Evaluation for accreditation of a ForeignEngineering Degree in the USA 1

[asprofos]

Hello

I am from Greece.I have dual citizenship (USA and Greek).
I am intrested in working in the states so i have to evaluate my degrees.

I have studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Athens which is supposed to be equivalent to a Master of Mechanical Engineering.Studies constist of 5 years (10 semesters) of more than 60 courses and a thesis at the end.Studies follow the german type.

I also have a Master of Science in Applied Mechanics from the same University.

From searching the net i have found that it is best to use one of the following evaluation services

1. ECE:

http://www.ece.org/

2. WES:

http://www.wes.org/splash.html

I have 1 questions for now

1)Will my Engineering Degree be evaluated as an equivalent to a US Master of Engineering

THank you Guys

 

[KENAT]

asprofos most here probably can't answer your question, that's why you need to get it done by an accredited organization.

My bachelors from the UK was deemed equivalent to a bachelors from the US - though I ended up with a lower equivalent GPA than I'd expected based on my own research and it was a massive time consuming pain in the a$$ because mine wasn't a 'cookie cutter' case.

Make sure whoever you pick is a member of

http://www.naces.org/

if you want the evaluation to be recognized by the US govt.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[asprofos]

Thanks for your answer KENAT

That is why i have picked those to evaluation servises because they are members from of the NACES

The problem is that every member of NACES evaluates your degree differently.Maybe if you use another evaluation service you might get a higher GPA

Which one did you pick?

 

[KENAT]

http://www.iescaree.com

Perhaps I should have been more diligent in my search.

However, it wasn't cheap so unless I find out for sure which one gives 4.0's out like candy I won't do it again.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[desnov74]

Asprofore, ti kaneis.

If you need some help, email me I've attached my linked in site. I live here in the US, I've been through the process in the reverse with DIKATSA, Greek for pain in the ass. I know a few people who have had their degrees recognized here, I could help with the process.

Stile minima ki tha epikinonisoume.
Yannis 8wmas

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-thomas/11/746/5b7/

 

[vthomidis]

ha..ha..this world is full of Greeks..isn't it ?

 

[asprofos]

desnov74

Thank tou.I will contact once i have completed my registration to the site the your link leads to

?? ?????????!

 

[asprofos]

desnov74

It seems i have completed my registration to

http://www.linkedin.com

but it requires to upgrade my account to be able to send you a message!!
I cannot send you a message trew EngTips either
?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????

 

[henri2]

asprofos, if you will eventually need to obtain a professional engineer's (PE) license then I suggest you first contact the engineering licensing board of the state you intend to work in.

I have provided a link for professional engineering licensing boards of different states. Contact them and they will let you know what credentials evaluation agencies they recognize. You certainly do not want to spend a lot of money for a credentials evaluation only to be informed later that it will not be accepted.

 

[asprofos]

henri

Thank you for your interest

From what i have seen the evaluation services from companies accepted by the engineering licensing board are much more $$$$ than other companies.

And another thing is that i think you must be atleast 2 years of a state resident and then you are entitled of taking the PE exams.

My problem now is to leave Greece in any way.So am thinking of geting a job in the public sector first and afterwards if I want a Proffesional License I will evaluate my degrees again.I do not mind the cost if i work in the US

What i am searching for is an evaluation service that will show some mercy and will not downgrade my engineering Degree to a Bachelor or my Master of Scinece to nothing.But this evaluation service must be a member of

http://www.naces.org/members.htm

If anyone has any expeirience or knows sommeonelse please help

 

[asprofos]

desnov74

Here is my link.I hope you see it

http://gr.linkedin.com/pub/dimosthenis-antoniou/25/1b1/9a2

 

[henri2]

asprofos, before you take the PE exam you will have to take the Fundamentals in Engineering (FE) exam.

Some states will not allow you to take the FE or PE exam if your degree is not equivalent to an ABET degree, unless you have taken additional courses to make up the deficiencies. Most foreign non-ABET degrees are typically deficient in the Humanities/Social Science. This is why some people in your shoes, shop around for states that do not have such stringent requirements-and this includes the 2-year state residency requirement you mentioned.

There is nothing to stop you taking the FE or PE exam in State A if you work in State B - and then when you fulfill the educational requirement for state B, you apply for a license there.

One last thing-do not forget that the credentials evaluation agency that might issue you a glowing evaluation report that will help you land a job might not be acceptable to a state licensing board.

Good luck

 

[desnov74]

I called the NY, California, and Illinois licensing state licensing boards. California and New York will evaluate your experience for you when you apply. They basically outsource to

http://www.wes.org/

. Depending on the courses you took, they have to evaluate it as a MS or BS in mechanical engineering. The Illinois department of professional regulation, also requires a passing score on the TOEFL which is an english competancy exam. This is only required for PE requirements or getting an advanced degree. Each state here is different, henri2 is correct in his assesment.

I also looked up Texas and they are explicit. See below.

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/lic_faq.htm

Education
What is the minimum education required to apply for a license in Texas?

Graduation from a four-year program of engineering or related science from a recognized institution of higher education. The Act gives preference to institutions evaluated and accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) and similar associations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Mexico. EAC/ABET and its associates list the specific engineering disciplines and year when accredited. The Act also provides for non-accredited degrees in engineering and/or related sciences that include at least 8 hours of math beyond college algebra and trigonometry and 20 hours of engineering or related sciences courses. Please refer to Subchapter D. EDUCATION, Board Rule §133.31 for specifics. If you have a transcript from a country that is not listed above, you will need to have a Foreign Credential Evaluation of your transcript.

Can I be licensed if I do not have a degree or non-engineering or related science degree?

Section §1001.302 of the Act specifically requires graduation from a curriculum in engineering or related science. In Texas, if you do not have a degree in engineering or related science, you cannot be licensed.

What is an accredited degree from an engineering curriculum or program?

The Act gives preference to institutions evaluated and accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) and similar associations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Mexico. This can also be a combination of engineering or related science degrees with a Masters Degree in Engineering. Please refer to Subchapter D. EDUCATION, Board Rule §133.31 for specifics.

What is a non-accredited degree from an engineering curriculum or program?

The Act provides for degrees in engineering and/or related sciences that are not accredited by ABET and include at least 8 hours of math beyond college algebra and trigonometry and 20 hours of engineering or related sciences courses. In the rule, some technology degrees are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET but still classified as "non-accredited" at the engineering level. Please refer to Subchapter D. EDUCATION, Board Rule §133.31 for specifics.
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