Experience for PE License

[MTPipeliner]

I know that the experience requirements vary by state, but could you guys give me your opinion based on what your experience has been?

I'm looking at a job that is labeled as "construction supervisor" at the company I currently work for. It would require some field adjustments of office designs as well as the daily paper work, completeion paperwork, supervison, etc of construction projects.

I'm interested in getting my PE, and have asked questions to the licensing boards about what qualifies as experience, but have gotten kind of grey answers.

Have you guys seen this kind of experience be counted as "qualifing experience" when it comes to licensing?

Thanks

 

[JAE]

Is the position under the direct supervision of a licensed PE?

 

[zcp]

PatrickR,

You would be hard pressed to get this through as qualifying experience. You need to check the rules for your state (most are online now). Some states require you to work for a PE, some would count a portion of your time in this job if you could write up the "engineering" portion of what you did, but very few states will give you credit for the supervisory work.

At a certain point in my career, I faced the same opportunity. I chose to stick to the engineering and eventually got my PE and now have my own consulting engineering company. You can't beat the contruction industry for hands on experience though.

ZCP

http://www.phoenix-engineer.com

 

[MTPipeliner]

I've read the descriptions of what experience is required, but they are pretty vauge and when I've asked questions about them I've gotten the response that they would evaluate my experience at the time of application.

The position isn't under a PE, but neither is my current one although there are several other engineers that have been able to get licensed by explaining their jobs and supplying references from other PE's. I think that my current job would be much easier to get considered as qualifying experience.

ZCP, I'm kind of thinking the same thing. I think the job would be a great experience, but I think sometime in the future I may like to own my own business.

Pat

 

[Slugger926]

Some companies call these positions Field Engineer.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

PatrickR -I concur with zcp. Qualifying work with (a civil / structural) contractor would typically be duties such as designing concrete forms, falsework, cofferdams, and similar temporary facilities (or specialized equipment) that are essential to a contractor's performance of the work BUT are not described on the plans for the permanent structure.

The duties that you describe would most likely not count and be considered "executing the work of others", or similar language.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[ELEcontrol3e]

PatrickR:
The society of professional engineers has a on-line forum ,similar to this one, specifically for licensure issues.

http://www.nspe.org.In

addition, the state of Wisconsin
has some of the most explicit descriptions of what constitues qualifying experience. It might make a good guide to give an idea of how to describe your experience.

Im not in construction, but I would think the PE for structural folk would be critical for promotion. Yes?/No?

Good luck

 

[DaveVikingPE]

"Im not in construction, but I would think the PE for structural folk would be critical for promotion. Yes?/No? "

Yes. Absolutley. But it still doesn't mean you're the smartest engineer in the office. It just means you hunkered down, studied and passed the test and thus you have the credential.

"Qualifying work with (a civil / structural) contractor would typically be duties such as designing concrete forms, falsework, cofferdams, and similar temporary facilities (or specialized equipment) that are essential to a contractor's performance of the work"

Yep. All that requires serious engineering design.


Regarding experience... I know a lot of engineers who didn't do much design at all, mostly doing "management" - even from the beginning. And yet they're applied for, been accepted to, taken, passed, and become licensed PE's. How were they able to do it? Who cares?! I don't. I must assume that their record was judged accordingly and not found wanting. Plus, they passed the exam, so God bless them, etc.