Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
(OP)
Hello Fellow Engineers,
I'm seeking some advice here.
I recently graduated from a US university with my bachelors in Civil Eng. I am now working for a private civil consultant in Western Australia (WA). I plan to continue working here in WA for the next few years (or until the coal runs out) but I do wish to return home to the US afterwards.
As I understand it, in the US in order to be considered a licensed professional engineer you must first pass the Principles and Practice in Engineering (PE) Exam. To be qualified to sit for this exam you must first be an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) then gain 4 years experience working under a licensed PE.
My predicament is, the company where I am working now there are no "PE's" to work under as it is a US license and this is Australia.
Will the experience I an gaining now count towards the PE exam?
In Australia licensed professional engineers are called "Chartered Professional Engineers". Does this recognition translate to that of Professional Engineer in the US?
If anyone has any knowledge on this subject I would greatly appreciate some advice. I've done a fair bit of research but I cannot seem to find much information. I am hoping I'm not the first person in the world to have this problem.
Thanks,
Alex
I'm seeking some advice here.
I recently graduated from a US university with my bachelors in Civil Eng. I am now working for a private civil consultant in Western Australia (WA). I plan to continue working here in WA for the next few years (or until the coal runs out) but I do wish to return home to the US afterwards.
As I understand it, in the US in order to be considered a licensed professional engineer you must first pass the Principles and Practice in Engineering (PE) Exam. To be qualified to sit for this exam you must first be an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) then gain 4 years experience working under a licensed PE.
My predicament is, the company where I am working now there are no "PE's" to work under as it is a US license and this is Australia.
Will the experience I an gaining now count towards the PE exam?
In Australia licensed professional engineers are called "Chartered Professional Engineers". Does this recognition translate to that of Professional Engineer in the US?
If anyone has any knowledge on this subject I would greatly appreciate some advice. I've done a fair bit of research but I cannot seem to find much information. I am hoping I'm not the first person in the world to have this problem.
Thanks,
Alex





RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
What does the organization that controls the issue of PE status say on the matter?
Regards
Pat
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RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
I don't believe you are correct about requirements to work under an P.E. prior to taking the F.E. exam. In my University all Engineering students were encouraged to take it in their senior year (and there was talk that passing it would eventually become a prerequisite for graduation, I don't know if that happened or not, probably not since it takes most of 6 months to get results).
Where I you I'd figure out what state I was going to try to get licensed in and study their web site enough to be able to converse with a person who works there on their terms and then I'd call them (they probably only work 9:00 to 4:00, Monday thru Friday so you'll have to make the call outside of your working hours in WA). Then I'd register for the Spring exam (no one ever starts studying for the exam until they've registered) and take it. After that you need to get work experience before you can qualify for the P.E. exam.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
A couple of years ago, Engineers Australia made a big deal about how they were making progress in setting up mutual recognition agreements with US states, citing Texas as an example of a success. Several years on and I think Texas is still the only state that has a mutual agreement with Engineers Australia, so I wouldn't hold my breath about this.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
Australia does not have PEs as such. We have Charted Engineers which is kinda a similar thing.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
Experience working under the supervision of a CPEng in Australia should be transferrable to US States, but only the boards there can say for sure. Even then, these things change with time.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
I agree with those who said check the specific state. I believe a CPEng is recognised as a PE in 'many' states (more than one at least), so it is more than likely your experience (if under a CPEng) would count. To become CPEng in Australia it is preferred that the experience is gained while working under a CPEng but it is not mandatory like it is in the US for PE.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/nerb/introduc...
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
As for CPEng / RPEQ, hokie66 is right, RPEQ is mandated by law in QLD, whereas its self regulated in the rest of Australia. CPEng is accepted in certain locales as evidence of competence (such as for registration with the Building Practitioners Board in NT) but its certainly not legislated as being required to practice engineering, unlike RPEQ in Queensland. The fact that EA is the assessment body for both just clouds the issue somewhat.
RE: Australia-USA Engineering Recognition
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default...