General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
(OP)
Hello,
I recently received my PE license and I have a few questions. I work for a company that manufactures industrial equipment for domestic and overseas customers. The equipment is not used by the public. Therefore, I believe the engineering employees are exempt from our state’s licensure requirements (i.e. industrial exemption).
In this environment, what is different for me now that I have my license? I studied my states regulations and statues, but I’m still not 100% clear. Here are some specific questions:
1.) For now on, when I do my normal engineering duties (design, project management, etc.), is everything I do classified as “practicing professional engineering?”
2.) Does it matter if I stamp/sign my work or not? Is the level of accountability or responsibility any different?
3.) Am I automatically in “responisble charge” of everything I work on? Does this give me an new level of authority? I currently work under an unlicensed engineering manager. Does this change my relationship with this person in any way?
4.) Am I now vulnerable to any new legal burdens? Could I be sued directly? Should I obtain professional liability insurance of some sort?
5.) I regularly produce engineering drawings and calculations. I just right my name on calculations and put my initials in title blocks on drawings. Do I have to do anything additional new (i.e. indicate license number, etc.)? Is something more formal required?
6.) I read the engineering code of ethics and my state’s laws. I am familiar with the rules, but what are the consequences of misconduct? I understand that I could lose my license. Could I also end up in court; or even worse, in jail?
I am very happy that I now have my license. I just want to make sure I understand what it means.
I apoligize if these exact questions have been discussed in preivous threads. I read many old threads, but did not find exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you for your help!
I recently received my PE license and I have a few questions. I work for a company that manufactures industrial equipment for domestic and overseas customers. The equipment is not used by the public. Therefore, I believe the engineering employees are exempt from our state’s licensure requirements (i.e. industrial exemption).
In this environment, what is different for me now that I have my license? I studied my states regulations and statues, but I’m still not 100% clear. Here are some specific questions:
1.) For now on, when I do my normal engineering duties (design, project management, etc.), is everything I do classified as “practicing professional engineering?”
2.) Does it matter if I stamp/sign my work or not? Is the level of accountability or responsibility any different?
3.) Am I automatically in “responisble charge” of everything I work on? Does this give me an new level of authority? I currently work under an unlicensed engineering manager. Does this change my relationship with this person in any way?
4.) Am I now vulnerable to any new legal burdens? Could I be sued directly? Should I obtain professional liability insurance of some sort?
5.) I regularly produce engineering drawings and calculations. I just right my name on calculations and put my initials in title blocks on drawings. Do I have to do anything additional new (i.e. indicate license number, etc.)? Is something more formal required?
6.) I read the engineering code of ethics and my state’s laws. I am familiar with the rules, but what are the consequences of misconduct? I understand that I could lose my license. Could I also end up in court; or even worse, in jail?
I am very happy that I now have my license. I just want to make sure I understand what it means.
I apoligize if these exact questions have been discussed in preivous threads. I read many old threads, but did not find exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you for your help!





RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
If you sign/seal anything, even in the "industrial exemption" realm, you accept personal liability.
If you are exempt, then my suggestion would be to not seal anything.
Tough situation though...since you are licensed, you will always be held to a higher standard than an unlicensed engineer doing the same work...keep that in mind.
I admire that you selected licensing in an exempt industry, just be careful that more is required of you now.
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
That's because sealing implies an acceptance of liability; in the California PE act, it states:
"a licensed mechanical engineer who signs mechanical engineering documents shall not be responsible for damage caused by subsequent changes to or uses of those documents" The converse of this is that the PE is responsible for damage when unaltered documents are used.
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
- We are happy that you have gotten you P.E. it reflects well on the company
- The work you do for us is exempt as long as you don't stamp it. Contract out anything that requires a stamp
- The company does not hold itself out to offer engineering services so we are precluded by law from providing professional liability insurance for you
- If you do stamp something for us, we will not pay you extra for it.
- If you are sued for something you stamped we are precluded by law from supporting your suit. We cannot provide legal advice and in fact we will be required to dock your pay for any time you spend working on defending the suit.
- Insurance for professional liability is expensive and we cannot give you any advice on what it should cover, but any cost will be on you
- Just don't stamp/seal anything for us, ever.
When I said that the company had paid for my study material, travel expenses to the test, and registration fee, they said "yes, having P.E.'s on staff reflects well on the company".That seemed like really good advice to me.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
On the bright side, when you get too old and/or expensive for an exempt employer to afford, you can hang out your shingle, just like David did. Go look at his website; great stuff.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
RE: General questions from new PE in exempt Industry.
Thanks for the idea. That's a very slick approach. I wish I thought of that!