10 Reasons to Become a Professional Engineer.

1. 10 Reasons to Become a
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
Samuel G. Sudler III, P.E., IntPE
Chairman of the Board of Ethical Review for the
National Society of Professional Engineers

2. But first, what is a professional
engineer?
• A professional engineer ( P.E.) is a person
who is licensed to practice engineering in a
particular state or US territory after meeting
all requirements of the law. To practice in
multiple states or territories, the P.E. must
be licensed in each state in which he or she
wishes to practice.

3. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
• All States and Jurisdictions have Registration Laws Governing
the Practice of Engineering
• Most States prohibit persons who are not registered PE’s
from:
– advertising, using a business card, or otherwise indicating
to the public that they are an engineer
– assuming the title of engineer
– practicing, offering to practice or holding themselves out as
qualified to practice as an engineer
• Current Exemptions for Industrial Practice

4. OVERVIEW
• Why Become a Licensed Professional
Engineer?
• How to Become a License Professional
Engineer (Professional Registration Process)
• Responsibilities after becoming a License
Professional Engineer
• Principles of Standard of Care

5. What are the 10 reasons for
becoming licensed as a P.E.?
• There are really more than 10 reasons but most
will fall in four categories . . .
– 1. A legal necessity.
– 2. Improved employment security.
– 3. Better opportunities for advancement.
– 4. Personal satisfaction.

6. Legal Necessity
• 1. If you ever want or need to become a
consulting engineer, you must be licensed
as a P.E.
• 2. Only a P.E. can sign and seal
engineering documents that are submitted to
a public authority or for public and private
clients.

7. Improved Employment Security
• 3. Restructuring, downsizing and outsourcing
ARE REAL! A P.E. license may make the
difference in finding new employment.
• 4. Industry and utility exemptions are being
eliminated in some jurisdictions.
• 5. Continuing education is required for a
professional engineer-- in some states by law but
in all states in practice.

8. Opportunities for Advancement
• 6. Many companies encourage licensure
and some even pay a bonus for becoming a
P. E.
• 7. In education, more colleges are requiring
a P.E. license for engineering faculty or for
holding certain titles.
• 8. Increasingly, in many industry, utility,
and government positions, a P.E. is required
for specified jobs or levels.

9. Opportunities for Advancement -
Continued
• 9. With the engineering profession now
operating in an international environment,
licensing may be required to work in or for
other countries. You will be prepared in the
event your career moves in this direction.

10. Personal Satisfaction
• 10. Licensure is the mark of a professional.
Ethical standards, continuing education, and
professional competency are expected. P.E.
after you name indicates you have met the
standards and can be respected as a
professional.

11. ... And One More Reason
EIT
Not
Licensed
PE
PE,
Environ.
PE,
Forensic
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
$80,000
$90,000
EIT
Not
Licensed
PE
PE,
Environ.
PE,
Forensic
Median Income of Engineers

12. Engineering
A “Learned Profession”
 Google “learned professions”
 Medicine, law and engineering
 A body of knowledge so broad and technical
that it requires specialized schooling.
 The “learned profession” premise is the basis
for licensure.

13. Engineering Licensure
 To protect public health, safety and
welfare
 Approximately 10% (400,000) become a
Professional Engineer (P.E.)
 Licensure is administered at the state
level (state’s rights)

14. How Do you Become Licensed?
Each State licenses PEs within their jurisdiction.
Licensing laws vary between states, but generally include
successfully passing/completing the following:
 An 8-hour Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
 4 years of progressive engineering experience under the
supervision of a PE
 An 8-hour Principles and Practices Exam
Only licensed PEs can use the term “professional”
engineer.

15. Once You Become Licensed
 A license needs to be renewed (typically every
two years)
 Most states require continuing education (15-30
contact hours every two years)
 You are judged and disciplined by a PE Review
Board administered by the state with jurisdiction.
 You can be sanctioned, fined and/or lose your
license if you are found negligent in your actions.

16. Scope of Profession
 Only licensed professional engineers can practice in
prescribed areas that affect public health, safety and
welfare.
 Law reasons that only those at the pinnacle of their
profession can be entrusted with this responsibility.
 PEs are charged to operate under a standard of care,
and negligence is weighed against it.
 PEs enjoy a malpractice standard not given to
many.

17. Principles Behind Licensure
 Practice only within your area of competency
 Follow ethical standards
Knowledge without ethics is corrupt
Ethics without knowledge is ignorant
 Innovation (we are expected to arrive at new
solutions to advance mankind)
 We don’t need to be perfect. We are judged on a
negligence standard.

18. Cornerstones of Licensure
 Competence (this is not static!)
 Continuous learning
 Specialized knowledge
 Ethical conduct
 Societal view (public health, safety and welfare
above all other considerations)
 Innovation
 Judgment (the essence of judgment is choice)

19. Acceptance of Responsibility
The quality of a professional’s judgment is directly
related to their grasp of special knowledge, applied
skills and years of experience. All three are moving
targets that advance and never retreat.
The standard is to use best professional judgment
and act with highest integrity and ethics…and ethics
is the fulcrum as ethics is the measure upon which
judgment either benefits or hurts the public.

20. Standard of Care Principle
 We are not expected to be right 100% of the time,
but to act with the highest standards of
professionalism, knowledge and ethics, always
with the public’s health, safety and welfare at the
forefront.
 Without this “standard of care,” who would push
the envelope, innovate and advance engineering
for the betterment of humankind?

21. So What About the 90%?
 An estimated 90% of engineering graduates do
not pursue licensure.
 A substantial amount of engineering practice
doesn’t fall under the regulated (licensed)
practice of engineering.
 For example, engineers in industry are typically
exempt from licensure. The products they create
typically fall under the Uniform Commercial
Code for product liability.

22. The Principles Behind the Standards Should
Still Apply
 If you are applying engineering principles in your work, you
are taking math and science to produce something. While
the product may or may not affect public health, safety and
welfare, you are applying the same core principles to your
work.
 Shouldn’t you conduct yourself…?
Ethically
Competently
With an eye toward innovation
Using sound judgment
With a societal view

23. Why Should You Care?
 The engineering profession is judged by the performance of each
of us and all of us (you and your peers).
 This is a least common denominator principle.
 We are only deemed as worthy as the engineer who provides the
minimal level of judgment, competence, ethics and societal
awareness.
 We are responsible for holding each other to the highest
standards of conduct to protect the profession.

24. I’m About to Graduate, So…?
 Register for and take the Fundamentals of
Engineering Exam. Go to www.ncees.org to find
out more.
 Look for employment opportunities where you
can at least tangentially work under the
supervision of a PE.
 Track the advancement of your work experience.
 Join a professional society to network with other
professionals.

25. Enjoy the Journey
 You may not see licensure as relevant now, but
you may change your mind down the road.
 You will likely change careers 6-8 times before
you retire. How sure are you that you won’t
need to get licensed at some point?
 You got an engineering degree. Why wouldn’t
you want to celebrate it with PE after your
name?

26. PE stands for…
Whether you need to be licensed for your chosen career
path or not, PE says that you have committed to …
 Competence and continuous learning to maintain it
 The highest ethical standards of conduct
 A societal view for the betterment of humankind
 Exercise sound judgment following these principles.

27. The future . . . Are you ready?
Having a P.E. license is the best insurance
policy and could affect your career. The time to
start is now. Contact your state licensing board
for requirements and examination dates.
Licensing board addresses and phone numbers
can be obtained from the Internet --
http://www.ncees.org/

28. P.E.
NSPE encourages you to get it.

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