×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Registration vs Experience
4

Registration vs Experience

Registration vs Experience

(OP)
Hi all:

Can somebody tell me what is more important, Registration or experience? I have 18 years experience, but am currently out of work. It seems to be harder to get on without EIT or PE.

Since I need a lot of study to pass the exams, (I can not Granny in here) Do I already have enough practical experience to use anyway to just study for the next 6-12 mos or whatever while working part-time somewhere else?

Thanks and happy engineering.





  

RE: Registration vs Experience

My vote goes for experience. My PE hasn't done a thing for me, other than let me say that I passed a test a lot of engineers are afraid to take.

RE: Registration vs Experience

What industry?

Experience counts more for most industries.  But, if you are in an industry that requires routine stamping, I can't hire you without you being a PE or at least on your way to earning a PE.  That little piece of paper makes a huge difference.

With 18 years of experience, assuming it is "qualifying experience," you should be able to waive the requirement for the FE exam and just sit for the PE exam.  Good luck.

FYI: You will need a PE if you decide to provide engineering services on your own.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

RE: Registration vs Experience

If you are confident with the PE, why not take the test? It can only help you, not hurt you. More doors will open for you with it.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)

RE: Registration vs Experience

Pure Civil, I would take an experienced engineer (no license) over a freshly licensed engineer.

Structural on the other hand, so-called experienced engineers without licenses typically are not "experienced"... they are just old.  Of course, there are exceptions.

When engineers pass the SE exam, many act like they've reached the finish line.  It's just a beginning.

RE: Registration vs Experience

Check with your state's requirements.  Do you have a 4 year degree from an accredited university??

If not - you may have trouble taking the PE!!  There are a couple of states that will accept experience over a college degree - but not many.  Check NCEES.com  Look at Wyoming - I don't think they require a 4 year degree.

The PE is definitely worth it - in many applications - esp if you go into the public sector.

If you are designing the left landing gear on a Boeing 777 - probably not.  Yes - I have had resumes that state they spent the last five years doing something just like that!!  And they don't need a PE

Good Luck

RE: Registration vs Experience

Simplistically & from my limited understanding:

In exempt industry the experience will generally be worth more than just PE, although obviously the combination will be best.

In non exempt industry, which I understand a lot (most?) civil and related work falls into the PE may be more highly prized as it will allow you to stamp drawings etc. and not having it may limit what you can do with regard to offering services to the public.
 

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Registration vs Experience

Hmmm... that reminds me, I just skipped out on taking the FE  this spring (again)... Then again, I spent 10 years obtaining my BSEE...  

RE: Registration vs Experience

In your situation, I'd sure be working on the PE while out of work.  It can't hurt.

Asking which is more important is fine, but you can't do anything about your experience level.  You can do something about PE registration.

I would not assume that experience got you out of any exams in this case.  Check with your state board for requirements.

RE: Registration vs Experience

In WI, you can skip the FE w/ degree plus experience.  No one is exempt from the PE exam.

How important is the PE?  Sounds like it just got real important for you. poke

RE: Registration vs Experience

I think the crux of the issue is:

Yes sure you know what you are doing and do a good job but if you dont have a PE then someone else (with a PE) must take legal responsibility for your work.

In engineering you tend to get paid for responsibility level rather than experience.

RE: Registration vs Experience

The normal path for most disciplines is: education; thence, experience; thence, registration.

If you have the education and experience, then you're 2/3 the way there. Go on now, finish it off!!

good luck,

h.

RE: Registration vs Experience

what were you doing for the last 18 years of experience?  

If it was in an exempt industry, then you will need to find another job in another exempt industry company where your experience will be valuable and the PE is not so important.  

If you plan to jump into another industry which requires registration (such as civil or structural engineering), then you need to take the exam as soon as possible.  

You will also need to realize that your experience may or may not transfer across industries that much.  For example, if you have been doing structural detailing for an aircraft company for 18 years, now you want to start designing bridges - neither your experience or the PE will do much good.  

RE: Registration vs Experience

(OP)
Thanks all...My experience is pretty diverse from the oil industry to water resources...education is BS Geology and MS Civil...skipped some classes in there somewhere...but anyway..I have most experience in Civil Design/Water Resources US Govt...planned, designed, and had a fair number of projects constructed big to small...somebody else did the stamping...nothing has fallen down yet anyway! Since consulting is the eventual goal, looks like review time is on tap...starting with Algebra...nothing like factoring after 20 years...and I'm sure thermodynamics will add tremendously to my designs...
Thanks Again for the great info!

Build it to Last.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources