Expired License 11

[JKW05]

I am the EOR for a project in which we utilized a fiberglass floor system. As a somewhat proprietary system, I required calculations and drawings for this system to be submitted that were signed and sealed by a registered PE. When I received the submission, I discovered that the PE's license expired 8 years ago. We subsequently recieved drawings signed and sealed by another engineer (currently registered) in addition to the previous seal.

I am preparing to file a complaint with our state licensing board, but my boss has indicated that he thought I should I should just let the matter drop, since we did receive drawings sealed by a currently registered PE.

What are your thoughts?

 

[ptmoss]

Our Joint Board of Engineering has no authority to issue fines to unlicensed individuals. They can only discipline individuals who are licensed and governed by that particular Board (i.e. engineers, surveyors, wetland scientists,etc.). Beyond that it has to get referred to the Attorney General's office for prosecution.

Or, and I don't know this for a fact 'cause I haven't looked into it, perhaps they can file a complaint with the local police department.

You're absolutely correct about the unpaid invoices. I doubt though that someone already committing fraud would go to court to collect fees. 'Ya never know though!

If I was to see someone representing themselves as an engineer and notified the engineering Board about it, they would immediately send out an agressive cease and desist letter. However, our state just doesn't have the money to prosecute every white collar crime.

It's a problem not just for engineers but for all disciplines that must be licensed.

 

[DonPhillips]

The local police probably do not have juridiction unless they adopted a local ordinance enforcing that state law - and I doubt the law director would support such an ordinance.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[Jmadamek]

This topic leads to a question I have. Currently I am interning at an engineering contracting firm(I have about 3 semesters left of school). When it comes to things such as my signature in an email, am I able to refer to myself as a "student engineer"? It was suggested to me that this would sound slightly more professional than signing it with "engineering intern". Could I refer to myself as an EIT without technically having a degree yet?

 

[doberdorks]

This topic leads to a question I have. Currently I am interning at an engineering contracting firm(I have about 3 semesters left of school). When it comes to things such as my signature in an email, am I able to refer to myself as a "student engineer"? It was suggested to me that this would sound slightly more professional than signing it with "engineering intern". Could I refer to myself as an EIT without technically having a degree yet?

Where I am the answer would be no you are NOT an EIT. Personally I would just sign the email as

Joe Smith
XYZ company

and leave it at that.

SLH

 

[HgTX]

"Engineering Intern" seems to be the latest NCEES-correct term for "EIT". According to them, you don't count as either one till you pass the FE exam.

But I don't see the point of calling yourself an EIT. It makes it looks like you're desperate for credentials. If it's appropriate to put your job title in your signature, use whatever your job title is.

Completely subjectively speaking, I don't see why "student engineer" sounds any more professional than "engineering intern". "Student" sounds less professional than "intern"--one has to do with school and one has to do with an actual workplace.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[IRstuff]

If you can speak with sufficient technical authority, you don't need a title on your correspondence.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[SKIAK]

I've always thought if you have a title you should display it. I'm an EIT, received my bachelors and passed the FE exam, so I put it on my email signature. I don't feel that I'm desperate for credentials, I do feel it is important to distinguish myself from the PE's when corresponding with clients of the company that I work for.

 

[DonPhillips]

I remember taking the EIT my senior year in college. I am not sure if that is still allowed or not.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[HgTX]

You can take the test before you graduate. I don't remember having to submit any proof of degree before they mailed me my certificate.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[Ron]

To encap....in most states, anything deemed to be engineering work (plans, specifications, evaluations, reports, opinions, etc.) requires that it be done by a licensed professional engineer and so designated by signing and sealing. It does not have to be a "public" project. Specifically, in the state of my primary practice, if you are an employee of a corporation providing engineering services, ALL technical documents as engineering works submitted are to be signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer, without regard to their application on public or private projects.

I'm not aware of any building department (unless you're perhaps the building official's cousin in Podunk) that will accept plans for a structure that are not signed and sealed by an architect or engineer, and architects are limited as to the scope of their responsible works, so engineers are typically responsible for signing and sealing certain segments of a project such as structural, mechanical, civil, and electrical.

No, those of us who are licensed professional engineers are not elitist. We are ethically and legally charged with the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public in our respective areas of practice. The "public" does not only mean "public projects". Yes, we get a bit testy when unlicensed engineers hold themselves out as equivalent in the public realm. They are not. If they design something and it goes awry, the only recourse the "public" has is to sue them in civil court for damages. If a licensed individual makes a similar mistake, the individual is then statutorily and civilly responsible, with the risk of a loss of license to practice. Each time we sign and seal something, we put a hell of a lot more on the line than an unlicensed individual.

Try getting professional liability insurance for performing engineering services without a license. I doubt it's possible.

 

[SKIAK]

When I sat for the FE you just needed to have 75% of your degree coursework completed. The department had to send a degree evaluation to the state licensing board.

 

[Enginator]

Regarding the OP (haven't read this whole thread, sorry):

For future reference, you don't need your boss' input or approval to report what you saw to the board.