PE Certification and Freelancing
PE Certification and Freelancing
(OP)
Hi all,
I'm a mechanical engineer about 4 years out of school. I had no problem with the FE and am looking into taking the PE. I've had a couple jobs so far and have learned a good ammount but have decided that working for myself is my preffered career trajectory in the long term.
My question is two-fold. I know that long term I want to consult/freelance as a product design and development capacity as well as cost and quality improvements and project management. Seeing a number of freelance websites with "Mechanical Engineers" taking bids and contracts has me curious if this type of engineering requires a PE license? I have been assuming so, but am now seeing conflicting information and if it is required how are these popular websites skirting this requirement?
My second question is regarding the recommendations required for the PE. I have not worked directly under any PE's as it seems they are harder and harder to find in mechanical engineering. I have worked in the same organization as at most two, but never directly for any. How does one go about getting the required recomendations when it is getting harder and harder to find someone with a license?
Thank you for your help!
Ryan
I'm a mechanical engineer about 4 years out of school. I had no problem with the FE and am looking into taking the PE. I've had a couple jobs so far and have learned a good ammount but have decided that working for myself is my preffered career trajectory in the long term.
My question is two-fold. I know that long term I want to consult/freelance as a product design and development capacity as well as cost and quality improvements and project management. Seeing a number of freelance websites with "Mechanical Engineers" taking bids and contracts has me curious if this type of engineering requires a PE license? I have been assuming so, but am now seeing conflicting information and if it is required how are these popular websites skirting this requirement?
My second question is regarding the recommendations required for the PE. I have not worked directly under any PE's as it seems they are harder and harder to find in mechanical engineering. I have worked in the same organization as at most two, but never directly for any. How does one go about getting the required recomendations when it is getting harder and harder to find someone with a license?
Thank you for your help!
Ryan





RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
A P.E. may not be and often are not required for performing design work, depending on the State requirements. If a particular design is required to be stamped by a P.E., you can hire a P.E.to review and stamp it.
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
As to obtaining the PE without working directly under a PE...again check with your state board. When I took my license exam, my company did not employ any PE's either. They were a private manufacturing company and never needed any (under the industrial exemption). My state required 3 licensed PE's, which I was able to find through an employer I had worked with during a COOP. Most of my work experience was not performed under a PE, and I had to fill out an additional form explaining why my work was not under direct supervision of a PE. Look to any of your college professors who could serve as a PE reference, even though your experience might not be under them. In particular your professor for your senior design project. If you can get at least a couple PE's who would be willing to serve as a reference, the board may be more likely to approve your application. Good luck.
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
Check out the title of your thread: "PE Certification and Freelancing"
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
As an aside, it would appear that the ones who attempted to be helpful and answer my question were able to read through the vernacular, as opposed to one liners without an additional explanation that seem to be more directed at either making one person look foolish or to make themselves seem more intelligent. But thank you for justifying why I have only been a lurker on these forums for over 7 years as opposed to participating.
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
I too "am genuinely interested/curious what could have been taken by certification" - maybe Ron will reply.
Go grab another coffee!
RE: PE Certification and Freelancing
Certifications carry little or no responsibility...violation of the provisions of a certification might cause you to lose that certification; however, it carries no legal penalty except for the possibility of civil lawsuits that would likely be the same with or without the certification.
Licensure as a professional engineer obligates one to numerous legal requirements, the violation of which could land one in jail, depending on its severity. At the least one could lose the capability to have an income based on the premise of being a licensed professional as opposed to being a certificate holder in some obscure subject area.