I am fairly new to this forum and have been overly impressed with the depth of passion expressed by many whenever the topic of licensing of engineers surfaces. The threads seem to never end and the topics wander all over the place. Ain't it great!
I noted with interest the phrase "industry exemption" and the fact that it was tossed around like it was a well known fact or law or policy or whatever. Well, it's not well known to me. Although I fully understand the meaning of the phrase, I would like to comment and ask a question on two fronts about the PE/PEng laws and regulations.
ISSUE #1...
COMMENT: I am a licensed PE in a flock of states and read with great interest all of the PE Board newsletters. I am especially drawn to reports on cases in which the Board takes legal action against unlicensed individuals. In all cases I am fairly confident that I have never seen any actions against an individual that had the term "engineer" on a business card, unless that person was offering (or appearing to offer) engineering services to the public. I do not recall ever reading the phrase "industrial exemption" or similar on the laws regulating the practice of engineering in any of the states in which I am licensed. I'm no lawyer, but I do recall what our house counsel told me many years ago about this issue. I worked for a steel plate fabrication firm at the time. She said that industrial firms do not practice engineering. Engineering is an adjunct to the manufacturing process. Sounded good at the time.
QUESTION: Are there any states in the Union that actually use the phrase "industrial exemption"? I don't think so, but would like to hear from the gang on this one.
ISSUE #2...
COMMENT: I have never investigated becoming licensed in Canada, so I am totally ignorant about the laws governing a PEng. Based on all of the threads about the licensing issue, I think I have picked up on the fact that one cannot even use the title of "engineer" on a business card unless you are a PEng. However, there is a specific legal exemption for engineers that are working in industry. In other words, the "industrial exemption" is actually written into the law. I believe that this was cited as a law in Ontario by one of the forum members.
QUESTION #2: Is there an "industrial exemption" written into the Federal or Provincial laws of Canada?
LAST COMMENT... I seems like the PE/PEng laws may be very similar. In the US, only engineers offering services to the public are regulated. There is no need for a specific mention of an industrial exemption as these positions are not regulated by the law. Further, I am understanding from the comments on this forum that in Canada all engineers are regulated, but that the guys in industry receive and exemption. Sounds like it ends up at the same point.
Wow, this ended up a whole lot longer than intended. I'm really just trying to obtain an understanding of the differences, if any, between the PE and PEng laws.
Thanks.
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
I noted with interest the phrase "industry exemption" and the fact that it was tossed around like it was a well known fact or law or policy or whatever. Well, it's not well known to me. Although I fully understand the meaning of the phrase, I would like to comment and ask a question on two fronts about the PE/PEng laws and regulations.
ISSUE #1...
COMMENT: I am a licensed PE in a flock of states and read with great interest all of the PE Board newsletters. I am especially drawn to reports on cases in which the Board takes legal action against unlicensed individuals. In all cases I am fairly confident that I have never seen any actions against an individual that had the term "engineer" on a business card, unless that person was offering (or appearing to offer) engineering services to the public. I do not recall ever reading the phrase "industrial exemption" or similar on the laws regulating the practice of engineering in any of the states in which I am licensed. I'm no lawyer, but I do recall what our house counsel told me many years ago about this issue. I worked for a steel plate fabrication firm at the time. She said that industrial firms do not practice engineering. Engineering is an adjunct to the manufacturing process. Sounded good at the time.
QUESTION: Are there any states in the Union that actually use the phrase "industrial exemption"? I don't think so, but would like to hear from the gang on this one.
ISSUE #2...
COMMENT: I have never investigated becoming licensed in Canada, so I am totally ignorant about the laws governing a PEng. Based on all of the threads about the licensing issue, I think I have picked up on the fact that one cannot even use the title of "engineer" on a business card unless you are a PEng. However, there is a specific legal exemption for engineers that are working in industry. In other words, the "industrial exemption" is actually written into the law. I believe that this was cited as a law in Ontario by one of the forum members.
QUESTION #2: Is there an "industrial exemption" written into the Federal or Provincial laws of Canada?
LAST COMMENT... I seems like the PE/PEng laws may be very similar. In the US, only engineers offering services to the public are regulated. There is no need for a specific mention of an industrial exemption as these positions are not regulated by the law. Further, I am understanding from the comments on this forum that in Canada all engineers are regulated, but that the guys in industry receive and exemption. Sounds like it ends up at the same point.
Wow, this ended up a whole lot longer than intended. I'm really just trying to obtain an understanding of the differences, if any, between the PE and PEng laws.
Thanks.
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants