MS or EIT/PE or something else (CA US) 1

[KENAT]

Answering bhabte thread got me thinking.

As someone who got my Bachelors of Engineering honors (Aerospace Systems Engineering) in the UK what would be a good next step in education/accreditation now I’ve come to live in the States (California).

Just before I started the chain of events that got me here I was looking into taking some courses towards my masters and looking at getting chartered through RAeS.

I’m currently working as basically a mechanical CAD designer in the semiconductor industry although once I get my citizenship I’d consider going back into aerospace/defense.

The obvious choices I know of are Masters or EIT (leading to PE).

Anyone got any ideas of which would be more useful/better value or if there’s a different alternative.

Doesn’t seem like the EIT/PE route is particularly applicable to my career choice but maybe I’m wrong, I have seen it listed in job adds.

I guess getting a second bachelors in a different subject area may be an idea but what do others (especially anyone involved in hiring) think?

 

[EddyC]

I would go for continuing education short courses that are directly applicable to the fields of engineering that you are pursuing.

Example: I am recently in the HVAC field. One of the ways that I helped jumpstart myself down this path was to take a home study course (consisted of a $300 book with exercises that were graded). I went at my own pace over a few months.

As far as the PE goes, it helps you only in certain industries (Buildings, Infrastructure, Power Plants). If you are working in areas like Aerospace, Automotive, Manufactured Product Engineering, it is almost never needed.

 

[JStephen]

Getting a Master's or getting EIT/PE is not an "either or" decision. There's no reason you can't get both if you think both are advantagous. If you are up to snuff on the schooling end of it, the EIT/PE is just a matter of taking tests, getting experience, filling out forms and paying money- it doesn't take a lot of time in and of itself. For that reason, I'd say if your education and experience will qualify you to get the PE, go ahead and do it. The prestige is worth the minimal hassle of taking the tests. If you anticipate months of study to pass the tests, that might be a different story.

On the PE side of things, first step is to look up the state rules and see what's required to get the PE, in terms of experience & education. If the work you're currently doing qualifies as engineering experience, you should be in good shape. On degree issues, check with the state board- may take a call or two or three to get what you need. I think NCEES offers sample tests and questions; get those and see if you're in over your head on the testing part of it. I'd check around and see if there are any PE's working where you do. If so, a conversation with them is in order, to see how useful it has been, to feel them out as possible future references for your work, etc.

On the Master's program, follow a similar approach. See if there are any universities where you can conveniently pursue a degree while working, and check on the cost. Check out the job market, check with associates, and see if it looks like an MS would do you any good. Visit a local college bookstore and you can check out the current textbooks and see how things compared to your degree program.

 

[KENAT]

Thanks both of you.

I realize EIT/PE & MS aren't mutually exclusive. Just with a wife & family now I want to try and prioritize my time and money most effectively. If it makes sense I'd love to get both but from a time/cost point of view would make it hard to justify both right now.

I did look into the PE/EIT a while back and it appears because my degree isn't from a North American college it doesn't count. I have the experience for EIT but would need to take the test. Looked like a lot of math to me, which I'd definitely need some revision on.

I was thinking EIT might help 'Americanize' my qualifications and hence make me more attractive to employers, even though the EIT itself may not be directly relevant.

Taking the short courses was something I'd thought of and forgot to put in my post. Given what I've been doing I'm thinking one of the GD & T certs might be an idea, I'm also thinking of some kind of formal drafting course, although I've been doing it a good while I've only had a very short course at Uni. The rest was learnt on the job.

Any suggestions on a college or course to brush up on my stress analysis & maybe get my masters. In the UK we have a correspondence type system called the Open University which is how I was looking to do my masters in the UK. I’ve done a few web searches and didn’t find that many options for Engineering Masters in relevant areas either online or by correspondence in the US.

 

[CarolinaPE]

Each has their strength. PE is helpful to have if working in a consulting environment and does not take too long to achieve. Masters is generally helpful all around but takes up to 2 years to achieve. Most industries reward a masters, but some don't. Neither hurts to have.

 

[electricpete]

From my own experience, EIT and PE were no work at all as was mentioned above. MSEE was a whole lot of work. For me it stretched almost 4 years (while working full time) which is a long haul.

If you are rusty such that the EIT will be a challenge, you will have a long, long, lot of work for an MS.

I would recommend start with EIT and see how much trouble it was and how much energy you have left after you finish that, recognizing the MS will be a helluva lot more work.

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[crossframe]

Also keep in mind the (limited?) value of a PE in the Aerospace industry. Most Aerospace Engineers I know have Master's degrees, few (or none) are PE's (unless their background was more Mechanical).

I would guess the more "Mechanical" and less "Aerospace" your work is, the more valuable the PE would be. California licenses Mechanical Engineers, but not Aerospace Engineers.

The answer depends on you intended career path.

 

[PEinc]

I would first get my EIT (while everything is still relatively fresh in your mind). If you are a recent graduate, you will not have enough work experience to qualify for taking the PE exam. Therefore, you can go for your MS at night while working enough years to qualify for taking the PE exam later.

 

[KENAT]

Thanks for the responses.

I've got about 5 1/2 years experience since I graduated, most of it in the UK, sadly my degree doesn't count toward EIT or PE hence I'd have to do EIT first based on experience.

The place I worked in the UK was real small so kind of a jack of all trades kind of thing. I didn't get to use the more analytical parts of my degree a lot hence I'd have to brush up. Plust frankly I was never that great on the more academic/analytical work, it was the design and applied projects that got me through.

I know the MS will be work although the one I was looking at in the UK didn't look so bad. Plus degrees don't take as long in the UK, Batchelors 3 years Masters 4 from scratch if you study full time, so I could be in for a shock here.

 

[UcfSE]

You can look on the NCEES website for information about the FE exam (a.k.a. EIT exam). For the EIT you will be supplied with a reference manual and are allowed nothing else. If you take a look through the reference manual you will see exactly what material will be covered. They won't ask you anything that isn't in there. Here is a link to that manual NCEES FE Exam Reference Manual.

A master's degree will be an excellent way to bring you up to speed with engineering practices in the US for your field. It will also help you to have an ABET-accredited degree when/if you pursure licensure with a PE. Even with your degree you are not necessarily shut out but you have a lot of red tape and tiem ahead of you to get approval for what you have. Of course, it's hard to go to work and school and not neglect your family but you gotta do what you gotta do. Sometimes you get through one class at a time. It takes forever but it is possible. ;-)