Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
(OP)
Several states currently have separate PE licenses for each discipline. Others do not. I have heard that some structural engineers are advocating separate licensing for their specific discipline. Lets hear from the forum readers on what they think about this. I personally am torn about the issue of separate discipline licensing even though I am licensed in some states that have it.





RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
It goes like this: Doctors are certified by a board that reviews their qualifications, education, experience, references, etc. and then "certifies" them. This doesn't license them in a state, it simply creates a monitored and professional statement about the person.
A state, then, can see that certification and know for a fact that they have the proper credentials to get licensed, and they do.
For engineers, and specifically structural engineers, the certification goal is to create a consensus amoung professionals as to how qualified a particular engineer is. The movement to create a national license will never happen. This is because the entire US constitution would have to be amended to allow it. One state cannot tell another state that it MUST recognize its licensed engineers. Won't ever happen.
But by setting up a certification process, then all states can buy in to that system and individually license the engineer based on that certification....sort of like what the NCEES does currently in keeping a file on you. But now the structural certification is focused on one discipline, and instead of just a file of info, they go the next step and make the certifying statement that the person is qualified. NCEES doesn't render an opinion, it just streamlines the info-communication process.
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
Hiring a PE that is licensed to a specific engineering discipline can be held responsible and accountable for particular aspects of a project.
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
Regards,
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
Engineering is a self-regulated profession. I take this to mean that the practitioners are the only ones qualified to judge their competence, and the practitioners regulate THEMSELVES by practicing only within their competence. Stray outside your competence and cause problems for someone and you can lose your license- career-terminating accountability, administered by a board of your peers. Isn't that good enough for public protection? Ultimately that's how the doctors do it too.
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
Regards,
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
I have designed multi-disiplined projects such as digital scales with fiber optic isolations between the scales and office computers. Also the scales covered geotechnical and structural engineering for E-80 loading on railroads. Some of the scales I designed also had mechanical engineering for cyclonic dust collection, conveyor belts for grain transportation to bins, and hydralics for some scales to hook on to a truck and lift it up to 80 degrees to empty them in between full and empty weights.
I have also designed projects involving single, two-phase, and three-phase electric power for internet providers for their equipment, and their HVAC units. About the only thing I haven't designed are any hard core chemical engineering projects.
Every project that I have designed has been straight forward. I would be smart enough that if something got really complecated in an area to refer that portion of the project on to a more specifically trained engineer, or obtain the training myself.
Thank goodness my PE is diversified, or I might would have to take 4 or 5 PE tests in some states in order to do basic jobs.
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
If states were forced to licensed by engineering discipline then they would have to draw the line somewhere. The lines, of course, would be drawn in favor of the most politically powerful disciplines (in order - civil, mechanical, electrical).
So before someone decides if they are for separate discipline licensing, look at you own discipline and decide if it is political powerful enough to protect its turf or even exist.
Generic licensing is the only thing that makes sense.
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
RE: Separate Discipline PE Licensing?
I have noticed overlap between engineering disciplines in the past. I previously held a job where I had to work on objects that could be described either as small moving structures or large machines. It was impossible to clearly delineate which part of the object should be designed by a structural engineer or a mechanical engineer or both. Although the aerospace industry is exempt from PE licensure, I have seen positions for a "Stress Analyst" listed that stated that the applicant should be either an Aerospace or Mechanical or Civil Engineer with stress & strain experience. I have also designed high-pressure steam power piping layouts in the past using the ASME B31.1 Code. This type of work is usually classified as "mechanical" but could be properly done by a "structural" engineer as well. Such situations complicate the issue of separate discipline licensing.