Disciplines where Licensure shall be a Requirement

[whyun]

"Are Pseudo Engineers Common?" has been a very popular thread which I've enjoyed reading for several months. SHall we discuss, now, what disciplines SHALL require licensure?

I am a structural engineer in design of building structures and my opinion is that my discipline directly affects public life and safety and therefore should require licensure.

In this fora, there are engineers of many disciplines, to include mechanical, electrical, chemical, automotive and so on. Let's discuss each of these disciplines and talk about whether licensing should be required for each.

 

[BobPE]

IRstuff:

You are right about the business schools, but it is only because we let them manage us...

I have left firms when the boss became a non-engineer....It is a horrible place to have to be...fortunately, I could make a change, but I feel for those that cannot.

Bob

 

[IRstuff]

Non-engineers as managers, per se, aren't necessary bad; IF they know what they don't know and IF the know that they're paying other people who do know.

Our current head is a finance guy and oddly enough, he's the best one I've had in a long time; precisely because he knows that he's got lots of engineers that are supposed to understand the engineering issues and he stays out of the fray.

TTFN

 

[EddyC]

whyun,

Thanks for the clarification. But I've seen too much rubber stamping by PEs of their non-PE subordinate's work. And I've seen to much illegal unlicensed practice. So I vote for universal licensing. That way we don't have to worry about who has achieved minimum competence and who hasn't. And we won't have to worry about who's work significantly impacts the public's safety and who's doesn't. Let the authorities decide which product's drawings need to be stamped. Give the engineering community some kind of grace period (5 - 10 years like someone I know suggested) to get their licenses.

 

[whyun]

EddyC,

In the AEC world, you are correct about too many rubber stamping. I've also witnessed it.

Ideally, in order to have a stable yet profittable consulting engineering business, one can not hire all licensed PE's. A medium size firm consists of a few old-timers, several senior level licensed engineers, several mid-level engineers licensed or just about to, then some fresh engineers right out of school.

As in any type of engineering, there is grunt work. An engineer with twenty years of experience will take just as much time doing these chores as one just out of school. It makes sense for a firm to establish a proper training system where the most junior performs the most mundane task (which in itself is training) with supervision. Over time, they will “earn” their way up the food chain.

Many firms have difficulty with the supervision part. The head of the department may stamp without appropriate review just like you stated.

With or without requiring PE licenses, public is exposed to risk due to these circumstances. Therefore, more conscious engineers, licensed or not, must be more proactive in minimizing the risk.

Oh... about illegal unlicensed practice... upon reading about the cases in my state, my opinion is that the penalty is very small (in many cases, a fine of a few thousand dollars). They continue practicing illegally because the "earnings" from it far exceeds the fine.