obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
(OP)
I graduated college about a year ago and I have found that sitting behind a desk most of the time is not for me. I worked for contractors as a laborer and really enjoyed being outside all day until I graduated college. So my question is: what is the likelihood of obtaining a PE license when working for a contractor rather than a full-time design engineer? I understand that I will still have to do a lot of design work to show experience, but I also want to get outside more and be something like a superintendent or project manager. The reason I ask is that some of my professors in college had said that it was possible, although it may be difficult to show adequate experience to licensing boards.
Also, I really want to obtain a PE license because I believe that it will make me better and more valuable as a superintendent or project manager. I have spoken with a few superintendents who seem to believe this.
Any help you guys can give is greatly appreciated.
Also, I really want to obtain a PE license because I believe that it will make me better and more valuable as a superintendent or project manager. I have spoken with a few superintendents who seem to believe this.
Any help you guys can give is greatly appreciated.





RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Hooking up with the right contractor "might" negate my next comment.
Get your P.E. first, then venture out. You may find the field/jungle much more demanding and stressful than you would have liked.
It has been my experience that individuals are either good on the boards/screens or good in the field. Only the special ones are suited for both locations.
Being thrown in the frying pan too early might not be good for you.
Hope this helps.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
I think that you should stick it out and get your PE first. Then, all options are open. Jumping ship first runs the risk that you won't get to where you need to be, and you might not so easily get back to the track where you can get your PE.
TTFN
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RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Larger construction firms do have engineering departments and engineering activities but these also usually are desk-oriented jobs - just maybe a bit more time outdoors.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
What aspect of field work interests you? If it is doing the labor, then you should go do that. I worked with a millwright superintendent for several years who had a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. He acknowledged that he didn't want to be an engineer, but his engineering degree did help make him a really good superintendent. There is no dishonor in the trades; if you feel drawn to that area, then go into it, now. Don't wait.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Wrong. It might be more or less true in the Civil Eng field, but it is not a universal requirement. If you work in an industry where there are few if any PE's and no one is required to have a PE or to stamp anything, then you don't need to work under a PE; all you need to show is relevant experience and have appropriate references. After 20 years in industry I took the silly/stupid/irrelevant test and got a PE license; never worked under a PE.
But in the Civil Eng field the state Board is probably unlikely to count any work experience not done while working under a PE (at least that seems to be the case from my reading of the various postings on this forum).
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
But from my experience as a Civil/Structural from which I was speaking, I'll stand by what I said. Work under a PE.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
I guess I'm not familiar with Aerospace "PE" licenses and didn't actually know that they even existed. But the original poster was a Civil/Environmental tagged handle so I'm assuming that Mike's (and my) response was directed at that arena.
For Civil engineers, in most all 50 states in the US (if not all 50) you need to work under a PE to get licensed.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
You will need to document the sort of engineering work done at site. Construction engineers frequently determine the area of steel sheet required to reinforce grating on a platform to permit moving equipment exceeds the weight per area for that area. Also, home office budgets rarely provide the level of detail required for some installation issues. Field engineers work with the "full-scale-model" to complete many details. Instrumentation and control systems engineers often participate in the checkout, commissioning, startup and initial operations of process plants.
Site engineering experience is a good thing to bring to the home office too. I like to hire new graduates who bring something to the table. Construction experience is valuable background for the home office design staff. ALL design engineers should participate in job site support.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
It has proven to be tremendously valuable. I design and build all types of strucures, mostly temporary across a wide varitey of disiplines. I have defended my work in arbitrations to settle payment disputes. If I were not a PE, I would not be able to do a good percentage of what I do.
A couple of suggestions, as mentioned earlier, Take the FE now if you have not already done so.This will in addition to getting it out of the way, make you more marketable to firms looking to hire a engineer to develop into a PE.
Second keep good notes on what you do. When you write up the application, its all in how you tell the story. Explain how what you did required you to use engineering principals, or allowed you to observe the application of engineering. However Do not embellish or strech. Be 100% truthful.
If the state you are applying to useses the NCEE form, use that form. THat way if you need a licence in another state, you do not have to go through the application process again.
