How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
(OP)
Hello everyone,
I want to get some perspective in when (around what age?) and how long it took for you to get your PE license. Is it always good to get PE license as quickly as possible? Do you need some balance between a work experience and PE license? Obviously, with 6 year requirement to be qualified as PE in California, one would expect to have at least 2 years of engineering experience. However, there seem to be people with Bachelor and Masters degree in civil/structural engineering who can replace up to 5 years out of 6 required years with just school alone. That would leave them with one more year of work experience in engineering firm and they should be qualified to be PE.
To me, getting PE as quickly as possible seems like a good thing. What do you guys think?
Someone like I described above should have his/her PE license around age of 25-27. Too early?
I want to get some perspective in when (around what age?) and how long it took for you to get your PE license. Is it always good to get PE license as quickly as possible? Do you need some balance between a work experience and PE license? Obviously, with 6 year requirement to be qualified as PE in California, one would expect to have at least 2 years of engineering experience. However, there seem to be people with Bachelor and Masters degree in civil/structural engineering who can replace up to 5 years out of 6 required years with just school alone. That would leave them with one more year of work experience in engineering firm and they should be qualified to be PE.
To me, getting PE as quickly as possible seems like a good thing. What do you guys think?
Someone like I described above should have his/her PE license around age of 25-27. Too early?





RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
There are exceptions to this in some states, but in general if you want "portability" and recognition of your license by most other states, this is the process.
My experience is similar to Mike's....I was 29 when I got my license.
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
I think it's good to get it as soon as you can. Obviously, there are requirements for each state as to the number of year's of experience you need to apply and those are well grounded as you shouldn't get your diploma and immediately begin signing off on designs. But in general, yes, it's a better idea to get it as soon as you can. From the company's perspective, you are much more valuable as a PE...from a selfish perspective, you are much more respected and usually (not lately maybe) better paid as a PE than an EIT.
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
In the long run, do a couple more years of PE status really matter all that much? 10, yes maybe, but 3 or 4, not really.
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
4 years for degree
take and pass the EIT
2 more years working experience
submit application for PE exam
application reviewed and approved by state
wait for up to 6 months and then take the test
wait for about 3 more months to receive results
total 7 years minimum
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/flowchart_for_...
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
A co-worker two years older than me also passed the PE when he was 24. Unfortunately, he thought that meant he was ready for full independence as an engineer. (He was very smart, but not very wise.) He quit within a month of getting his PE to open his own firm. It took him a while to figure out why municipal clients weren't willing to entrust projects to a greenhorn. He folded in less than a year.
I have a friend who is an electrical engineer with about 30 years of experience. We worked at the same company for more than ten years and he handled the electrical on most of my projects that required it. He is really good, but he refuses to take the PE. The reason? He would be required to manage projects and he doesn't want to do it. He is willing to work for a lower salary just to avoid project management. Sometimes I envy his decision.
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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
I would suggest that you get your license as soon as possible. From my perspective it shows that you are motivated to advance in your career. It also shows that you are willing to help your company.
Just remember that it doesn't mean you are ready to practice engineering on your own. I believe that it takes much more than 2 years to become a fully qualified professional engineer.
Justin K, P.E.
http://www.engproguides.com
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
Justin K, P.E.
http://www.engproguides.com
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)
RE: How long did it take to obtain PE license? (Civil/Structural)