[niallmacdowell]

Hi all,
I am a recently graduated chemical engineer. I am considering applying to companies in the US in order to work there, and I have heard some talk about something called the professional engineers exam (PE), and I have seen some business cards with the letters PE written after the name. Can anyone explain this to me? In Ireland/UK/Europe we have whats called "chartered engineer", this is something to which an engineer can aspire to after a minimum of 4 years of post graduate work experience. Is the PE something similar?
Thanks
Niall

[gvdlans]

Wikipedia contains a good article on the subject of Professional Engineer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Engineer

By the way, 'Chartered Engineer' is used in UK and Ireland (and India). In many other EU countries there is an equivalent called 'European Engineer'

[mbeychok]

Niall:

Yes, the Professional Engineer title is pretty much the same as your Chartered Engineer title. However, where you have a national set of requirements that must be met, each of our states has somewhat different requirements and the PE title granted in one state may not be valid in another state. Many US engineers in the USA may have had to earn the PE title in more than one state.

If you work for a large engineering corporation, the PE title is helpful but it is not an absolute requirement of employment. However, to work as an independent consulting engineer and to advertise yourself as a consulting engineer, it isa requirement.

[THCooke]

I am a registered Professional Engineer in chemical engineering in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota. Each State has a Board that licenses engineers. All of the testing is conducted through the ncees in conjunction with the State Boards in the USA. Their website is: www.ncees.org

Essentially, you must prove that you graduated from an accredited university in engineering. Foreign accreditation may take a little more paper work. You then take the EIT (Engineer in Training) test, which is an 8 hour 1-day test. It is multiple choice. There is a general section in the morning and then a specific section in the afternoon that I was able to chose at test time. The specific sections are based on the various engineering trades (chemical, general, mechanical, etc.). If you pass the test, you will be called an EIT. Then, you must perform under the review of a Professional Engineer for 4 years (3 if you have a Masters), at which time you can apply to take the Professional Engineers exam of your choice (chemical, mechanical, etc.). Passing tat test allows you to apply to the State (i.e. send them the license fee) and you can then call yourself an engineer in that State.

Hope that helps you.

[engware]

Hi there:

Check out the NSPE web site at: NSPE.org.

Thanks,

Gordan

[niallmacdowell]

To all who replied to my question:

Thank you for your information, obviously I am at the very early stages of my career, so all of this is very useful to me and your time is much appreciated

Niall