Railroad buffs would say an “engineer” is the guy running the train, but most people would think it is someone who designs complex, useful things like bridges, cars, appliances, and computers. And they’d be right. Merriam-Webster says an engineer is:
a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures : a person who specializes in a branch of engineering
But what is a professional engineer? A Professional Engineer (or PE) — like a nurse, medical doctor, architect or CPA — holds a license that signifies a demonstrated level of education and professional knowledge in his or her area of practice.
Wikipedia notes:
Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage public welfare, safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to practice engineering and/or provide engineering professional services to the public.
Specific to the United States, NCEES says:
Professional licensure protects the public by enforcing standards that restrict practice to qualified individuals who have met specific qualifications in education, work experience, and exams.
The exams are standardized but other requirements vary by state. Generally, becoming a Professional Engineer involves:
- Receiving a degree from an accredited school
- Passing the general Fundamentals of Engineering exam
- Accumulating relevant work experience
- Passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam in your discipline
PE exams exist for many disciplines including civil, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, and structural engineering, and many others. The common theme being that work in all these areas has the potential to affect the public welfare. (Note that some states issue discipline-specific licenses and others issue general Professional Engineer licenses, relying on the ethics of the PE to not practice outside his or her area of expertise.)
So, when you drive over a bridge or ride in an elevator or have an MRI, thank a Professional Engineer for making your experience uneventful and safe.
One response to “What is a Professional Engineer?”