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SE or PE?

SE or PE?

SE or PE?

(OP)
When are you considered an SE? I have passed the Structural I exam and I am liscensed in VA. Do I use SE or PE? Do I need to pass S2 in order to be an SE?

Thanks for your help.

RE: SE or PE?

you're a PE.  i don't believe you're an SE until after the S2.  

RE: SE or PE?

swivel63 is correct.  I also believe you need to get an actual SE license from a state that has the structural engineer designation.  Most of the time you have to pass the SE1 and SE2, but CA has an extra test that you have to take in addition to the 1 and 2 exams.  For example: I'm a structural engineer with a P.E. in Michigan, but I plan on becoming a Illinois(sp?) S.E.

RE: SE or PE?

to be an illinios SE, don't you also have to pass the Illinios PE first?  and to get the SE in Ill, don't you have to work for a registered SE for X number of years?

RE: SE or PE?

I had the same question last summer.  During one of our SEA meetings, the speaker was on the Arizona Board of Technical Registration and I asked that very same question.  The answer is what swivel has posted. You must have the structural license (if your state even has such a thing) before you can call yourself an SE.

The funny thing here in AZ is that none of the AZ registrants who are structural licensees, do not take advantage of the SE moniker, althought they can if they wished.

RE: SE or PE?

See http://www.ncees.org/records/mlse/ for info on the "model law structural engineer".

My undergraduate degree is not structural, but my masters is.  However, I will be required to take several additional courses if I wish to do a MLSE.  Some states recognize the NCEES MLSE when considering licensure.

Fees for the SE II exam go up next year (2008); In TX, the SE II will go from $470 to $720.

RE: SE or PE?

$720?  Ouch.  I checked the Texas board website, but I didn't see mention of this.  Did they give any reasoning for it going up so much?

RE: SE or PE?

To be correct you'd have to wade through the following:

States that have a title act,
States that have registration, and
States that actually have licensure.

For those states with licensure, the answer is obvious.  States with title acts are particular about using titles but typically there is no legal merit.  States that have registration only are specific about what you're registered as and it usually is a PE.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: SE or PE?

A lot of registered S.E.'s in California, Washington, and Illinois would disagree with Swivel and Minorchord.  They would say a structural P.E. in a state such as Arizona would be a P.E. and not an S.E. even though they have passed the Structural 2 exam.  You should be aware of this as to not damage your reputation by giving yourself a designation a lot of people don't believe you actually have.  I figure it is just an abbreviation, and it doesn't really matter, but I don't want anyone questioning my integrity, so I don't consider myself an S.E. even though I have passed the structural II and am registered as a Structural P.E. in several states.

RE: SE or PE?

Wouldn't it be okay to refer to oneself as a "structural engineer" (lower case) without the letters "S.E." after the name, in states that don't have separate licensure?  I mean, someone who concentrated in structural as an undergrad, went through a structural grad program (which in most schools is a subdivision of a civil engineering department), and now designs structures for a living--the description of that field is in fact structural engineering (as opposed to geotech, hydrology, transportation, or other subdisciplines of civil engineering).  I mean, the geotechnical engineers get to call themselves geotechnical engineers rather than more generically "civil", and same for the transportation engineers.

Hg

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RE: SE or PE?

Note that in a lot of states, there's no specific requirement to use the SE title.  You need to find the state rules for your specific state and read through them very carefully.

Also note that just because you're a SE or PE in one state, doesn't mean you are in other states.  Who CA believes to be an SE doesn't matter unless you're practicing in CA.

RE: SE or PE?

This may put gas on the fire, but what the heck.  If and when I pass the SE1 and SE2 and pay my money for the license and stamp, I'm a SE in IL and a PE in MI.  This is regardless of what others may think or complain about.  If I've met the requirment of a particular state what difference is there between me and another person that met the same criteria? Just because I'm from another state doesn't mean that I'm not up to their level.  And yes I know there practice and title laws and such. I'm just concerned that at a time when there is a lot of change occuring in the structural license area that someone who goes to work everyday as a structural engineer is all of a sudden not a structural engineer because of another state's requirements.  As long as an engineer meets each states requirement's they are what they are.

RE: SE or PE?

Passing SE1 and SE2 are not the only criteria.  In IL you need four years of experience under a licensed SE (someone who has passed SE1 & SE2), whereas in most other states, you need four years of experience under a licensed PE (someone who may have passed the Civil PE exam and not even taken SE1, much less SE2).
There's a big difference in my opinion.

Ice

RE: SE or PE?

Again, if I've met the state's requirements then I've met them.

RE: SE or PE?

A PE is state-specific.

Just as with doctors, your license stops at the state line.

If you are not an SE in your state, it'd be wise to not call yourself one - I'd be in line to criticize you if you came here calling yourself an SE (Texas doesn't recognize the SE designation).  You are, as I am, free to call yourself a "structural engineer" if that is what you do (and you are indeed a PE here).

