Anyone successful at getting PE without PE signature?

[aspearin1]

I'm hoping to go for my PE in the next year. I've been trying the past few years to get a proper network going so I can find some PEs who may be willing to sign my application. I'm in the U.S., and there is a "clause" that says I don't need a PE signature if I have a "good explanation." And the explanation is I'm a ChemE working in industry where few PEs exist. I have yet to work directly for or with a PE. The only PEs I know are from universities I've attended or societies I belong to, neither of whom could TRULY vouch for the quality of my professional work. Would I be wasting my time going with this "explanation?"

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[Lion06]

That seems like an odd clause since the 4 years of experience is supposed to be under the direct supervision of a PE.

 

[metengr]

Not true for ALL states. I would strongly recommend you contact the Board that regulates Professional Engineering in the State that you intend to practice engineering. Typically, State Boards have their own rules and exemptions for the PE application. So, get correct information first hand.

 

[JStephen]

Check with your board as metengr suggests. Also check with your employers, see if they can put you in contact with any other PE's.

 

[DaveVikingPE]

My brother in-law is a PE ChemE. He worked mostly for environmental and civil firms and I figure that he didn't have much trouble at all finding PE who were familiar with his work. Ask the principal of your firm (who should be a PE, no?).

 

[treyjay]

I just received yesterday the notice from my state board that I have been approved to sit for the civil pe. I had some of the same problems as you (I am self-employed in construction). I requested industrial exemption in nearly every job engagement and found p.e's to provide references (you have to have pe references....no way around that)who were licensed in various diciplines (m.e., s.e., etc). I bet if you looked around, you have probably worked with people who are licensed, but in different diciplines. Check it out. As long as they have a p.e., they are good to go. It worked for me. Good luck.

 

[mshimko]

Each state has slightly different requirements before you are allowed to take the PE exam.

- In CA (where I went to grad school), all experience had to be AFTER you obtained your BS-Engineering . I was getting my MS after a BS in chemistry, so my experience was not acceptable, even though it was identical to a classmate who happened to have a different undergraduate degree.

- In PA (where I would be moving to in the near future", my experience was acceptable, but the state required two references (signatures) from PEs registered in PA. I wrote the PA Board with an explanation and request for a slight waiver (using references from PEs from other states", and took the exam a few months later.

The point being - if you requet seems reasonable, put it in writting & see what happens!

 

[MDGroup]

aspearin1,
I am currently in the same situation as you, and got some great information from others on this site:

See

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=193045&page=1

As previously mentioned, procedures will vary from state-to-state and board-to-board. So, my next move and suggestion to you is to contact the State Board with your specific situation and see what they say/reccomend.

As helpful as the experiences/suggestions are from other users on this site, your state board has the answer that truly matters.

Best of Luck
-Lou

 

[jistre]

The boards are willing to listen to your situation. I just got word today that I'm going to be seated for the exam even though only 1 year of my experience is verified by a PE.

 

[aspearin1]

Excellent feedback. Thank you.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[panakin]

This may be a strange question but has anyone gotten their PE reference from individuals under whom they did not directly work? I ask because I used to work in structural before leaving the industry. But now I need to find work and am considering going back into structural.

Assuming I get a job I would try to get licensed ASAP - I have my 'old' experience (~3 yrs) plus MS, but most of my old contacts have dried up. I wonder if I could package this old experience with references from new PEs (assuming future co-workers) - has anyone done anything unusual like this? Thank you.

 

[mshimko]

From my experience "back when", each state has slightly differing requirements, and none should assume that their personal experience applies everywhere. This is true for experience (some require experience after getting an engineering degree, some require experience working under another PE, some simply require the appropriate experience), as well as signatures.

In my case, I was getting registered in PA because that's where I was moving to, and PA required I have signatues of PEs registered in PA.

I simply sent an explanation in with my application, requesting a "waiver" from this specific aspect of the requirements (I did have PEs for references, but they were in another state), and nothing more was ever asked nor needed.

 

[shin25]

As metengr suggested, different states have different requirements-

Virginia- requires three references all of which have to be from PEs.
NJ- requires five references, of which two can be non-PE.

NY- I have not seen them asking for ref.

So, call your state board and find out their requirements.

 

[swertel]

AZ allows 3 references if PE, 5 if not.

Most engineering boards have the rules of "under supervision of a PE" to limit the chaf. But the people who sit on the board typically understand that a lot of engineers have always worked in exempt industries, making PE references hard to get.

It's a little harder to prove your competence, but usually engineering boards have the ability to allow non-PE references even if the rules state otherwise if you, as the applicant, are willing to put in the extra effort of documenting your experience. Good luck, call your board.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[jistre]

Just to encourage you, here in La., you have to have four years of experience under a P.E. to be eligible to sit. I had one. Not only that, by the registration deadline I didn't have the four years needed, so by the rules I was ineligible, even though by test date I would have the full four years.

Through explaining the situation to the board and presenting a valid argument for why you would like the board to grant an exemption, you can often work out an arrangement that satisfies everyone that you're competent to sit for the exam. In my case, I explained that I worked under the industrial exemption, four of my five references are PEs, and I currently work under two who vouched for me. That satisfied the board about the PE requirement. Then I argued that since I would have the needed four years by exam date, if the deadline to register was used as the experience cutoff date, I would be hobbled for another six months. The board agreed that I could resubmit my experience verification as soon as I completed the requirements. Provided they got the verification in time to tell NCEES that I am eligible, they would allow me to sit.

I received my pass to enter the Oct. 26 exam last week. The moral is definitely to contact the board and work with them. They know that work experiences tend to be fluid while the rules aren't.