Civil Engineering

mikedk90 · 03-29-2008, 02:58 PM

Is it absolutely required to take the P.E exam, I am doing NROTC so I wont have the engineering intern experience. After the Navy I want to either work for the Fed. or State government, are those civ. engineers required to have their license. Are mechanical engineers less inclined to be licensed?

ken285 · 03-29-2008, 04:47 PM

Not sure if I follow you completely... No entry level engineer in any field is required to have licensure (nor is it possible). You gain the experience once you start working. When they say "engineering intern" in licensure-speak, they mean real engineering positions, not summer internships. You're an engineering intern after you get your degree, but before you pass the PE.

Many positions higher up require PE licensure in civil engineering, but certainly not starting out. Some mechanical engineers are licensed, depending on the industry they go into. You see them more often in those doing HVAC work.

mikedk90 · 03-29-2008, 04:53 PM

When I said the engineering intern experience I meant the 4 years after graduation requried to even take the PE. But doing NROTC I dont have that option, so I was just wondering after maybe 4 - 8 years of the Navy I would just be entering into a job, it might be harder to take an exam. If I'm not interested in structural engineering but perhaps water resource, transportation, or environment does that require licensing.

aibarr · 03-30-2008, 04:44 PM

The requirements for taking the PE exam just require that you have 4 years' experience gaining relevant experience under a licensed professional engineer. If you're doing something related to your civil engineering major (which you might be...) under a licensed PE (a lot of practicing engineers in the military have gone for their PEs for the heck of it) then it counts as experience.

And yes, all three of those civ fields can require licensure, even within the federal or state ranks.

mikedk90 · 03-30-2008, 05:47 PM

So since I know I'm not doing any civil engineering related work the first 4 years in the navy (Midshipmen must serve on a ship or sub and then transfer to civil corps) would it be unwise to do civil engineering in school?

aibarr · 03-30-2008, 06:19 PM

I'd talk to your NROTC contacts.

Corbett · 03-30-2008, 06:24 PM

If you pursue a career in civil engineering, you will probably want to get a PE license. You typically need several years of acceptable work experience (usually 4 years) to qualify for the PE exam.

However, it's not like all civil engineers take and pass the PE exam the instant that they become eligible. Many people take a long time to study for the exam, or have to take it multiple times before they pass. And some people spend years in the military, or in graduate school, or in other careers, before they get enough qualifying civil experience. So it's not unusual at all for civil engineers to become PEs in their 30s or 40s.

Obviously you will be many years out of school by the time you do take the PE exam. But every PE candidate is several years out of school anyway. That's why most prospective PEs buy exam review manuals and/or take exam review courses.

You will also need to pass the FE exam before you qualify for the PE exam. You should qualify for the FE exam as a college senior, and should definitely try to pass it before you start in the Navy. The FE exam tests basic introductory concepts like calculus, statics, and thermodynamics. If you've been out of school for many years, then you will probably be even rustier on FE exam topics than on the Civil PE exam topics (but again, excellent review manuals are available).

If you do "real" civil engineering work for the Navy, then it may count as qualifying professional experience, even if your supervisor is not a PE. Federal agencies, like the US Navy or Army Corps of Engineers, are legally exempt from state licensing laws. State boards know this, and they will typically grant credit for "real" engineering experience gained under the Federal exemption. In this case, your boss doesn't have to be a state-licensed PE; if he was authorized by the Federal government to be in responsible charge of engineering work, then that should be considered PE-equivalent. It's the same principle as granting experience credit for engineering work in foreign countries.

aibarr · 03-30-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

If you do "real" civil engineering work for the Navy, then it may count as qualifying professional experience, even if your supervisor is not a PE. Federal agencies, like the US Navy or Army Corps of Engineers, are legally exempt from state licensing laws. State boards know this, and they will typically grant credit for "real" engineering experience gained under the Federal exemption. In this case, your boss doesn't have to be a state-licensed PE; if he was authorized by the Federal government to be in responsible charge of engineering work, then that should be considered PE-equivalent. It's the same principle as granting experience credit for engineering work in foreign countries.

Fabulous. I was unaware of that, but then, I'm a little confused by the inner-workings of my state licensing board. =) Thanks for the info, Corbett!

ken285 · 03-30-2008, 08:01 PM

Corbett, what is your relationship with ABET, NCEES or any of the state licensing boards??? You always have a wealth of information to share about licensure!!

Corbett · 03-30-2008, 11:12 PM

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I was unaware of that, but then, I'm a little confused by the inner-workings of my state licensing board. =)

Unfortunately, every one of the 50+ state and territorial licensing boards has different rules. So you shouldn't take my word for it, or anyone else's -- you should always try to verify with your state board.

California explicitly recognizes the federal exemption:

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If the applicant is applying for licensure as a civil engineer, and the experience offered has taken place in the United States, all references must be licensed engineers authorized to practice civil engineering, or federal employees

aibarr · 03-30-2008, 11:18 PM

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you should always try to verify with your state board.

...and even then, I invariably get different answers from different people. I always try to get the answer I like in writing, though, or get someone's full name to attach to it. =)

Corbett · 03-31-2008, 11:09 AM

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Corbett, what is your relationship with ABET, NCEES or any of the state licensing boards???

Sorry, no special relationship with any of them. I just have some different professional licenses (in earth sciences and civil engineering) in some different states, so have encountered numerous variations in licensing requirements. Also, I have unconventional (in some states, unacceptable) qualifications as a PE (degrees in science, rather than engineering), so I have spent more time than most studying the rules.

Corbett · 03-31-2008, 11:19 AM

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even then, I invariably get different answers from different people

Yup. Sometimes this is understandable: all laws and regulations, including those governing engineering practice, are subject to constant amendment and change. So the answer you get at one time may be different from the answer you get at another.

However, sometimes it does seem like you can get different interpretations or understandings of the same rule, at the same time, from different staff at the same board.