PE from Italy to US

S

solomon17

Member
Location
Italy
Occupation
P.E.
Good morning everybody!
it's a pleasure to be here!

I’m an Italian Professional Engineer with over 14 years of experience, and I would like to learn how to become an American P.E.

I’m curious about how you would teach an intern to go from zero to hero. What I mean is, I can complete an electrical project here in my country, but I’m not sure I could do the same if I were assigned a similar project in any U.S. state.

How could I learn the necessary skills and knowledge?

I’d like to start from page one of the "book"—figuratively speaking—though I might be able to move quickly through some sections. The problem is, I don’t know what that "book" is.

I already have the Electrical Code. Should I start by reading it, or is there a better starting point?

Thanks to anyone who tries to help me on what might seem like a strange or challenging journey!
 
You need to check with the licensing board for the state in which you want to be licensed. It is not unusual for college education received in other countries to be not being equivalent to US colleges. For example, one of my engineers needed to several non-engineering courses, while another one could not provide the proper documentation of the content of courses he took.

For work experience you need to work under the direction/supervision if licensed engineers.

Knowledge of the NEC is not a direct requirement for a PE, however it may be a needed as you gain work experience.
 
jim dungar said:
You need to check with the licensing board for the state in which you want to be licensed. It is not unusual for college education received in other countries to be not being equivalent to US colleges. For example, one of my engineers needed to several non-engineering courses, while another one could not provide the proper documentation of the content of courses he took.

For work experience you need to work under the direction/supervision if licensed engineers.

Knowledge of the NEC is not a direct requirement for a PE, however it may be a needed as you gain work experience.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your answer. I know I have to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. My concern is how I can learn to actually complete a project. Obtaining the license will be eventually my final goal, but I would like to learn how to execute a project from start to finish.

For example, if an American colleague is willing to outsource some work, how can I learn to provide a proper project? I assume and understand that a project based on Italian rules and regulations won't be suitable for the US. What steps should I take to ensure my work meets US standards and requirements? Or, where can I learn what are the US requirements?
 
solomon17 said:
What steps should I take to ensure my work meets US standards and requirements? Or, where can I learn what are the US requirements?
Click to expand...
Who ever you are working for is responsible for mentoring you.
If you are designing systems that are subject to the NEC, then it makes sense to know what is needed. I would suggest resources like those from Mike Holt, the sponsor of this forum.
Remember there are many other codes you will also need to learn.
 
jim dungar said:
Who ever you are working for is responsible for mentoring you.
If you are designing systems that are subject to the NEC, then it makes sense to know what is needed. I would suggest resources like those from Mike Holt, the sponsor of this forum.
Remember there are many other codes you will also need to learn.
Click to expand...
Apparently, I can't access Mike Holt's website. It might be due to my location (Italy). I will try using a VPN to see if that works.

Being mentored would be great, but I would also like to learn the basics first to speed up the mentoring process.
I mean... not the electrical basics... I already know a few things 😅
 
I tell you what, since you are in italy, if you can raise the idle in my apriliars660, ill do anything you need! I also need polini parts...
 
jim dungar said:
You need to check with the licensing board for the state in which you want to be licensed. It is not unusual for college education received in other countries to be not being equivalent to US colleges. For example, one of my engineers needed to several non-engineering courses, while another one could not provide the proper documentation of the content of courses he took.

For work experience you need to work under the direction/supervision if licensed engineers.

Knowledge of the NEC is not a direct requirement for a PE, however it may be a needed as you gain work experience.
Click to expand...
One of the smartest engineers I ever worked with could not take the PE exam because they did not recognize his electrical engineering degree from a university in Germany.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
One of the smartest engineers I ever worked with could not take the PE exam because they did not recognize his electrical engineering degree from a university in Germany.
Click to expand...
One of my engineers had his PhD from a Chinese institution, he could not get a PE, where he lived, because he never got a true BS degree.
 
gadfly56 said:
That's pretty crazy. I mean, Germany? Really??
Click to expand...
Foreign schools do not usually require the same amount of non- engineering undergraduate courses, like humanities and economics, that US students take so they don't meet the education requirements for a PE license.
 
jim dungar said:
Foreign schools do not usually require the same amount of non- engineering undergraduate courses, like humanities and economics, that US students take so they don't meet the education requirements for a PE license.
Click to expand...
Maybe, but I have the impression that European universities are heavier on the humanities than US, for technical degrees. Stevens was pretty bare bones about it; only one course per semester was humanities.
 
gadfly56 said:
Maybe, but I have the impression that European universities are heavier on the humanities than US, for technical degrees. Stevens was pretty bare bones about it; only one course per semester was humanities.
Click to expand...
Maybe Europe is different, but I had one engineer, that was previously licensed in the Philippines, who did not meet the education requirements. Only one of my engineers from India bothered to take US courses to round out his education and start on his PE.
 
As far as I know, my MSc can be quite easily recognized. However, that would only be relevant if I ever move to the US and decide to obtain a license.

At the moment, my only goal is to learn how to make an electrical project
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top