Georgia PE 1

[bvanhiel]

I'm interested in getting my PE. It's not required for my industry, but I think it will help my credibility as a consultant. I've got a question about the process, and I've tried calling the Board office twice with this question and got two different answers.

Background:
I've been working 11 years in an exempt industry after graduation with a BSME+MSME. Most (if not all) of my experience was NOT under a PE. I was foolish enough not to take the FE exam while in school. I do not yet meet the 16 year requirement that allows you to skip the FE.

Questions:
Can I take the FE and PE exams at the same time? If not, can I take them 6 months apart, or does all 4 years of my "engineering experience" need to come post FE? And, finally, should I ask to get the FE requirement waived even though I don't yet meet the 16 year requirement (as suggested during one of my calls to the board).

Thanks,

-b

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Two ideas -

Call the Board back and try to NAIL down the answer. Take names, titles and phone numbers......

Fill out all the forms and see what happens...

Good Luck

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

I'm not familure with the specific requirements of GA, however, most states are similar.

Typically, you have to take and pass the FE before they will approve your application to take the PE. That said, it can't hurt to ask if they will waive it.

You may have more trouble getting around the 4 years of qualified experience. Look at their web site, download the forms and instructions, start filling out the forms and see how it looks. You may have to develop a work plan to get the required experience.

Lastly, you may have better luck getting good answers to your questions after you have started trying to fill out the forms and by using e-mail to ask the questions.

Good Luck on getting your PE.

 

[jpankask]

I'm not familiar specifically with Georgia laws so hopefully someone else can chime in. From the states I am familiar with, I don't know how you could take the FE and PE exams at the same time. Generally, and I'm sure there are exceptions, states require that you have taken and passed the FE before you can take the PE exam. I don't see any reason why you could not take the FE and 6 months later take the PE exam. I think taking them both in the same weekend would be extremely difficult because you would be studying for two completely different exams. Studying for the PE will not help you very much in taking the FE and studying for the FE will do very little for the PE as well.

It certainly doesn't hurt to ask if the FE exam can be waived. It is not likely if you do not meet the requirements but usually a MS counts as a couple years of experience, maybe the board will consider it.

Ultimately, the Board is the only one who can give a definitive answer to both of these questions, as they make the decisions.

 

[bvanhiel]

You guys echo my thoughts. I'll probably go for the waiver and see what happens. I've already started filling out the forms. It looks like a few days (weeks?) of work just to get everything together.

-b

 

[JStephen]

When I did mine a number of years ago, you had to pass the FE before you took the PE. So I think I took them 6 months apart.

The normal routine is that you get your EIT, then experience, then PE. But generally, that's not a requirement, and the experience you already have should qualify, assuming it's of adequate nature to qualify in the first place. So I was only an EIT for that 6 months in between the two tests.

 

[lansford]

Even though your work was not "under" a PE, surely you can "find" PEs who will sign for you. There were hundreds of PEs at the steel company where I worked who were available for that.
Jim

 

[metengr]

Questions:
Can I take the FE and PE exams at the same time?

This is state specific, but in the state I practice in, yes, you can take both exams on the same weekend. The PE is normally given on a Friday and the FE is on Saturday. If you pass the PE, and not the FE, nothing happens other than you need to take the FE again to become licensed.

If you pass the FE and not the PE, again you would need to reschedule yourself to take the next exam (6 months later).

All passed exams Fe and PE remain permanent in your file if you passed them, either together or in sequence.

If not, can I take them 6 months apart, or does all 4 years of my "engineering experience" need to come post FE?

Your Board reviews your credentials and determines your eligibility to take both exams. Timing is up to you, you can wait up to a certain time period, again this is Jurisdiction specific.

And, finally, should I ask to get the FE requirement waived even though I don't yet meet the 16 year requirement (as suggested during one of my calls to the board).

This is a Board specific answer. If you don't meet the 16 year requirements, why should the Board grant you special compensation?