Levels of training, ability, and accomplishment exist in many professions, particularly those whose practice can affect public safety. Proof of this education and experience can be evidenced by individual certification, accreditation, or license, which takes credentials beyond undergraduate or graduate degrees. The engineering profession is no different.

First, a Brief Bit of History

The necessity of focused training to learn a trade or profession began thousands of years ago in Mediterranean societies. In the Middle Ages in England and Europe it evolved into the apprenticeship process, which provided training by a master (along with food and housing) in exchange for inexpensive labor from the student. Apprentices learned skills on the job and went on to become members of their craft guild, or society, which served to prove or certify their professional abilities.

Industrialization and modern workplace development led to the need for more specialized skills and training at the university or institute level, and also gave rise to performance tests to prove student abilities, especially in the engineering area. 

In the U.S., Wyoming was the first state to enact an engineering licensure law in 1907, which required proof of competency in a trade or profession in order to protect its citizens. Every state now has a process to follow in order to grant a professional engineering license in their state. The process is a means to ensure competency and protect public safety, but it is not mandatory. More on that later.

A Quick Definition

The designation Professional Engineer (PE) means that a person has been certified by an individual state board to practice engineering in that state after meeting its requirements. 

The basic requirements necessary to earn the PE certification are:

- Earn a four-year degree in engineering from an accredited college engineering program.

- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which certifies you as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI). Most states allow students in a qualified engineering program approved by their state board to take this test at, or several months prior to their graduation. 

- Complete four years of qualified work experience that has been supervised by a licensed PE.

- Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, which tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. Passing this exam qualifies you as a licensed professional engineer.

These are the minimum requirements for the PE designation, but additional requirements beyond these four may be mandated by individual states. The FE and PE exams are administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES). Maintaining a PE designation in many states also requires continued engineering education and proof of competency throughout a person’s career.

What Can PE Mean to Me – Professionally?

In general, references to the PE designation maintain that it is an important adjunct to an engineering career for several reasons:

- It is a legal requirement for some engineers in certain states where public safety is directly related to the engineering work at hand.

- The PE designation is viewed with similar respect as licensed professionals in other fields such as medicine, law or accounting.

- The PE designation can also signal to a prospective employer that a person’s engineering credentials and professionalism have been reviewed and approved by an independent body.

- Only a licensed engineer holding the PE designation can prepare, sign, and submit engineering drawings to a public authority for its approval.

- Increasing numbers of educational institutions, government agencies, and private employers are limiting their new hire and vendor relationships to licensed professional engineers.

- Many states currently require that teachers of engineering must be licensed.

- Only a licensed engineer holding the PE designation can prepare, sign, and submit engineering drawings to a public authority for its approval.

What do I do Next if I Want to Proceed?

Even though individual states set their own standards for the PE license, if you meet the basic requirements that we have noted, you should be able to qualify for a license in other states without difficulty. That said, it is important to first learn the requirements for your own state, which will be posted on the website of your state licensing board. Their website should also give you information on application forms, fees, and suggestions for preparation. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) provides a list of state engineering licensure boards along with their contact information at NSPE.org.

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If you are currently employed as an engineer, your employer may also have an assistance program to help obtain the PE license, or at least offer you information on the steps you need to take. If you are currently studying engineering in college, your school will likely inform you of the FE test prior to graduation. Be aware that the FE exam is given four times a year and the PE exam is given twice a year. 

The PE testing process is also quite rigorous. According to the NSPE, about 25,000 engineers take the PE exam each year, and on average 50% of them pass. Individual pass rates vary by engineering discipline. The NSPE also estimates that about 20% of all engineers in the U.S. have a current PE license.

Last but not Least, is a PE License Mandatory to Work as an Engineer?

The PE license, while good to have, is usually not required for engineering employment. Currently, there are many more open engineering jobs in the U.S. than there are engineers to fill those positions. A demand vs. supply gap like this generally means that employers will fill openings as they find qualified people, and many companies do not require a PE license of their engineering employees.

Summary

An engineering degree, while valuable in itself, may not be enough to demonstrate the level of proficiency your area of expertise requires. The PE exam, while largely a technical test, also touches on professional ethics, ideas, and application of specific principles in practice. It may be an important addition to your credentials list, and obtaining a PE license can offer you the opportunity to stand out in your field. As the NSPE notes, the PE designation is the mark of a professional who holds skills in and is dedicated to a particular field. The decision is up to you.