New EIT needs advice to become PE

[CptHk]

I passed EIT in April 2005. I already worked for over 6 years to that point in a design build firm. We used an outside consulting engineer who reviews and stamps our (I work with another non licensed engineer) drawings. This outside engineer is semi-retired and does not really provide me with training.

My work is not directly in HVAC systems design, we design small cogen systems that by design interface with building heating and electrical systems.

I expressed willingness to my bosses(owners) to pursue a P.E. and they are happy with the idea, but don't believe they need to have any other engineer actually mentor me in any way.

My dilemma:
If I choose to stay, how do I pursue a P.E. with outside consultants reviewing my work and progress?

If I choose to leave and find work in actual engineering firm with P.E.'s on staff, can some of my past work before I took the P.E. count towards my five years of work?

 

[Zapster]

It does not mater what you want or think about the ability to gain credit for work experience. It is the Board of Professional Engineers in your jurisdiction that has the final say as to what work experience will qualify as part of the regulatory requirements. In my State, it requires that an EIT work under direct supervision of a licensed engineer (one that is licensed in the field you are going to apply for your PE under) for two of the four years of work experience. If this is true for your area, then if you want a PE license, you may need to look for a different job.

As a licensed PE, I am not allowed to stamp reports or drawings that are not generated under my supervision. This would preclude me from reviewing and stamping someone else’s work unless I supervised them. So ask the PE that is stamping your work if you are under his supervision. If so, talk to him about using him as the PE you worked under for legal requirement in your jurisdiction.

 

[CptHk]

I have spoken to our consulting engineer and he said I could use him for the PE I worked under for the work he has reviewed and stamped.

The larger issue I should emphasize though is that if this is the ONLY P.E. that is supervising me, (and he has been the only one) then I will never really get the proper training. He really has one foot in retirement and never really has good answers to my questions.

My opinion is based on the fact I that the engineers that I have associated with for some of my projects have been more helpful just from the conversations we have regarding the projects I am working on. They are not hired to review our work but just working side by side on a shared project.

To elaborate on one of my original questions, has anyone ever been in the situation where an outside consultant or engineer was paid for their time to review your work as an EIT while you were pursuing your P.E?

 

[JAE]

Jrap - one of the best things you can do here, is call your local state engineering board and pose these questions to them direct.

Most states require 4 years of experience, as an EIT, and under direction supervision of a PE (per Zapster's comments above). Even if you get this one, semi-retired engineer to serve as a reference for you, many states require at least 3 PE's to also reference.

In addition, since you are not working directly under your PE's supervision (on a day to day basis) there is also a sort of ethical consideration here in which the board will require you to certify (under oath) that you indeed did have 4 years of engineering experience directly under a PE. Can you sign that as a certified statement (in good conscience?). I'm not saying it should or should not be done by you here because I don't know all your details and experience, etc. Just asking.

 

[CptHk]

JAE,

Thanks for the info. I do intend to call my state board, but I wanted feedback before I called. I know the board is the final decision maker and I will freely accept if I need 5 more years experience directly under a P.E.

I know I need more supervision and experience to get myself to the point of becoming a P.E., but I want to get a good feel if I should make my case for 18-24 months worth of engineering experience. My intent is to round off the rest of the required experience period with all the areas that I feel I am lacking in proper training.

I believe my state also requires 3 PE's, hence my question about other outside PE's. I also would review the nature of my past work with the other P.E.'s and ask their opinion if my previous experience would be legitimate.

I have other primary roles other than engineering at my company so I would never under oath state that I have done only engineering work for my past 6-7 years with the company. However, if I spent a cumulative 1.5-2 years strictly on engineering and my plans were reviewed and stamped by the engineer, would your opinion be that that experience is legitimate? I am just curious about other P.E.'s opinion on this because I don't have a large network of P.E.'s to ask this question.

I know that most likely I need to work for another company under other P.E.'s to eventually achieve my P.E. certification, I am just trying to see if I have any way of achieving that with my current company because the work is very interesting.

 

[Zapster]

Do not sell your time short. Most consulting engineers do not spend 8 hour days engineering. There are meeting, training, project management, secretarial work, marketing, etc. Rare is the engineer that gets to spend most of their time engineering.

 

[CptHk]

Zapster,

Thanks for your input.

My job is truly split 50/50 Engineering/Project Manager due to the nature of my companies business and size. From your comment I would guess I could say I have as much as 3.5 years experience. My gut feel is that I need more than 2 years more experience and training so I wouldn't argue for more than 2.5 years worth of experience. I also know I need more experience under another P.E.

 

[JStephen]

Don't sell your time "medium" either. Or look at it this way: If a job requires a PE to do it, then it ought to qualify for PE experience. What I mean is, you may do 10% design and 90% project administration/CAD/etc. and still have a lot of "engineering experience" from it.

My boss was one who got his PE while working for a company that had no PE's. So it's not out of the question. If you can get some good information from your PE board, that will help tremendously. Read your state PE laws in detail on those points before talking to them. Keep in mind that work done that is exempt from engineering registration can still serve as qualifying experience for registration.

Other PE's can review your work and serve as references for you, but that's not the same as working under a PE.

One other thing. Before talking to board, read the licensing laws VERY carefully about the idea of "reviewing and stamping" your work. In many states, that's just flat out illegal- if you aren't working under his "direct supervision", he can't seal your work. Other states allow this (or use to)- I remember Utah being one that specifically had provisions for this to be done. But make sure you don't stir up a little hornet's nest by asking. If your PE needs more involvement, by all means, get him more involved- doesn't have to be full time, just not all after the fact, either.

 

[plasgears]

Don't make the mistake I made; working for an unqualified "engr." All I wanted to do was transfer my PE from one state to another. The clown refused to acknowledge my work and qualifications and didn't forward my package to the state. When I brought it up to the top boss, he got someone else to acknowledge, and the clown in question intercepted my company mail. It never made it to the state office.

When I left the company I gave the clown a bad review, to say the least, and he no longer works there.