RE: SE or PE?

Does anyone else think it's dumb that each state has their own license requirements?  There has got to be some sort of national registration that would work.  Why should I have to go to each of 50 different boards if I need to do work in that state?

RE: SE or PE?

It's called the 10th Amendment.


RE: SE or PE?

Yeah, and I'm sure when a doctor is on vacation outside his/her state he/she tells people when they ask "I'm a doctor, but only in state x".

Maybe eventually we'll have a nation wide license, but in the meantime we get to agree and disagree on this topic.:)

RE: SE or PE?

We don't get around by horse and buggy anymore.  We are supposed to be living in a global economy.  It is obviously a state right to delegate registration requirements, but it seems inefficient and out-dated.

RE: SE or PE?

I'd appreciate feedback from TX engineers on this one...

I have passed the str1, and only the str1 exam. I know I can't put the initals SE after my name because texas doesn't have a seperate license. But, the online PE roster indicqates that i have passed the str1 exam. So, can I sign documents as

STRMike, P.E.
Structural Engineer

RE: SE or PE?

A Texas opinion...

Sure, sign it "STRMike, P.E., Structural Engineer."  If you're a licensed engineer, you can call yourself an "engineer."  If you want to clarify that with "Structural," "Civil," or "Cajun," no problem since there's not a rule or regulation saying otherwise.

I've even seen people sign "So and so, P.E., S.E."  I don't see a conflict, since there's no S.E. designation in Texas.  If this person is a licensed S.E. in some state that has an S.E. designation, then I don't think you're being deceptive or dishonest.

Likewise if you meet NCEES's requirements for the M.L.S.E., which I don't believe any state actually recognizes: "So and so, P.E., M.L.S.E."

RE: SE or PE?

so basically, no hope for having the SE at the end of my name.

unless i move.

RE: SE or PE?

If you're in a state that doesn't license engineers specifically as "S.E.," then you have no need to use it, unless you just want to use it to show you're licensed as an S.E. in some other state.

If you want some extra letters, get the M.L.S.E.  It's an NCEES-recognized certification, so no state should have a problem with it.

RE: SE or PE?

Throughout my career (U.S. west coast), the credentials after an engineer's name have historically only included legal state registrations.  For example: John Doe, PE.  Or John Doe, PE, SE if the state recognizes structural engineering as a distinct specialty in addition to the basic PE license.

Including certifications or degrees has been considered pretentious (although sometimes Ph.D. is appropriate if it's in an educational context).  But lately I have been seeing people listing an alphabet soup of abbreviations after their name such as: John Doe, PE, MS, SECB, MLSE, FASCE, LEED AP.  Kind of makes me wonder who they're trying (very hard) to impress.

RE: SE or PE?

To STRMike:  I think what you wrote is fine.  I passed teh str1 exam like you as well, though I just put PE at the end of mine.

Looking back, I am not sure if I would have taken the civil exam over the str1 exam if I had to do over again.  Fortunately, CA let me take their special seismic and special surveying exam but accepted the national str1 in place of the national civil.  I am not sure if all states will allow this or not.  Hawaii told me I had to go take the civil exam if I wanted to be a civil engineer there.  Maybe they just don't like howlies.

RE: SE or PE?

when can we put the PE at the end of our name?  after we get our numbers?  or can we put it on after we know we've passed?  i know it's a mere formality, but you know the deal, lol.

RE: SE or PE?

I put it there as soon as the state sent me my number via email.  If your state approves your application pending the P&P exam, then I guess passing is the last thing.

We still have nothing in writing from the state here in TX.

RE: SE or PE?

Texas requires your final fee and seal impression before you can technically use the "PE" after your name, or seal drawings.  Ironic, then, that they address your licensure packet to "John Doe, P.E. 99999".

RE: SE or PE?

Actually, the final fee was paid with the application.  I don't think they restrict the use of the PE designation once you complete the qualifications (application, fee, exams).

The email I received on the day they posted grades:

"Congratulations!  You have received a passing grade on the October 2006 PE exam.  Your grade is available on the board website at www.tbpe.state.tx.us.

"Your PE number is: xxxxx

"The next step in the licensure process is to create an official seal and to return a copy of the seal imprint and a photograph to the board.  To expedite this process, please find attached the instructions for creating a seal and the seal imprint form that you need to return to the board.

"YOU CANNOT OFFICIALLY SIGN OR SEAL DOCUMENTS UNTIL YOU HAVE RETURNED THIS SEAL IMPRINT INFORMATION.

"We will be printing your official certificate and other information and sending it to you via regular mail in the next few weeks."


I received an email today:

"Congratulations on your licensure as a Professional Engineer in the state of Texas!
 
"The board has received and accepted your sample seal and photograph. The licensure process is now complete. You may stamp and seal documents according to the law and rules of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and the Texas Board of Professional Engineers."

RE: SE or PE?

geez, my state stinks.  it'll be another 6 weeks or so before i even get my number.

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