1. Engineering registration in USA requires Professional Engineers' exams, organized by each State (though subjects are common). This seems necessary for freelancers, not so for employees of industries / engineering firms. Less than one-third of degreed Engineers were registered in USA (1995).
2. Membership in AIChE is a different story, requiring a yearly fee of US$ 49 - 199, depending on country (93 nowadays). Unemployed or young Chemical Engineers in USA / Can have lower fees. Undergraduate students are free in USA / Can, fee for other countries is just US$ 7.
3. My impression is that membership does not count for employment here. Even for novices, character and ability as student are significant, along with any supplementary studies. These are replaced later by professional reputation, spread all over the country. If I am "good for nothing", a label will not save me. I might find good employment through "networks", but almost all people will know that I am good for nothing.
4. Irrespectively of it, membership can be interesting, especially if fee does not mean much money individually. Not only for technical matters, also AIChE code of ethics and related subjects are worthy of "digestion" nowadays. I would certainly try membership as a student, due to low fee. After this, it seems that continuous professional development here (if any) is directed to administration rather than technical (not much estimated). Systematic work can be more effective than seminars/courses, besides employer pays for them. Few Chemical Engineers pay for practical local courses (autocad, NG piping installation), not being abroad. Country is not much developed in Chemical Industry, so there may be limited need of such "education".
5. Concerning Master and Doctor degrees, these are just a chance for occupation on limited salary, better than unemployment. I would not sacrifice job for them, even though they help in methodical thinking. Best of all, I would try to accomplish them during work years, withing 5-15 years, as managed by some colleagues. Economic benefit is unimportant (in the known cases), but they could result in high spirits.
6. Above views are affected by local and neighboring situation. It seems there are members of AIChE in Greece though, probably from academicians or Chemical Engineers having worked in USA.
Edited by kkala, 09 March 2013 - 04:41 PM.