Career Advice Needed

[VENgineer]

I am an Electrical Engineer (EIT) graduated in Latin America, with 3 years of experience working in a small engineering firm where I am the only electrical engineer. I have been responsible for various designs from start to finish, including projects in residential, healthcare facilities, casino and industrial sectors. I chose to work in a small firm to gain exposure to a wide range of projects and avoid early specialization in my career. My question is: In the next 5-7 years, I am considering either starting my own small MEP firm or working in a large firm as a PE. I'm not sure yet.

I would appreciate advice on certifications or a master's program. I am considering pursuing a master's degree of 1 or 2 years to counterbalance the fact that I did not study in a U.S. university.

What are your thoughts? Any advice? Thank you in advance.

 

[Rock86]

The PEs that I have met in a few different MEP firms, including my own, do not have masters degrees. Aim for your PE so you can open your own company.

 

[jim dungar]

It is unlikely you will ever get a Professional Engineering license without taking some US college courses. Often, foreign engineering schools do not cover the amount of non-engineering topics that licensing boards think are necessary.

I would start with the NCEES and see what undergraduate course you need rather than going directly into a Masters program.

 

[VENgineer]

It is unlikely you will ever get a Professional Engineering license without taking some US college courses. Often, foreign engineering schools do not cover the amount of non-engineering topics that licensing boards think are necessary.

I would start with the NCEES and see what undergraduate course you need rather than going directly into a Masters program.

Yes, I can do that. The NCEES has already reviewed my credentials and approved that my education meets the requirements compared to an electrical engineering program in a U.S. university. To sit for the initial FE exam, they require this validation. I just need the 4 years of qualified experience, signatures from my supervising PEs, and to pass the exam to obtain my PE license.

 

[VENgineer]

The PEs that I have met in a few different MEP firms, including my own, do not have masters degrees. Aim for your PE so you can open your own company.

Thank you for the advice.
My idea of pursuing a master's is to counteract the perception that many people have, believing that someone educated abroad doesn't have the same level as someone educated in the USA. This way, when a client or someone in the field asks, I can say, "I have a Master's from X university in the USA." I'm not sure if it's just a misconception on my part, but it's what I feel could help me and allow me to aspire to significant opportunities.

 

[Rock86]

Thank you for the advice.
My idea of pursuing a master's is to counteract the perception that many people have, believing that someone educated abroad doesn't have the same level as someone educated in the USA. This way, when a client or someone in the field asks, I can say, "I have a Master's from X university in the USA." I'm not sure if it's just a misconception on my part, but it's what I feel could help me and allow me to aspire to significant opportunities.

I started going for my masters with the same thought. It honestly doesn't matter, or at least not from what I have learned. Definitely go for it if you want it. more education will never hurt.

 

[jim dungar]

Yes, I can do that. The NCEES has already reviewed my credentials and approved that my education meets the requirements compared to an electrical engineering program in a U.S. university. To sit for the initial FE exam, they require this validation. I just need the 4 years of qualified experience, signatures from my supervising PEs, and to pass the exam to obtain my PE license.

Great.

You may want to consider a degree in a related field. I got my Masters in Business Administration because I thought it would help validate my being more than 'just an engineer' when I was building my career.

 

[VENgineer]

Thank you, what opinions do you have about renewable energy masters? Since the beginning of my career, I have been interested in this field, and here in the USA, I see there are incentives for the advancement of these installations. However, I don't want to miss the opportunity to have my own company in the future. Excuse my ignorance, but as I have experience in an MEP Design firm, I have learned a bit about how the business is managed and how to start a firm. Now, I don't know if there are small engineering firms specialized in renewable energy.
How advisable it is to aim for that as a professional goal.

Great.

You may want to consider a degree in a related field. I got my Masters in Business Administration because I thought it would help validate my being more than 'just an engineer' when I was building my career.

I started going for my masters with the same thought. It honestly doesn't matter, or at least not from what I have learned. Definitely go for it if you want it. more education will never hurt.