As soon as you feel you have the minimum amount of experience, apply. Your application will either be accepted, or tell you how much more experience you need.
Talk to a Board member about what you do. They may have some suggestions.
Good Luck
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Here in Canada, no question to get your P.Eng. you need four years work experience under a P.Eng, every discipline. No exceptions (although, foreign engineers do fight this sometimes).
How can you trust any PE to sign a document when he's possibly never had anything stamped and approved by some one qualified? The point of the work experience is so the licenser can go back to the mentor PE and grill him with his career as collateral if experience comes into question.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Also, in case it may help in responding, I took the FE test two years ago, graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering a year ago, and have been working under a PE in New York ever since (plus a few summers and winters). So, I am in the process of getting the requirements out of the way.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
You may be enjoying the wrong kind of work.
this is what I tell my kids when I see people working outside in the cold, on construction sites:
"If your grades are not excellent, you'll end up digging trenches in the cold, you don't want to do that, do you?"
Morality: think of providing to your familiy with your brain, not with your feet. Get indoors, work with a computer, where it's nice and warm.
I broke my leg a few years back, I was able to get back to the office after two days, I wouldn't have if I were on a construction site. I was able to work on a wheelchair, construction sites are not handicap friendly as you know.
Imagine such a thing would happen to you with two kids and a housewife.
I also travelled overseas for family emergencies, I was able to write some specs while away and get a paycheck. Have laptop, will travel.
Brain beats legs any day.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
I've heard of self-righteous engineers, but man.
Some one has to dig trenches. Some one has to be the janitor, and some one has to build your house. I've worked residential construction before and I enjoyed it a lot.
But now I'm an engineer, and I miss working outside sometimes. I don't even know where to start, but discouraging your kids from doing trades or anything but academics? That's just wrong, man and some one has to say it. Brain is important, but so is being happy at what you do every day.
Kudos to you, rileyblack for looking beyond the status quo.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
In my state, project management experience is specifically EXCLUDED as experience that will count towards the PE requirements. Something to consider. It sounds like you are well on your way to meeting the requirements to take the PE exam. I think if PE is your goal, I would probably stick it out, get my PE and then decide what you want to do. A lot can change in 2 years that may lead you in a different path, or you may find that you really do like what you do...
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
As SWComposites said it's not nesecarry, in some areas, to work directly under a PE simply because there isn't anyone to work under. It took me six years to get the four years I needed to sit for the exam for this reason. In the end I got a pat on the back and something to hang in my cube. I wanted to get my license for personal reasons so I had no expectation of more money or anything and my expectations were met.
If it looks like the area you want to work in doesn't have any PE's to work with maybe it's not as valuable as you hope it will be.
A Civil Engineer can't sharpen a pencil without a PE but a Mechanical can design an airplane without one.
Just make sure you are getting it for the right reasons. It may take longer than you want but there is always a way to get your license while doing what you love. I'm proof positive of that.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
"If your grades are not excellent, you'll end up digging trenches in the cold, you don't want to do that, do you?"
Why do you assume the guys working outside did not have good grades. Most of our guys, yes do prefer working in warm weather, but enjoy construction as a career, and are in general pretty inteligent people.
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
No, I am not self-righteous as you say. Very far from the truth. My experience in breaking my foot and being able to make a living has proven what I am saying. Things you are saying are equally important but one has to value education to survive.
In btw, my dream job is "wine taster", too bad I don't have the nose for it, the college degree not being good enough.
DRC, that's rethoric for the kids, I certainly did not want to tell them that the guy fixing my gas furnace gets more money than I do, that would discourage them from going to school altogether. I never meant that those guys working outside are idiots. I only meant that they have a tough life, and yes for the most part, they ended up there because of bad grades, (aside from the exceptions you mention).
Look at Steven Hawkins, see what he can do from his chair?
RE: obtaining a PE license while working for a contractor?
In many people, construction/physically intensive work comes as a calling before they don't get the same grades as you or I. I grew up in a family absolutely dominated on both sides of my parents by tradesmen/artisians. I'm the first science-related student, let alone engineer. For many kids, university has nothing to do with their intelligence or work ethic. It's just that they'd rather not sit at a desk for 8 hours a day, plain and simple.