What benefits does a PE license give you?

cosmicfish
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:35:48 +0000

see this:

I would dispute nearly everything on this list.



Your PE License Sets You Apart

Yes, it does… but in many fields it sets you apart as that guy who spent a ton of time and effort getting something that in your field has no meaning.



A PE License Generally Means a Higher Salary

The data cited is not broken down by fields and ignores the fact that a PE takes at least 4 years to get… meaning that the average experience level of a PE is greater than that of someone without the PE. Accounting for the differences between fields and the experience level, I think the PE is either extremely important to salary (primarily in structural fields) or not at all (almost all other fields).



***A PE License Can Be a Differentiator in the Hiring Process ***

I was never asked about the FE during my hiring process or in any interviews, and when I asked about pursuing the PE I was met with astonishment - they weren’t even sure if they had more than a couple of PE’s in the company who could mentor me!



***A PE License Gives You the Ability to Sign and Seal Plans and Drawings ***

An issue only in the structural fields.



***You Can Officially Call Yourself an Engineer Only If You Have a PE License ***

Well, I’ve been doing it for a few years now with no objections from anyone, my company puts it on my business cards and bills the government for my services as an engineer. So I think this is one of those things that only the PE’s actually believe in.



***You Can Work Anywhere in the Country ***

Still can.

Seriously, the PE license is very important in some fields and a complete non-issue in other fields. I know one PE in my company, and we make a wide variety of products with no legal or ethical problems associated with any lack of PE’s. So if the OP goes into Civil or Architectural or Structural or some other field were the PE is expected, THEN he/she can worry about it.