 

[Tainted]

Run away before it's too late. Just kidding. 5 years and going I am still scratching my head on a lot of topics in this field. You remind me of me, I too am the only electrical engineer in the firm and I have no help except this forum. Quite honestly, PE + experience is worth more than a masters degree in this field. Dare I say it, a masters degree is a waste of time IMO

 

[charlie b]

Just out of curiosity, if you are the only EE in your company, how do you document experience under a licensed PE?

I got my PE first and my master's two years later. At the time, neither helped me advance at my company (an electric utility). Also, neither helped me get customers over the two years that I owned my own electrical engineering company (OK OK, I only owned 49% of the company; my wife owned 51%, but being a female-owned professional design firm approved by the state of IL didn't get us any customers either).

However, both the PE and the MSEE have served me very well since moving on to MEP firms. My opinion is that both matter, and the PE should come first.

Wishing you the best of fortune,
Charlie

 

[Tainted]

Just out of curiosity, if you are the only EE in your company, how do you document experience under a licensed PE?

I can speak for New York, but it is possible to get your PE without an electrical PE vouching for you.

 

[VENgineer]

Just out of curiosity, if you are the only EE in your company, how do you document experience under a licensed PE?

I got my PE first and my master's two years later. At the time, neither helped me advance at my company (an electric utility). Also, neither helped me get customers over the two years that I owned my own electrical engineering company (OK OK, I only owned 49% of the company; my wife owned 51%, but being a female-owned professional design firm approved by the state of IL didn't get us any customers either).

However, both the PE and the MSEE have served me very well since moving on to MEP firms. My opinion is that both matter, and the PE should come first.

Wishing you the best of fortune,
Charlie

I understand that a PE from another specialty can sign off on my experience; at least, that's how it works here in Florida. In the firm where I work, there are two PEs, one in structural and one in mechanical, an architect, and two EITs – one in mechanical and myself in electrical.

 

[ggunn]

I understand that a PE from another specialty can sign off on my experience; at least, that's how it works here in Florida. In the firm where I work, there are two PEs, one in structural and one in mechanical, an architect, and two EITs – one in mechanical and myself in electrical.

PE rules vary from state to state. Check with your state engineer licensing board.

 

[jim dungar]

I have held PE licenses in 5 different states, none of them asked what my 'specialty' was, but they all had rules that said an engineer should not be practicing in areas where they are not competent. Most states have restrictions for structural and civil engineering while lumping almost everybody else into one license.

For the most part advanced engineering degrees are important in research and government work. My experience has been; once they see the PE after my name nobody asks what school I went to or what my GPA was.

I think one should always continue learning, the more rounded you are education wise is rarely detrimental.

 

[ggunn]

For the most part advanced engineering degrees are important in research and government work. My experience has been; once they see the PE after my name nobody asks what school I went to or what my GPA was.

I had the opportunity to get my PE license when I was working for a major electronics company, so I got it although I didn't really need it. Twenty years later when I got laid off from that company I was extremely glad that I had that PE license.

 

[petersonra]

I had the opportunity to get my PE license when I was working for a major electronics company, so I got it although I didn't really need it. Twenty years later when I got laid off from that company I was extremely glad that I had that PE license.

It is like a lot of credentials. It won't hurt you any except for paying the various fees but might just be the ticket you need for some place.

My guess is there are probably ten times as many people doing engineering work as there are P.E.s but there is a trend toward requiring more and more certification of everything that will drive a need for more P.E.s even if they are doing the same except work they would be doing as a not P.E.

 

[jim dungar]

My guess is there are probably ten times as many people doing engineering work as there are P.E.s but there is a trend toward requiring more and more certification of everything that will drive a need for more P.E.s even if they are doing the same except work they would be doing as a not P.E.

This was the reasoning given to us way back in 1978 when got my FE (now it is EIT)during my senior year.

 

[ggunn]

It is like a lot of credentials. It won't hurt you any except for paying the various fees but might just be the ticket you need for some place.

My guess is there are probably ten times as many people doing engineering work as there are P.E.s but there is a trend toward requiring more and more certification of everything that will drive a need for more P.E.s even if they are doing the same except work they would be doing as a not P.E.

I don't know the ratio of non PE engineers to PE engineers in the electronics company I worked for but it was at least 100:1.