Is comparing medicine to law to engineering is an equivalent or fair comparison? I see these comaprisons in eng-tips frequently.
Let's consider the case of three engineering majors who start undergrad studies together & have formed a study group for the first few years of engineering basics: Alice, Annie, & Adam.
Alice decides to major in civil engineering. Annie decides to go to medical school so she majors in biomechanics engineering. Adam is determined to be a patent attorney & his undergrad major is electrical engineering.
After they split off into the junior & senior level coursework, Alice, Annie & Adam still meet to study & still bounce ideas off each other even while working on different courses.
Four years after they start engineering studies, they graduate. Alice has taken her FE & passed as has Adam. Annie has been accepted into medical school & Adam to law school. Alice is entering the work force with a civil engineering firm following graduation. Annie is taking the summer off. Adam is working for an attorney for the summer.
What do Annie, Alice & Adam need to do to meet the goals they have set?
For Alice to become an RPE:
[ul] [li] Graduate from an ABET accredited 4 year engineering program [li] Pass the EIT during senior year [li] Work under the supervision of an RPE with progressive responsibility for a minimum of 4 years of graduation or EIT/FE (whichever is later) [li] Pass the PE [/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing RPE: 4 years of school plus 4 years of post-grad/EIT work experience assuming one passes the EIT/PE the first time taken as eligible
For Annie to become a doctor:
[ul] [li] Attain the pre-requisites pre-med coursework & credits (typically, an undergrad degree) [li] Pass the MCAT [li] Get accepted into medical school [li] Go to med school & survive the first two years [li] Pass the step one (2 days) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination [li] Continue with YR 3 of med school if USMLE step 1 was passed [li] Take step two of the United States Medical Licensing [li] Examination at the end of YR 3 or during YR 4 [li] Complete YR 4 of med school & graduate [li] Pass the medical board exams [li] Complete 2-6 years of residency program & during that period, take the final step of the USMLE [/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing MD: 4 years of undergraduate school plus 4 years of medical school plus 2-6 years of residency assuming one passes all steps of the USMLE the first time
For Adam to become a lawyer:
[ul][li] Attain the pre-requisites credits & coursework (typically, undergrad degree) [li] Pass the LSAT [li] Get accepted into ABA approved law school [li] Go to law school & graduate from law school [li] Pass the BAR[/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing JD: 4 years of undergraduate school plus 3 years of law school assuming one passes the bar the first time it is offered after graduation
Alice has 3-4 years of wage-earning career-building experience that Annie & Adam do not have during the same time period. Annie & Adam may surpass Alice quickly in wages - unless Annie goes to work as a UNICEF doctor & Adam gets his dream job with the US Patents Office.
Is it really fair to compare being an MD to being a JD to being an RPE?
Let's consider the case of three engineering majors who start undergrad studies together & have formed a study group for the first few years of engineering basics: Alice, Annie, & Adam.
Alice decides to major in civil engineering. Annie decides to go to medical school so she majors in biomechanics engineering. Adam is determined to be a patent attorney & his undergrad major is electrical engineering.
After they split off into the junior & senior level coursework, Alice, Annie & Adam still meet to study & still bounce ideas off each other even while working on different courses.
Four years after they start engineering studies, they graduate. Alice has taken her FE & passed as has Adam. Annie has been accepted into medical school & Adam to law school. Alice is entering the work force with a civil engineering firm following graduation. Annie is taking the summer off. Adam is working for an attorney for the summer.
What do Annie, Alice & Adam need to do to meet the goals they have set?
For Alice to become an RPE:
[ul] [li] Graduate from an ABET accredited 4 year engineering program [li] Pass the EIT during senior year [li] Work under the supervision of an RPE with progressive responsibility for a minimum of 4 years of graduation or EIT/FE (whichever is later) [li] Pass the PE [/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing RPE: 4 years of school plus 4 years of post-grad/EIT work experience assuming one passes the EIT/PE the first time taken as eligible
For Annie to become a doctor:
[ul] [li] Attain the pre-requisites pre-med coursework & credits (typically, an undergrad degree) [li] Pass the MCAT [li] Get accepted into medical school [li] Go to med school & survive the first two years [li] Pass the step one (2 days) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination [li] Continue with YR 3 of med school if USMLE step 1 was passed [li] Take step two of the United States Medical Licensing [li] Examination at the end of YR 3 or during YR 4 [li] Complete YR 4 of med school & graduate [li] Pass the medical board exams [li] Complete 2-6 years of residency program & during that period, take the final step of the USMLE [/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing MD: 4 years of undergraduate school plus 4 years of medical school plus 2-6 years of residency assuming one passes all steps of the USMLE the first time
For Adam to become a lawyer:
[ul][li] Attain the pre-requisites credits & coursework (typically, undergrad degree) [li] Pass the LSAT [li] Get accepted into ABA approved law school [li] Go to law school & graduate from law school [li] Pass the BAR[/ul]
Minimal time to being a professional practicing JD: 4 years of undergraduate school plus 3 years of law school assuming one passes the bar the first time it is offered after graduation
Alice has 3-4 years of wage-earning career-building experience that Annie & Adam do not have during the same time period. Annie & Adam may surpass Alice quickly in wages - unless Annie goes to work as a UNICEF doctor & Adam gets his dream job with the US Patents Office.
Is it really fair to compare being an MD to being a JD to being an RPE?
