<p>In general, a PE is unofficially “required” for civil engineers, but for everyone else it isn’t. Trust me, you don’t need a PE to be a mechanical engineer. ME is probably the field where a PE is second most useful (after civil) but it is still a relatively small percentage of ME’s who actually get it because for most jobs it isn’t necessary. Same for EE, except a PE is worth even less.</p>
<p>Seriously though, the PE isn’t necessary. I think only like a third of my graduating class for ME even took the exam.</p>