Using my PE stamp as a Foreign business 1

[rb192]

Hello All,

I am a foreigner working as a Professional Engineer in California, US. Due to COVID and some personal reasons, I want to move back to my home country. I was wondering if I would be still allowed to use my stamp in US? I want to start a Structural Engineering firm back home, I love working on projects here, I know how to deal with clients so, I would like to keep doing my design work and utilize my stamp. Thanks in advance!

 

[r13]

I think you can, as long as you maintain your PE license/registration.

 

[skeletron]

How would you meet field inspection requirements?

 

[Obregon]

Not a good idea if you can´t make sure the works will be done properly. Greetings.

Carlos R. Obregón

http://www.sueloanclado.com

 

[phamENG]

I can't speak to specific California requirements, but it should be doable. A firm I worked for in the past did work all over the country, but we certainly didn't travel to do inspections (there were only 6 of us). We would generally write up the statement and schedule of special inspections, and leave it to a local testing lab with qualified inspectors to handle the field work. All of the reports would be reviewed in detailed as they came in to make sure work was progressing as it was supposed to.

 

[KootK]

1) My experience mirrors phamENG's. I'm currently based in Canada and doing a lot of work in the midwestern US and California. In the Midwest, I've partnered up with some local engineers for field review purposes. California is pretty much the ideal place to do this, in my opinion, as they have a very robustly enforced plan review and special inspections setup. the owner lines up a special inspector on a separate contract and we collaborate as needed.

2) It is less satisfying to not be able to drive across town to monitor progress and the finished products. That said, it's also satisfying to be able to do the work in the first place, even if I only get to see photos and reports.

3) In California, you'll need what I would call a "soft" version of a firm registration in addition to your PE/SE. No big deal; mostly just paperwork. I've found this site to be very useful for helping me to sort out the requirements in various states: Link

4) To my Canadian cohorts who are probably shocked by this this stuff, know that the setup regarding field review is quite different in the US than it is in Canada. It's different from state to state and is evolving but, in many locations, is much laxer than it is in Canada. Consider:

a) I designed some 14-ish story concrete condos in Green Bay, WI that were never viewed by myself nor anyone from the firm that I worked for at the time.

b) Some of the AHJ signoff in Canada is a little nuts in my opinion. Taken literally, Alberta's signoff documentation basically says that the engineer has to have confirmed that everything is as it was detailed on the drawings. This basically confuses QC with QA in my opinion and, obviously, local engineers treat this stuff pretty liberally.

 

[sandman21]

... California is pretty much the ideal place to do this, in my opinion, as they have a very robustly enforced plan review and special inspections setup. the owner lines up a special inspector on a separate contract and we collaborate as needed...

Special inspection does not take the place of structural observations. If you are required to provide an observation per CBC 1704.6, with many cities requiring under item 4, then either the EOR or a registered designed professional hired by the owner will have to do the observation.

 

[KootK]

Special inspection does not take the place of structural observations.

I'm aware and that's really part of what makes me appreciate the setup in California:

1) Plan review and structural inspection are rigorously reinforced.

2) There remain many opportunities for which stuctural observation is not required.

3) When structural observation is sensible, it's required.

I doubt that anybody wants to be designing dams or hospitals on the San Andreas without a local presence. Fun rich people houses and light commercial... sure.

 

[sandman21]

1) Is very debatable

2/3) Many local authorities will require observation even if the building does not need it per code, item #5. Fun rich people houses will need observation in most of LA, same for commercial, and 5 over 1 podium even thou they do not need it per code.

 

[r13]

What is structural observation? And what is the consequence if one does not comply?

 

[KootK]

1) Is very debatable

If there's a North American jurisdiction doing it better, do tell. To me, it seems as though California an Florida are out in front by a healthy margin over most places. I've had a multi pass plan review and special inspection on every project that I've done in California to date.

2/3) Many local authorities will require observation even if the building does not need it per code, item #5. Fun rich people houses will need observation in most of LA, same for commercial, and 5 over 1 podium even thou they do not need it per code.

I don't at all disagree. So that's LA and some other, mostly very urban jurisdictions. California's construction market is as big as, or bigger than, all of Canada's. As I said, there are plenty of opportunities for external engineers to be involved without running afoul of any regulations.

 

[sandman21]

What is structural observation? And what is the consequence if one does not comply?

You are reviewing the structure for general conformance with the approved drawings. Are the shearwalls correctly located, they sill plate washers, nailing pattern is correct, grade beam reinforcing correct, deck attachment, steel beam, conc./CMU embeds are correct, etc. The AHJ can hold up occupancy until observations are provided at each stage of construction.

If there's a North American jurisdiction doing it better, do tell. To me, it seems as though California an Florida are out in front by a healthy margin over most places. I've had a multi pass plan review and special inspection on every project that I've done in California to date.

QA/QC both DSA and OSHPD are actively good. A city inspection or special inspection is hit a or miss on if something will be spotted let alone brought to EOR attention. Plan reviews still routinely miss large issues on projects.

I don't at all disagree. So that's LA and some other, mostly very urban jurisdictions. California's construction market is as big as, or bigger than, all of Canada's. As I said, there are plenty of opportunities for external engineers to be involved without running afoul of any regulations.

I was only pointing out that many locations require observation as part of plan approval and how to accomplish the goal if you are out of state.

 

[r13]

Unless each observation is accompanied by a city official, or requires the presence of third party personal, the requirement seems adding to another paper work only.

 

[KootK]

What isn't much fun about remotely doing US work is having to figure out what needs to be done on a state by state basis, without the help of admin staff. Case in point, I just picked up my Wyoming license which entailed:

1) Having my Canadian undergraduate degree questioned, again.

2) Some lengthy application reviewer vacation time.

3) Easily the most significant ethics exam that I've taken to date (essay questions). Good on them for making it meaningful, if a little onerous.

4) Individual registration with the state licensing board.

5) Firm registration with the state licensing board.

6) Business registration with the state department because I'm not a sole proprietorship.

7) Lots and lots of phone calls and emails.

8) Not being able to use the online application system because it won't accept weird, letter infused Canadian postal codes for credit card payment.

When it comes to their engineering licensing, they're not quite the fast and loose cowboys that their stamp would suggest. It's a fair bit to go through for a state with 600K people. Again, my love for California: it's a big enough market to justify the hassle.

 

[KootK]

Unless each observation is accompanied by a city official, or requires the presence of third party personal, the requirement seems adding to another paper work only.

Structural observation adds tangible value and certainly warrants the additional paperwork for significant works. This structuremag article does a good job of elucidating the differences between the different levels of quality assurance: Link

 

[r13]

...and Structural Observation performed by the Engineer of Record (EOR) or his/her designee.

That's enough for me and the oversee OP.

The requirement for situational structural observation has been in the IBC from its inception, as well as in the previous model building codes.

I wonder if I was the only one did not know this requirement !

 

[skeletron]

Is that actually Wyoming's stamp? OMG! We get a beaver in Alberta and a bunch of lines anywhere else, but Wyoming has a bucking horse?!

 

[KootK]

It is Wyoming's stamp. And I know, right? I wanted to whine about that too but figured nobody here would get it. Home of the greatest outdoor show on earth rodeo thing and we're stuck with a praying beaver. Boo.

 

[KootK]

My wife wants it like this. Rodeo + girl power.

 

[skeletron]

You know, at least they didn't go full-out and have a spewing oil derrick. I can live with beaver (more of a deer province though, to be honest...unfortunately, they are not as resilient).