Whats next after the PE?

raranari

raranari

Member
Location
FL
Occupation
Electrical Designer
Hey guys,

I’m an Electrical Designer at a small MEP firm with about 4 years of experience. I’ve passed my FE and just found out this week that I passed the Power PE, so I should be licensed in the next few months. I’m also moving to a larger company next month that mainly works on industrial and data center projects.

I’ve been thinking about ways to keep improving my overall electrical knowledge, especially on the practical/field side. I’ve looked into things like taking night classes through an electrician trade program, studying for a NETA certification, or other courses that could help me better understand how systems actually get installed and the actual thought process in the field.

For those of you further along in your careers, after getting licensed, what did you do to keep getting better and learning more in this industry?

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
 
raranari said:
Hey guys,

I’m an Electrical Designer at a small MEP firm with about 4 years of experience. I’ve passed my FE and just found out this week that I passed the Power PE, so I should be licensed in the next few months. I’m also moving to a larger company next month that mainly works on industrial and data center projects.

I’ve been thinking about ways to keep improving my overall electrical knowledge, especially on the practical/field side. I’ve looked into things like taking night classes through an electrician trade program, studying for a NETA certification, or other courses that could help me better understand how systems actually get installed and the actual thought process in the field.

For those of you further along in your careers, after getting licensed, what did you do to keep getting better and learning more in this industry?

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Put on a hard hat and walk those data centers and inie sites..
And see the struggle.
 
raranari said:
....studying for a NETA certification....
Click to expand...
Not worth it if you are not going to be using the tools yourself. But you might want to find some support for interpreting the results of NETA tests such as transformer oil analysis and insulation testing.

I have liked the engineering website eng-tips.com. It has a lot of international participation which can be good as power systems components become more global.
 
raranari said:
Hey guys,

I’m an Electrical Designer at a small MEP firm with about 4 years of experience. I’ve passed my FE and just found out this week that I passed the Power PE, so I should be licensed in the next few months. I’m also moving to a larger company next month that mainly works on industrial and data center projects.

I’ve been thinking about ways to keep improving my overall electrical knowledge, especially on the practical/field side. I’ve looked into things like taking night classes through an electrician trade program, studying for a NETA certification, or other courses that could help me better understand how systems actually get installed and the actual thought process in the field.

For those of you further along in your careers, after getting licensed, what did you do to keep getting better and learning more in this industry?

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
I would master a power systems software package, like SKM. Also, there are some good certifications on the NFPA site for electrical workers. I have the CESCP certification which says you are proficient in NFPA 70E, but also NFPA 70 is a worthy standard to get proficient at. Also manage the electrical preventive maintenance at the facility you work at.
Congrats on passing those 2 tests.
 
Since you are here asking might even consider picking up some tools and really get after it by getting master electrical. Puts you in the position in the end can be a contractor.
 
Depends on where you are licensed. There are a bunch of extras if you are in California.

You could also look at ASHRAE certs. There are companies that pay extra for someone to provide efficiency calculations to reduce their electric bills.
 
You have made a good first step by participating in this forum. I have participated for over 20 years, and I continue to learn every time I visit this site.

Let me offer what should be a reminder, as opposed to being new information. When you sign and seal a document, it means one thing, and one thing only: "This document was prepared by me or under my supervision." Don't let anyone ever pressure you, or even worse compell you, to sign and seal a document unless you can make that very statement without hesitation or doubt.

Welcome to the PE community.
 
I am an electrician only. We all judge others. That said, when finding errors in a set of drawings the first instinct is, "How could the PE have missed that?" Then I taught myself CA. The first "perfect" drawing I gave to my guys resulted in several flaws and questions. I tell you this to highlight that actually working on the other side of the fence is invaluable. If you can find ANY opportunity to strap on a tool bet and work in the field is the best favor you could ever do for every electrician you draw for. Barring this, look for and identify a handful of electricians you can respect and listen to. Understand that they have experience and expertise that you don't.
 
charlie b said:
You have made a good first step by participating in this forum. I have participated for over 20 years, and I continue to learn every time I visit this site.

Let me offer what should be a reminder, as opposed to being new information. When you sign and seal a document, it means one thing, and one thing only: "This document was prepared by me or under my supervision." Don't let anyone ever pressure you, or even worse compell you, to sign and seal a document unless you can make that very statement without hesitation or doubt.

Welcome to the PE community.
Click to expand...
It varies by state. MD allows approving design:

shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the
professional engineer who prepared or approved the documents.
 
Good news raranari. Life is about the peaks and the valleys. Eventually you find yourself on a peak, and seldomly in a valley. Just know that this peak may be the next valley. And this next valley may be the next peak. Quit thinking so much about the future and live for the day. Good luck! - Beef
 
When I went to apprenticeship I was feeling pretty chipper as I did really well on the test. Just out of sheer luck there was a drawing and it asked for part names maybe and I had just got thru an engine class and got it as a 2 stroke diesel,,,, something like that.
Seems there were a couple others but the one that was really ahead was a guy with 6 years of book learnin. Companies were pulling on him a couple years in and ran in to him where he was general foreman and running significant work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top