Here in OK, you can't use Engineer on your cards unless either you have a P.E. License or your company has a Certificate of Authorization.
Also, TX has been fining engineers that have their license from another state. You might be safe down there if you put that your P.E. is from the state you actually have the license in.
Not putting EIT on the business card will be in one's favor because indicating it, others "may" assume he/she is a rookie.
In California, non licensed engineers (in structural engineering discipline) are often called Design Engineer or Structural Designer. Licensed PE's (not SE) may be called Project Engineer or Civil Engineer but not Structural Engineer. Only licensed Structural Engineers may call themselves Structural Engineer or S.E.
Tick - a lot of other firms in my area (Colorado & California) use "Staff Engineer". I think technically that is a violation of the PE act. Any comments?
Engineer is widely used by many companies (illegal or not). Technically it might be wrong if your working at a consulting firm but its not working at an OEM. I think you will find even non-PEs in some consulting firms are still using engineer for their juniors. Fact is, these rookie engineers are probably not interacting with the customer much and even if they were and they have a PE signing for them, nobody is going to care one way or the other.
This subject has been beaten, battered, and buried. There are many threads dicussing using the term engineer in ones title. I think the consensus is, yes some places it is illegal, but no one ever says anything about it (except BobPE and a few others - where are you Bob?) and many companies do use the word engineer for their non-PEs (almost all OEM's give their engineeers the title of 'engineer' even if no PE). Also, I honestly dont think this is illegal. Laws are written, regarding engineering, thinking of only the consulting world and I honestly doubt they meant to include OEMs. If they did, to bad because everyone does it and rightfully so (except in the consulting world).
You have to come up with your own title? What titles has your company used in the past?
In some states, The Board for Registration of Engineers encourages their PE's, and EIT's to take any business card that has the title of "Engineer" and send it to them if the person on the card doesn't have their PE.
The board will either go after the non-licensed engineer and/or the company they work for. That is why it is suggested to use something that doesn't look like you are trying to pass off that you are a PE.
How about rather than putting your title, you put "Engineering Department" or whatever your department's title is so whoever you pass the card to knows which department you work in.
Even if you are employed by a PE firm, you likely fall under industrial exemption. You are working for a firm, and you are not soliciting your services as an engineer to the public. You are paid by your employer, not your customers. You have no customers other than your employer.
I don't now exactly what CO or CA law says, but as long as you aren't "for sale to the public", it doesn't matter what you are called in most states, as long as it's not "professional engineer".
Over a year ago New Jersey sent a seasonal newsletter to all its licensees indicating that it is illegal for non-PEs to refer to themselves as "engineers". This created quite a stir with my employer, who has substantial work in the state of New Jersey. More than half our engineering staff is unlicensed. If we were to follow New Jersey's law to the letter, we would have to revise all our proposals to eliminate the "engineer" title from our unlicensed staff. We would also have to eliminate the "engineer" title from their business cards as well. I subsequently sent an email to the New Jersey Board, asking what title we should give to our unlicensed staff. We received no answer. For me, its a non-issue as I am a New Jersey PE.
Here in Oklahoma, it is legal for Engineering firms and companies to title their non-PE employees as engineers as long as the firm or company has a Certificate of Authorization from the Board of Registration of Engineers. TheTick's post reminded me of this issue.
The bottom line is each state is different, so you will need to double check with your board.
"In some states, The Board for Registration of Engineers encourages their PE's, and EIT's to take any business card that has the title of "Engineer" and send it to them if the person on the card doesn't have their PE.
The board will either go after the non-licensed engineer and/or the company they work for. That is why it is suggested to use something that doesn't look like you are trying to pass off that you are a PE. "
Hmmm....Better send the board to every OEM in the country (microsoft, HP, ABB, Siemens, etc..). Everyone one of their people who are engineers (not necessarily registered) have engineer in their title. This whole idea of engineer being illegal to use for non-PEs is simply ridiculous based on what I just said. However, in the consulting world it is not so clear.
I think if you sat down with the 'board' and asked them a more detailed question you would probably get a more detailed answer. They probably assume you are working in the consulting world (what else is there in their eyes?) and answer appropriately.
I like how they try to control the word engineer. Every PE I know, has PE next their name on their business card right above their title. Pretty clear to tell the PEs from the non-PEs by merely looking at this.
As suggested, call your board and tell them what your dilemma is and see what they say. Me, I would give them a title of junior engineer.
when i was an eit i had a bussiness card with my name and company name " blah blah associates - structural enginners". period. no title. come to think of it my current card has no title just a pe after my name
there are so many different titles that no one really knows what they mean anyway. unless it is principal or partner. the rest are just window dressing- at least in the small consulting engineer companies i know
We could really use a national PE registration in the U.S.
In Wisconsin, it is not a matter of titles. It is a matter of whether that individual is purveying engineering services to the public. This is a fair distinction, in my opinion.
Reminds me, I should report my old supervisor, half-educated schmuck who started his own design engineering firm with no degree or PE.
Slugger,
Better check again, most of those engineers have nothing to do with a states 'Board of Registration'. I have worked with many of them at one time or another from various large OEMs. These Boards seem to have little power and many ALL encompassing rules for ALL engineers, PE or not. Problem is, they have no way to enforce it. It is a wise choice not to enforce such a ridiculous rule when an equal portion of engineers do not need a PE nor would it benefit them or the public to have one. Some of you guys talk like the rules set by these boards encompass exempt areas, they do not.
Working on both sides of the fence, I understand both perspectives and the system is fine the way it is (no matter what the board says). Most that say PEs are required to have engineer in your title are from an all consultant background and really are under developed when it comes to understanding engineering in general.
This is all I have to say on this subject.
