Getting CA Structural License 2

[evanilily37]

Hi All,

I work in a family-owned firm where the owner is my father and principal SE. I currently have my P.E. license in California and enough time has passed that I am able to apply for my Structural License. The projects that we do requires structural work on Hospitals and Schools and therefore having this license is a must. Here's the issue that I have.

I need to have other Structural Engineers who are not related by blood or marriage verify my experience and vouch for my eligibility to take the SE Exam. However, the only person familiar with my experience is my father.

Is it somehow possible to apply to take the exam without seeking employment elsewhere?

 

[Deker]

Guidance from SEAOC:

It has come to the Board’s attention that applicants for authority to use the title “Structural Engineer” in California may have trouble obtaining appropriate references to meet the Board’s requirements. It is the Board’s desire to assist such applicants by providing information on how to obtain references from qualified persons who are licensed as a California licensed Structural Engineer or licensed in a state with which California has or had a comity agreement regarding structural licensing. Structural engineers licensed in a state that is currently licensing new structural engineers by administration of the 16-hour NCEES Lateral/Vertical SE exam are acceptable references for structural licensing in California.

It is also the Board’s desire to make it clear that an applicant for the structural engineer license need not have worked for any of the structural engineers who are providing the references.

In order to assist applicants in securing the required references, here are some suggestions, which are offered for consideration. Specifically, the following cases represent situations which may have yielded contacts with appropriately licensed structural engineers who could be used as possible references:

• A structural engineer associated with or employed by a client firm for which the applicant’s firm has performed structural engineering work.
• A structural engineer associated with or employed by another engineering firm with which the applicant’s firm has engaged in a joint venture on a structural engineering project.
• A structural engineer associated with or employed by a building department to which the applicant has submitted plans and/or calculations for a plan check review.
• One or more California licensed structural engineers who are willing to review an adequate sample of the applicant’s work in order to evaluate his/her qualifying experience. (Our website contains a “License Lookup” feature that can list the structural engineers that live in your area).

The Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) has agreed to provide a panel of licensed structural engineers, at no cost to the applicant, to examine samples of the applicant’s work, to conduct an in-depth review and discussion with the applicant concerning those work samples, and based on that review and discussion, to serve as references on behalf of the applicant. SEAOC establishes a review panel from a limited pool of practicing engineers who volunteer as their schedules allow. As such, this review may be a lengthy process. SEAOC strongly urges applicants to request a review at least three months prior to submitting their application to the Board. The applicant must contact SEAOC directly at the address, phone number, or email below.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Evanilily -

Another good idea is to start going to your local SEAOC meetings to get to know some of your fellow engineers. It's good networking, and you'll come into contact with a lot more SE's.


PS Why does your profile indicate that you're a "bioengineer". It seems like a major career leap from bioengineer to structures.