SE/PE license issue
SE/PE license issue
(OP)
I'm a licensed SE and hold an active license in 12 states. When I was eligible to sit for the exam, they did not offer the SE1 (PE) and SE2 (SE) anymore. I passed the 16-hour SE exam. I have applied for 3 states (Oregon, Washington, and California) and have been denied an SE license by comity based on the fact I do not have a standing PE license in each state. I know CA has it's own 5-hour state specific test, but even aside from that, all three states require a standing PE license. The return letter i received states that I need to have passed an 8-hour PE exam (other than the SE 16-hour exam) to become a licensed PE in each state.
Has anyone else had this issue? I'm not interested in a Civil PE license in each state, but they are requiring I go back and take the 8-hour Civil PE and then become licensed in the state as a PE before they will consider SE by comity. That just seems backwards and I thought the whole point of the 16-hour SE was to eliminate the whole PE/SE issue.
Has anyone else had this issue? I'm not interested in a Civil PE license in each state, but they are requiring I go back and take the 8-hour Civil PE and then become licensed in the state as a PE before they will consider SE by comity. That just seems backwards and I thought the whole point of the 16-hour SE was to eliminate the whole PE/SE issue.






RE: SE/PE license issue
I'm happy with my CivilPE and can get comity in all states I believe as PE.
RE: SE/PE license issue
RE: SE/PE license issue
You would think that an extensive 16 hour exam would be more than sufficient to get a PE license if you're a structural engineer but nooooo.
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: SE/PE license issue
So in essence those states require Structural Engineers to pass 24 hours of examinations if I'm understanding correctly (and of course California has additional requirements). They should probably get more stringent with all the other disciplines if you ask me.
At a minimum they should allow you to be licensed professional engineer in those states.
RE: SE/PE license issue
There is more to getting a california PE than just the SE1 exam. There is a 2.5 hr seismic exam, a 2.5 hour surveying exam and a take home exam on various CA legal / procedural stuff.
You can't have an SE exam in California without having already having a California PE.
RE: SE/PE license issue
My belief is that the PE is a still the main "practice" act, whereas the SE is still only a "title" act. Meaning that the PE is required legally first. Then the SE is a title that you can use, but has less legal weight behind it. Some jurisdictions (OSHPD, DSA, et cetera) will require an SE license for their projects. But, most of the legal requirements relate to the PE, not the SE.
RE: SE/PE license issue
Memorable event from the PE exam was when, several hours into the exam, the guy next to me was escorted out for not having an approved calculator.
RE: SE/PE license issue
Thanks all for the replies. It definitely is a problem more in the western states as most of my licenses are midwest and east. It sounds like I'll have to go back and take the Civil PE exam, even though I primarily work on vertical structures (where the SE should suffice). It seems crazy that we need 24 hours of exams (and then the additional 5 hours in CA).
JoshPlum, I actually signed up for the CA state-specific 5-hour Civil exam and was told that I needed to be a PE. I attempted to obtain the PE by comity and with only the 16-hour SE, they denied me and told me I had to sit for the 8-hour Civil PE. I tried Oregon and they told me the same.