The Professional Engineering, or P.E., Exam, is essential for any aspiring engineer. It is the second exam that is required for a license, after passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. When the P.E. exam is completed and passed, an engineer can move forward and, provided they meet an individual states eligibility standards and practices, become registered to stamp and sign off on any engineering drawings and calculations as a professional engineer. It is a hard-earned step one’s career and one that opens many doors.
- What Does It Mean?
Passing a P.E. exam will reward you with a few valuable things. To your employers it means that you are ready and able to take on a higher level of responsibility in your work. From your colleagues it will command respect, and to clients it means that you are an experienced and trustworthy engineer that they can put their faith into. For yourself, it should be something that gives you pride. - What Does it Cost?
To start with you will need a four-year degree from an ABET accredited school under your belt. After this you will also need a further two-four years working under a professional engineer. You will also need to complete and pass two intensive competency exams and earn a license from your state’s licensure board. To retain your licenses, you must continually maintain and improve your skills as an engineer throughout the entirety of your career. - Liability
A PE is not just liable for the work that they sign off on, but also the lives that are potentially affected by that work. They must hold themselves to very high standards of ethical practice. If a PE were to sign off on a drawing or calculations that lead to the injury of the death of any persons, or even the potential for injury or death, they would be liable for that. Along with the title comes great responsibility.
Having a PE is not just a privilege, it is a legal requirement for an engineer who is in responsible charge of work. It will also soon be a legal requirement in order to teach engineering and also to work as an engineer for the government in any capacity, as laws are becoming more strict. This is why it is imperative to acquire your license early, and keep up to date on the latest codes and standards.
Having a Professional Engineering license under your belt shows that you have taken the time and made the tremendous effort to do all of these things, and this skill and experience should show in your work. It will not only impress your clients and employers, but it will command a lot of respect for your opinions and your work also. This is what separates a PE from an engineer.