Professional Development 1

[saadpervez1]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone guide me regarding some useful certifications for structural engineers at the start of their career?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Depends highly on your field and location.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[KootK]

PE, SE, PMP, MSc, MBA... LEED, although I'm a bit sour on that. Like TME said, depends on your market and aspirations.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[XR250]

"Esq" might be useful these days

 

[EngineeringEric]

Pending your experience, dare I say 'President'?

Also i think there was a post like this just the other day in a different forum

 

[Jc67roch]

Get your P.E. as quickly as you can. Get EIT and PE exams done as soon as possible. The tests are constantly changing, and getting harder, and it is difficult to recall information for the EIT out of school. Also tougher to study with a family/kids.

I also highly recommend setting up an NCEES record. Costs are minimal, and it makes getting licensed in multiple states very easy. It also saves each successive job experience with your boss's sign off. If you were to pursue years later, it can be difficult if not impossible to find your old boss (if he has moved on or retired), or get someone to sign off on your work experience.

 

[Lomarandil]

Here's the recent related thread.

The above advice is all good. A NCEES Record isn't all it used to be (see here), but still valuable.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I reiterate Jc67roch's comment about taking the EIT and PE as soon as possible. The people I know who have trouble passing them all waited too long before taking them.

So, make that your first professional goal.... to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to pass the PE. Study what you don't know that's going to be on the test. Relate the work you're doing to test problems that you're studying.

 

[SLTA]

Are you in the US?

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[saadpervez1]

To all those asking, I'm working as a Junior Structural Engineer in the Middle East right now and plan to continue here, PE exam, chartership, LEED BD+C certification are a few things that I have in mind, I've heard PE and PMP are difficult to obtain without a specific number of years of experience. At the moment I have only 2 years of experience(please don't laugh).

 

[CELinOttawa]

No one should laugh - I commend your initiative!

If you are in the middle east, get your IStructE membership.

 

[Shu Jiang PEng SE]

Do not be frustrated. Everyone has challenges and barriers. I am middle forty and holding an P.Eng. certificate with Ontario Canada and P.E. with Michigan. I passed the NCEES Structural Engineer (Building) exams. I am working in mining consultant industry and eager to extend work scope to some new areas without results.

 

[saadpervez1]

Got very encouraging responses from you guys, I'm in my mid twenties so I believe I have time on my side, but still I'll be registering for the graduate membership of IStructE soon. Thank you all .

 

[Edu09]

Just an extra hopefully useful response. This is a great blog resource I've found for ICE/IStructE stuff.

http://thestructuralexam.com/

It contains a lot about the process, examinations and everything to do with getting the professional qualification.

Cheers!

 

[darthsoilsguy2]

if you're in the oil industry, API has lots of good certs to capture while waiting for the clock to tick to take the PE exam. Not sure how positioning yourself for PE license works on the international front. i know i wasn't able to count my water systems experience in peace corps towards my North Carolina PE license, since i was working under an engineer without an American-based license.

 

[saadpervez1]

@Edu09

That's a great share! Thank you for this.

@dathsoilsguy2

I am not in the oil industry, and to be honest oil industry in the Middle East is in free fall right now, so that's a no go area. There are examples of people taking the PE license from here but it takes a long time, I think 10 years in the minimum time you need to be able to meet all the criteria.

Plus do you all think Construction Management courses would be able to help in the career growth of a Structures guy or not?