Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 1 Becoming a PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER All you need to know (or most of it…)

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 3 OVERVIEW Legal Requirements for Engineering Practice Professional Registration Process FE Examination Specifications Strategies for Passing the FE Exam Study Materials Answers to Common Questions Why Become a Licensed Professional Engineer?

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 4 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 Exemptions for Industrial Practice

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 5 What are the requirements to become licensed as a P.E.? Education (ABET/EAC) FE Exam (EIT) Experience (4 years) PE Exam (P&PE)

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 6 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 7 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 8 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 9 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 10 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.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 11 Personal Satisfaction 10. Licensure is the mark of a professional. Ethical standards, continuing education, and professional competency are expected. P.E. after your name indicates you have met the standards and can be respected as a professional.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee And One More Reason

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 13 What to Expect on the FE Exam 8 Hours long AM and PM Sessions Multiple choice format Is a test of engineering fundamentals Given twice per year

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 14 New FE Examination Format FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING EXAMINATION MORNING SESSION 4 HOURS QUESTIONS -12 TOPIC AREAS: Math, Statistics, Chemistry, Computers, Ethics, Engineering Econ., Mechanics (Statics & Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Material Properties, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism CIVIL ENGINEERING 120 POINTS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 120 POINTS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 120 POINTS CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 120 POINTS INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 120 POINTS

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 15 MORNING SECTION Chemistry 9% Computers 7% Strength of Materials 7% Electrical Circuits10% Engineering Economics 8% Engineering Ethics 7% Fluid Mechanics 7% Materials Science7% Mathematics15% Statistics 7 % Electricity /Magnetism 9% Statics / Dynamics10% Thermodynamics 7% Total 100%

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 16 Morning Sessions Subjects Ethics 7% Engineering Economics 8% Electrical Circuits 10% Dynamics 5% Computers 7% Chemistry 9% Fluid Mechanics 7% Materials Science/Structure of Matter 7% Mathematics 15% Mechanics of Materials 7% Statics 5% Thermodynamics 7%

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 17 AFTERNOON SECTION Civil Engineering Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Chemical Engineering Industrial Engineering General

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 18 New FE Examination Format FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING EXAMINATION AFTERNOON SESSION - 4 HOURS - 60 QUESTIONS -12 TOPIC AREAS IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING: Engineering Economics Probability and Statistics Modeling and Computation Manufacturing and Production Systems Industrial Management Facilities and Logistics Human Factors & Work Design Quality

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 19 PM Exam Subjects All exams are contained in one exam book so you can preview each exam Is not necessarily linked to your major The General Session will be much like the morning session Must stay within a specific session once selected

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 20 FE EXAM STRATEGIES Watch the time THINK before you start Eliminate incorrect choices Answer all questions Prepare for the test

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 21 Strategies for Taking the FE Exam Watch the clock, time limits are strictly enforced –Average of 2 minutes/problem in the AM –Average of 4 minutes/problem in the PM Attack the areas you know best, first Save difficult problems for last

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 22 Strategies for Taking the FE Exam Make your best guess (may be your first guess) with a “?” and come back to it Make notes and best guess before moving on to the next question Answer each question –There is no penalty for an incorrect answer –Your score is based on number of correct answers

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 23 Handling Difficult Problems If you have no clue at all: –Make your best guess –Circle the problem number (or identify it some other way) to indicate you have no clue –Come back to these problems only if have more time Never leave a question unanswered

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 24 Saving Time Write the letter of the correct answer in the margin on the test booklet At the end of the page, transcribe the answers to the answer sheet Do this one page at a time. Do not do this for the entire exam and then attempt to transfer the answers

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 25 Units In the morning some problems are given in both SI and US units –Work what you are most comfortable with Most afternoon exams will be SI only so be prepared –Civil exam uses both sets of units for some topic areas

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 26 Terminology Not everyone uses the same terminology Try to be familiar with other nomenclature Focus on the problem; do you know it by another name?

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 27 Reference Manual Be familiar with its organization Where are your most frequently used equations? What data will you use the most? Not necessarily a good idea to study by the reference manual

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 28 Work Out Of Sequence Problems tend to be grouped in sections Work what you know best, first Save the most difficult for last If you don’t know it, guess

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 29 Write Out the Problem Work in the test booklet Solving problems in your head may not be the fastest way Make sure you record your answer on the answer sheet—graders do not look at your test booklet

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 30 What If You Do Not Pass? Take it again –Exam is offered twice a year –Review and study for the next time No adverse information is placed on your record

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 31 STUDY MATERIALS FE Sample Questions Book FE Exam Supplied Reference Book NCEES P.O. Box 1686 Clemson, SC Phone:(800) Fax:(803) Internet:

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 32 STUDY MATERIALS FE examinees will be furnished a copy of the FE Supplied-Reference Handbook at the exam site. This is the only reference material you will use during the exam.FE Supplied-Reference Handbook

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 33 FREQUENT QUESTIONS Can I transfer my EIT Registration? Will graduate school count for the 4 years experience requirement? What score is required to pass the test? If I fail, can I take the test again? How can I contact the registration board in my state when I’m ready for the PE exam?

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 34 What is an “accredited” degree? Most colleges or universities that award an engineering degree are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. If you do not have a degree accredited by EAC/ABET additional experience requirements may apply.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 35 After qualifying, am I licensed as a P.E. in Industrial Engineering? In some states, yes. In other states, you are licensed as a P.E. without any other designation, however, you can practice only in your field of expertise gained by education or experience.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 36 Can I become licensed nationally? No. Just as with other professions, the requirements for licensure are left to the states. However, most state laws are similar to the NCEES model law so usually you do not have to pass exams again and you can be licensed by “comity”.

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 37 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 --

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 38 Useful Links ng_method.php#difficulty /index.html

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 39 Useful Links /fe_exam_specs.pdf 62&seminar=PEI

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 40 Useful Links /PE_EXAM_REVIEW_WEBINAR_SERIES. cfm omy/FundExam.htm Exam-Review-Study-Video- DVD_W0QQitemZ QQcmdZV iewItem?IMSfp=TL a32570

Licensure IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee 41 P.E. NSPE encourages you to get it.