Slugger926 - Good information. Would you consider writing an Engineering Tips FAQ that has this link? Then it would be easy to direct members to that spot on this site when this type question comes up again.
I copied it to the FAQ area. I didn't realize that there was a FAQ area on here. The other board (biological robot programming) I post on needs one of those.
With all the PE vs. Not to PE in this forum, isn't it about time that someone starts their own PE forum. That would be a more appropriate place to address these issues, dont you think?
I mean, some of us who work in exempt industries, where PE's are about as common as a snowman in july, have ethical issues as well.
I for one, don't consider this an ethical issue, as much as a govt and regulatory issue.
I was not trying to engage anyone in an arguement. I have come to the conclusion that we may all "agree to disagree" on this topic. My post was not to be reactionary to the subject.
To me, this seems an appropriate thread to suggest to someone (who has, desires to get, or wishes to converse about liscensure) to start a new forum. All these issues; regulation, legal aspects of liscensure, (even how we unlisc. engineers shouldn't even call ourselves engineers) etc. could be addressed there.
In this forum, liscensure is a suject that seems to just stir feathers and agitate people because there IS a disagreement over the subject of the necessity of liscensure.
I do feel that this is not an issue of ethics, but one of legal regulation.
wes616 - Don't worry, I rarely argue with anyone, and I don't mean to with you. I took your statement as a reasonable proposal, and gave the link to let anyone interested know how to "make it so" - Engineering Tips currently has about a dozen "private" forums listed on the home page.
If you really think that this topic really needs it's own forum, you don't have to do it with a group, the site adds several new fora each year. I'll contact site management for you about it if you feel it would get the same old biccker off this forum (I can't find a "contact us" button on this page).
I can see that as a forum with very little activity since us pro-PE guys would tend to wait for a question to post there and the anti-PE guys would tend to avoid it.
If you want to persue it, just ask in this thread and we'll see what site-managment thinks of the idea.
Go to the link above and find out if your really are exempt. I bet those that think they are, but aren't won't speak up.
Not starting a debate because I used to not have the P.E. and several of us that were trying to get it knew the rules, but our company hands out Engineering titles like they were free.
Since that statement by definition is impossible to prove then what exactly was the point in making it? It's no wonder that people react against the holier-than-thou attitude of /some/ PEs around here.
FWIW I'm definitely exempt and have no intention of getting a PE.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
To me the industry exemption makes allot of sense for many engineers. After all, who would be the governing authority and what design codes would be used for go-carts, garden tractors, shrink wrap machines, and so on. That's not to say there aren't industry standards, but it just doesn't seem to have much in common with the process used to design buildings and such.
What does bother me are the companies that either ignore or abuse design codes using the excuse that they are exempt, when they probably aren't.
That's just an observation however, based on the experience of one person, me.
Not all states have the industry exemption. I didn't see it for Oklahoma. When I worked for a manufacturing company here that had been disiplined in the past, they made sure that my title said "Designer" on my business cards. All of our designs were always marked not for construction unless we were having a local PE review and sign off on them, or having a railroad engineering department review and sign off with their PE's.
I have been very confused on the whole Engineering Title thing myself until I found that link posted above. Now I feel that many companies are mis-informed or as confused as I used to be.
I think some boards can be more proactive in education the public and industries in their jursidictions about the licensing in their states. I think this would be healthy over all for everyone.
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