Should I Get My PE License?

[petersonra]

This is the way I see it. People are using government to restrict competition wherever they can. licensing is mostly, but not entirely about that. If you want to be an engineer down the road, you probably will find it handy to have a PE after your name, even if it does not mean much. If you can meet the requirements and pass the test go do it now before you forget it all. It will not get any easier to qualify as you get older and forget a lot of things, even if you are a much better engineer.

There is nothing that says you have to use your stamp for anything other than getting in the door.

 

[gadfly56]

I got a bachelor's degree from a liberal arts school. Technically, my degree is engineering with an electrical emphasis (ABET accredited). I passed the FE 4 years ago when i graduated college.

In most jurisdictions you'll need one more year of experience.

 

[gadfly56]

This is the way I see it. People are using government to restrict competition wherever they can. licensing is mostly, but not entirely about that. If you want to be an engineer down the road, you probably will find it handy to have a PE after your name, even if it does not mean much. If you can meet the requirements and pass the test go do it now before you forget it all. It will not get any easier to qualify as you get older and forget a lot of things, even if you are a much better engineer.

There is nothing that says you have to use your stamp for anything other than getting in the door.

It wasn't until my 4th employer after getting my license that I stamped any drawings.

 

[dkarst]

I got a bachelor's degree from a liberal arts school. Technically, my degree is engineering with an electrical emphasis (ABET accredited). I passed the FE 4 years ago when i graduated college.

I would also recommend reading fine print on your state regulations regarding a non-traditional degree. Some states are somewhat "flexible" on degree requirements and others are really persnickety on non-BSEE ABET degrees. If you get PE in your state and want to transfer it to another, anything other than standard can cause heartburn.

Worth looking into as I believe my state requires more experience if you deviate from the standard.

 

[Defenestrator]

No offense intended, but that's just about the stupidest excuse for not expanding one's credentials I have ever heard. Having a PE license will open doors that would otherwise be forever closed to you, but which of those doors you pass through is entirely up to you. Picture yourself 20-30 years from now. Are you more likely to regret not getting your license when you had the chance, or that you got it?

Ill still get it, i just meant that the administrative side of being a PE doesn't appeal to me.

 

[gadfly56]

Ill still get it, i just meant that the administrative side of being a PE doesn't appeal to me.

There is no "administrative side" to being a PE, per se. As others have mentioned, it all depends on the road you choose. What you're thinking of is engineers who have moved into the project management side of construction. There you have to worry about schedules, budgets, manpower loading, resource availability, etc. From my own experience, you usually just get more headaches for the same amount of money. Maybe a nominal increase, but on a per hour basis of additional time spent, you'd be way better off getting a job in NYC at McDonald's with the new $15/hr wages, or even Home Depot where the starting wage is $9.64. Staying on the design side can have its own stresses, but usually once you hit the door the day is done.

 

[Defenestrator]

Hey all, i passed and waiting on my license in the mail. Thanks a lot for the encouragement. Im still anxious about it, but im hoping that feeling will go away.

 

[charlie b]

Congratulations! :thumbsup:

 

[Fnewman]

Perfect! Now you have it even if you never need it, but you never know. Also never succumb to the temptation to let it go inactive to save the renewal fees. Yes, you can likely reinstate, but it can be a pain (did that once in a second state). I got my PE after I had only been out of school for about 2 years, but ended up working in situations where it was not needed until after I retired and took on a part-time job doing industrial electrical design. Glad I kept my GA license current for all the years!

 

[gadfly56]

Hey all, i passed and waiting on my license in the mail. Thanks a lot for the encouragement. Im still anxious about it, but im hoping that feeling will go away.

Congratulations! Welcome to the clan!

 

[jim dungar]

Hey all, i passed and waiting on my license in the mail. Thanks a lot for the encouragement. Im still anxious about it, but im hoping that feeling will go away.

Congratulations. I had mine for almost 25 years before really I needed it.

BTW, Have you learned the secret handshake yet?

 

[ggunn]

Congratulations. I had mine for almost 25 years before really I needed it.

BTW, Have you learned the secret handshake yet?

Second that; I had mine for nearly 20 years before I needed it, but when I needed it I really needed it. When I lost my job of 22 years my career would have been dead in the water without it.

 

[drktmplr12]

Hey all, i passed and waiting on my license in the mail. Thanks a lot for the encouragement. Im still anxious about it, but im hoping that feeling will go away.

woohooo! its quite the accomplishment! Congrats!!!!!

 

[victor.cherkashi]

recommendation

recommendation

I get into mood and would like to start my preparation for PE Electrical and Computer-Power exam. Guys, what books can you recommend for the exam. Is there any good “question and answer”, practice problems, etc..

 

[drktmplr12]

I get into mood and would like to start my preparation for PE Electrical and Computer-Power exam. Guys, what books can you recommend for the exam. Is there any good “question and answer”, practice problems, etc..

see post #20