New engineer and the PE 6

[mizzoueng]

I have been in the field for a year full-time and I worked for about 8 months part-time while in school. The company I am at right now has 1 PE but he really doesn't do engineering, just estimating. I plan on being with this company for a while but am I going to learn what I need to know to pass the PE? I do get to talk to another PE once in a while but I really can't learn from him. Are there classes I can take to help myself along?

 

[JAE]

mizzoueng,

One of the things I do when I interview engineers for my staff is offer them my own resume after they give me theirs. Their decision to work for our firm should be based upon not only what the firm's benefit package, salary, etc. is, but also what mentoring/training capacity there is.

So many graduates get hired into a company that has no engineering talent to speak of, and the graduate ends up languishing. Maybe "languishing" is a bit strong, but what would you call it if you worked for someone, in a professional field, who gave you multiple years of employment with no supervision, training, transfer of knowledge, and transfer of judgement? You would end up a "lesser" engineer, possibly limited for life.

I would urge you to find employment with a firm who has experienced engineers who can properly train you. I'm not talking about just getting you enough knowledge to get a PE license. I'm talking about your overall professional level of expertise. From what you describe, you ain't getting much.

 

[ccor]

If you're satisfied with your work, you can definitely pass the PE with some good hard studying. The question then is, will that make you a PE that is not qualified to stamp anything as JAE is suggesting? Depends on where you want to go. If you like what you're doing and want your PE as a resume builder and never plan on stamping anything, maybe this is okay. If you want to get into design or possibly go out on your own someday, nothing can replace quality experience, leadership, and mentoring. As for classes, why not pursue a master's degree. Look into North Carolina State University's Engineering Online distance program. I have taken several classes and highly recommend the program.

 

[BelspringKen]

JAE knows what he (or she) is talking about.

I left a position in which I was basically doing CAD drafting to come to my new job where I can grow.

Hats off to you, JAE, for being a true professional.

Ken

 

[JAE]

I'm a he. thanks Ken.

 

[mizzoueng]

I think I am learning a lot about design and process piping and such now. But I wonder what should I be learning from a PE? Should it be tricks of the trade, ethics, or do they just let you work and help you out when you need it?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

mizzoueng - JAE has offered your one of the best postings that I have seen. As for how to prepare for the PE exam, I commend you for taking an active interest so soon, you have time on your side. Don't totally rely others to teach you what you need to know. With the resources available today (internet) you can do a lot yourself.

Suggest that you visit the NCEES web site frequently

http://www.ncees.org/

to get an idea of how the exam is organized - it changes from time to time. This will give you clues of what type information you will be tested on.

As for self-study, right now don't target any particular subject, make it a point to find out about a diversity of fields - you will quickly find that some will be of interest, others will not. Follow-up on subjects you like. The important thing is to keep at it, the easy way to do that is to follow your interests.

When the time comes, keep an open mind on which exam to prepare for. Some state require specific exams for certain types of work - most do not - find out which what applies to you.

And of course, continue to participate here at Eng-Tips (in lots of forums). Add what you can to questions by others - this will give you another perspective on engineering.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[JStephen]

Don't expect your industry experience to prepare you for the exams. It might do that if you're a consultant working in very general fields. But you could be doing the most sophisticated work imaginable and never touch any of the topics covered in the exams. I suggest you look up NCEES. I think they have some exam guides with sample questions and all. Order some of those and see what's in them, and you'll have a lot better idea of what the exams are about. They aren't going to ask about the left-handed widgets that you are making.

As far as what you should be learning: That's a difficult question. You should be learning to do your job without supervision. If that job doesn't ever involve any kind of actual engineering, you don't need a PE license to do it. You may or may not want to stick with the job in that case- just your personal preference. Some people major in engineering just to get non-engineering managerial jobs, which just seems odd to me. But if the job is one you want to stick with, you don't have to have any particular skill set that you learn from it.

More importantly, look at the experience requirements for a PE. You do have to be in a position of increasing engineering responsibility. If your job doesn't meet that, you won't be able to get a PE anyway. That doesn't mean all your time is spent on actual training or engineering, just there has to be some in there.

If you haven't, look up your state engineering rules and laws and peruse them, paying special attention to the experience required, and the extent of oversight required.

As you go along, make note of the other PE's you have any significant work experience with. At some point, you may need references from them.

 

[prost]

If you were in Missouri, you'd have another problem, mizzoueng (your name indicates your alma mater, but not your potential licensure state, so I'll assume you are not in Missouri). You need at least 3 Licensed Professional Engineers who are willing to vouch for your technical abilities. If you worked closely enough with an engr. professor who is a registered PE, then you could use him/her as a reference. I just looked at the form, didn't see anything in the application about requirement that the PE references you use be registered in the state you are applying to be licensed.

If you are in Missouri, this is a very helpful website:

http://www.pr.mo.gov/professionalengineers.asp

First thing to do is pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Second thing is get the 4 years' engineering experience; meanwhile, keeping in touch with those 5 references, 3 of whom must be registered PEs. Third thing I recommend, what I did, a couple of months before the exam, get the most recent editions of Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam : For the PE Exam (Engineering Reference Manual Series), Solutions Manual for the Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual and Mechanical Engineering Sample Examination and study them; if you do, you'll be well prepared for the PE exam in Mechanical Engineering. These 3 were great for stretching my brain, getting me used to solving the types of problems that are on the exam. You are making a big mistake if you enter a race without training or stretching properly; I think you are also making the same big mistake if you don't prepare your brain properly for the exam.

 

[mizzoueng]

Thanks for all the advice. I know I have a while until I can take the exam, and my job has gotten tougher as they are dropping more responability on me, and I am using engineering as well. I didn't know about the 3-5 references, but I hope I meet more PEs in the next 3-4 years so that won't be a problem.

 

[JStephen]

Mizzoueng, read the PE requirements on the references, because the wording varies some from state to state. In some states, the forms make it sound like a character reference, not a technical proficiency reference. In other states just the opposite. In my case, I've got PE's that I've known for years, but never actually worked with them, and others that I've done a lot of work for and never met face-to-face. Either can be a reference, depending on what is required.

I remember reading in CA for structural engineers, you had to have references from CA structural engineers. But they actually had a program set up where they could put you in contact with CA engineers specifically for this purpose. So don't assume that your references have to be people you just accidentally meet.

 

[Ron]

JAE...stellar advice as usual.

Those of us who've been around awhile and continue to grow in our practice owe much of our knowledge and approach to those who came before us and were unselfishly willing to guide and mentor us.

As with JAE, I feel we have a significant obligation to mentor, to transfer knowledge/experience, and to offer ourselves as examples.

Engineers change jobs. That's a fact of life. They do so for many reasons. One common reason that they change jobs is to be able to grow in their profession through proper mentoring and guidance. It is critical if you wish to remain in the profession and advance yourself as well as the profession.

 

[prost]

mizzoueng and JStephen--Missouri asks for both, technical and character references. A subset of the technical reference list is the requirement for 3 PEs.

Finding 3 PEs when you have an industrial career are harder than you think. I picked up 3 from my university graduate school career; you might not be so fortunate.