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Canadian Engineer moving to the US 2
- Thread starter ERaySir
- Start date
EraySir
I have no clue to your first question, but I would offer a site called there is a furum there on licensure issues in the US and they can help most likely.
You second question, yes, EE's with PE's and power experience are very much in demand. Consultants demand them and the work they do is mostly for municipal power authorities small power companies. Consulting for the big power purveyors is usually in house and a bit tougher of a market. The us government also demands power engineers as most military bases maintain their own power systems.
good luck with your move, welcome to the states...
BobPE
I have no clue to your first question, but I would offer a site called there is a furum there on licensure issues in the US and they can help most likely.
You second question, yes, EE's with PE's and power experience are very much in demand. Consultants demand them and the work they do is mostly for municipal power authorities small power companies. Consulting for the big power purveyors is usually in house and a bit tougher of a market. The us government also demands power engineers as most military bases maintain their own power systems.
good luck with your move, welcome to the states...
BobPE
One good source for employment opportunity in the power industry is the Navy Times. This is where many jobs are posted to catch navy nuclear power engineers and technicians who are about to leave the service. Prospectice employers also include many in the non-nuclear power industry.
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- #5
EraySir
Most states require two exams. The first is the fundamental or FE exam. There are discipline specific and general versions of it. It’s usually written after graduation or in the last year of undergraduate program. The second is the PE exam and it is discipline specific. These are run by each state but the overall exam body is the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveyors. Their web page is This has lots of good information on it including contacts for each state board. (Note each state board differs on such details as what calculators are permitted)
Both are two session full day events. The FE is closed book except for a handbook that they will provide. You can download it from the NCEES site, just for exam purposes you have to use the provided copy. The PE exam is open book, just all pages have to be in bound form. Three ring binders appear to be acceptable.
As far as I know only Texas will give you a PE based solely on your P.Eng. You then have to have 12 years professional experience with a accredited undergraduate degree or 16 without. There may be other states with similar requirements.
You cannot get a state PE and then transfer with no problem to another state like we can here in Canada from province to province. Each state requires a separate application and references unless you apply (and pay for) a record with NCEES which will be used to facilitate the transfer.
Some states will grant a waver on the fundamental exam if you are many years post graduation or have a Masters or PhD. Others will not. Without writing both exams you may end up with a PE status that is non-transferable from state to state.
You will also have to check with each state to see the requirement for references. Some will accept a P.Eng and some will be sticky on having actual PE’s provide some of the references.
To work in the US you have several options. There is a visa category for professionals under NAFTA. You need a job offer from a US company. There is another for inter-company transfers between related companies. If you have your own Canadian consulting firm you can open a US subsidiary and go to work. (I think that you could also get a NFTA visa for a company that you own and work for.)
A green card, which would allow you to work for any company and change jobs, would be the hardest to get. You would have to be able to demonstrate a need for your skills etc.
See the US state department web site for more information.
Good luck
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
Most states require two exams. The first is the fundamental or FE exam. There are discipline specific and general versions of it. It’s usually written after graduation or in the last year of undergraduate program. The second is the PE exam and it is discipline specific. These are run by each state but the overall exam body is the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveyors. Their web page is This has lots of good information on it including contacts for each state board. (Note each state board differs on such details as what calculators are permitted)
Both are two session full day events. The FE is closed book except for a handbook that they will provide. You can download it from the NCEES site, just for exam purposes you have to use the provided copy. The PE exam is open book, just all pages have to be in bound form. Three ring binders appear to be acceptable.
As far as I know only Texas will give you a PE based solely on your P.Eng. You then have to have 12 years professional experience with a accredited undergraduate degree or 16 without. There may be other states with similar requirements.
You cannot get a state PE and then transfer with no problem to another state like we can here in Canada from province to province. Each state requires a separate application and references unless you apply (and pay for) a record with NCEES which will be used to facilitate the transfer.
Some states will grant a waver on the fundamental exam if you are many years post graduation or have a Masters or PhD. Others will not. Without writing both exams you may end up with a PE status that is non-transferable from state to state.
You will also have to check with each state to see the requirement for references. Some will accept a P.Eng and some will be sticky on having actual PE’s provide some of the references.
To work in the US you have several options. There is a visa category for professionals under NAFTA. You need a job offer from a US company. There is another for inter-company transfers between related companies. If you have your own Canadian consulting firm you can open a US subsidiary and go to work. (I think that you could also get a NFTA visa for a company that you own and work for.)
A green card, which would allow you to work for any company and change jobs, would be the hardest to get. You would have to be able to demonstrate a need for your skills etc.
See the US state department web site for more information.
Good luck
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
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