PA PE Licensure

[meche2003]

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on my current dilemma. I am a hold a mechanical engineering degree from an ABET accredited university and I passed the EIT 4 years ago this April (passed April 2009 test). I would like to sit for the October PE exam, however I am going to have issues with my amplified record of work experience.

My career path is as follows

2003-2004-Plant Operations Intern
2004-2007-Staff Engineer for Design Firm
2007-2009-MEP Coordinator for General Contractor
2009-Present-Project Manager for Mechanical Contractor

I have nearly four years of experience as a design engineer under a PE, but it happened before I passed my EIT. I have at least 5 mechanical PE's who would vouch for my work during that time, however since then I moved to the construction industry. I worked under a civil/structural PE when I worked for a GC during 2007-2009, however I am the only engineer at the company I work for now (mechanical contractor 2009-present). That means my 4 years of work experienced happened at this company. I know what the rules are per PA's website and basically it prevents me from taking the exam. What do I do? Should I contact the board and ask and is there any chance they would count my previous experience? I clearly have the experience an understanding, it just didn't happen at the right time. Furthermore, I still do perform engineering calculations, just not full-time. I am essentially the resident engineer at my company, I've performed heat loads for design build jobs, duct sizing, pipe sizing, checks of engineers designs when they don't work, etc.

Has anyone had the same experience and been able to take the test? Not trying to toot my own horn, but I definitely have a more thorough understanding than someone who has only four years of experience and having experience as both a contractor and an engineer has really developed my engineering know-how. It seems as if I am being punished for having well-rounded experience.

 

[KiwiMace]

I got my PE with the bulk of my accredited experience attained before I had ever seen a US PE. Just apply, I don't think it really matters when you attained your EIT relative to your work experience as long as you can get a PE to vouch for your experience. This should not be a problem for you.

 

[meche2003]

What state were you able to do this in? PA seems to be very strict with their requirements, I have read that they have rejected applications in cases where folks have about 3.75 years of experience rather than four.

That's why I'm wondering if the best thing to do is to contact the board, it does look like there is some flexibility built into the language about whether you performed engineering functions under a PE or a similar qualified person, however in the laws they have the word "after" in after receiving your EIT capitalizing, indicating that they are pretty firm on this requirement. I hope that you are right though as it would make sense that as long as you worked as an engineer doing engineering calculations under a PE, you would have the requisite experience.

 

[KiwiMace]

It was CA unfortunately. I did my EIT in OH. I know another kiwi engineer in CA that managed to get his PE without 4 yrs post-EIT experience. I would think the only good reason to want to do that is to protect from immigrants, like myself.

 

[Drazen]

I wish I could see how it looks like in Europe. Whenever you go, there is at least one country border after 200 km of driving, most of time, and there is different licensing though codes and standards are 99% the same, and differences are mostly trivial.

I do not see, however, that such strong effort against competition helps engineers in any way.