needs to be set forth that he is non-degreed"

I might add that the key point is whether he or she is a PE Engineer, or a non PE, Engineer.

In TX you need to be an EIT working under a PE to use the word "engineer" in your title. There are exceptions for manufacturing, federal employees and a few other things. Travis County also flaunts that rule by calling their inspectors "engineering specialists" when they aren't EITs working under direct PE supervision.

 

[Ecomike]

I have a PE and think that's ridiculous.

I find it humorous that the county I deal with frequently for work has a non-PE review our engineering plans and specifications on a regular basis. That's significantly further along the line toward practicing without a license than a citizen group protesting a widening project.

I sometimes wonder why they don't call them extortion engineers! LOL:roflmao:

I live in a city where the city inspector gets $50 for a permit to let you replace a light bulb (JK, but their official policy is replacing a light socket or wall outlet requires a wiring permit and an electrician)! LOL

And I live in Texas! I can only imagine what GauwdAwefull games they play in Californika, especially after reading the Cat converter replacement games and rules there earlier this week here.

My father told me a story about an inspector he butted heads with once, years ago. He was the Houston Fire Marshal. They ended up in the city attorney's office to settle the matter. The Fire Marshall told the City Attorney that he had been trained by the city code writers how to properly interpret the City Plumbing-Fire building code. My father asked the 4th person, another PE, what he thought the code wording meant. He turned to my Father and said,

"John. If you don't know what you meant when you wrote the code, I sure as hell don't!":roflmao:

LOL

Needless to say the City attorney was , and the Fire Marshall licked his wounds and left also

Anyway, I agree with you on the case being absolutely out in left field.

 

[Jeepman401]

I find it humorous that the county I deal with frequently for work has a non-PE review our engineering plans and specifications on a regular basis. That's significantly further along the line toward practicing without a license than a citizen group protesting a widening project.

How is he reviewing them? from a engineering point of view, or a builders point of view? If its from a builders point of view, I think its a good thing. I cant tell you how many things I have seen come back from an engineer that just don't work in the real world.

 

[Ecomike]

How is he reviewing them? from a engineering point of view, or a builders point of view? If its from a builders point of view, I think its a good thing. I cant tell you how many things I have seen come back from an engineer that just don't work in the real world.

I can't answer for alaskan, but typically reviewers look for building code compliance, nothing more.

 

[larsen]

This is an old story ... http://www.rickwalton.com/folktale/yellow04.htm An engineer is practiced at solving certain types of problems, not at being perfect.