What does PE-mechanical really do? 4

[yangrui115]

I have no PEs around me. All I know about PE comes from our customer's requirement. They always want a PE stamp on our drawings. In this case, we have to send out drawings to a consulting firm and get the PE stamp from there. Of course, it's not cheap.

I took the EIT in Oct. 09. The result has not come out yet. But I kind of want to know more about PE exam and plan ahead. I'm in California. Here are my questions:

1. PE exam has a AM section and PM section. In the PM section it has Mechanical Design, HVAC, and Thermal&Fluid. I have more knowledge in Mechanical Design. If I took Mechanical Design in the afternoon section, does it mean I can only be PE certified in Mechanical Design ? Or I am certified in all three?

2. Who does PE always work for? Right now, all the PEs I know are working in either consulting firm or for the government.

3. If everything goes well, I got my PE license finally. What will this PE certificate bring to me ? a salary raise? more career opportunity? Is this something that raise me to a higher level of Mechanical Engineering?

 

[GregLocock]

The search function has been used by many people to achieve enlightenment or frustration.

" Is this something that raise me to a higher level of Mechanical Engineering?"

Doubt it. The exam itself is tough more in breadth than depth, I hear. Nothing wrong in having a broad range of interests, but I doubt a piece of paper will affect your real ability. FWIW I think it is a good idea to be interested in more than one branch of engineering, your job as a mechanical engineer is at least to keep those code- following structural engineers on their toes. I'm sure they enjoy the feedback.

Cheers

Greg Locock

I rarely exceed 1.79 x 10^12 furlongs per fortnight

 

[zdas04]

I was working for an Oil & Gas Production company when I got my P.E. There was no raise or promotion for getting it. I did get some pressure to stamp a couple of environmental reports that require a P.E. stamp, but I retired before they were ready for signature--after researching the matter I wouldn't have stamped them since I didn't have insurance and the company was not allowed by law to defend a case against a P.E. In short while employed by a non-Engineering company the P.E. really didn't mean much.

When I started my own business the P.E. was required if I was going to "hold myself out to the public" as an Engineer (e.g., if the name of the company had the word "Engineering" in it or if my business card designated me as an Engineer). Today I don't stamp much, mostly environmental forms like EPA SPCC forms, no drawings at all. I think that HVAC is the only mechanical discipline that regularly requires stamped drawings. I could stamp HVAC drawings if I prepared them or was in responsible charge of the preparation even though I took the Fluids afternoon session. Fluids and Mechinisms projects don't often require stamps.

One thing is for sure, there is no "always" in Engineering reporting relationships. Most of the P.E.'s that I work with are employed or own Engineering firms, but I see P.E. on the cards of a lot of my clients who work for Production companies. People take the test for their own reasons and those reasons only have to make sense to them.

David

 

[tygerdawg]

It is thought that in four years of EIT and supervised work, you would have an idea of which area of ME you'd want to concentrate. Where is a PE used? These are only examples, but MechDesign may stamp design of pressure vessels. HVAC would stamp designs of HVAC systems (duh). Thermal guys would be involved with power plant design.

Will it get you a pay raise? Depends on the firm with which you are working. Some firms make their money based on having qualified engineers on staff who can officially and competently review designs and take responsibility for them. It may be company policy to advance you to a more senior level position with associated pay & responsibility after you have a PE. I've spent most of my career in manufacturing and the PE was never utilized for anything. I learned very quickly to keep the fact that I had a PE very quiet because it caused a lot of conflict with the so-called "non-degreed engineers" on the Manufacturing Engineering staff. In most places I've worked, it made no difference except in my marketability for the next job. In the eyes of the job interviewers, it proved I had the ability to pass some sort of test and discriminated me from the 1001 other resumes from folks who did not.

Then many times the career path would be to learn your craft as a supervised EIT, gain further maturity and experience, then find out that you could be doing this for yourself and start your own business. It happens all the time.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[rbulsara]

Search the topic "PE License" on this forum. This topic has been covered umpteenth time.



Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ShaggyPE]

also have a look at

http://www.engineerboards.com.

It is a forum where its participants are preparing for the PE exam. This question has been discussed over there.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[IRstuff]

A PE license does the following:

> It qualifies you to be the engineer of record (EOR) and allows you to stamp drawings, reports, etc., and thereby certify that it is safe for the public to the best of your abilities.

> It allows you to legally be called an "engineer" to the general public, and offer them your engineering services.


TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[spongebob007]

From what I was told by the only two licensed engineers I know, the only thing you get out of having a PE licnese in an exempt industry is "personal satisfaction".

 

[MechEng2005]

My opinion of the PE, working in the machine design (exempt) industry... It is a form of proof that you are intelligent and capable. I currently don't plan on taking the PE exam, though I passed the EIT a few years ago now. I don't suspect any benefit at my current employer, where I am happy.

I could see a benefit if I am ever in a position of applying for a different job. Especially since many companies do not give references it seems. It indicates somebody with a functioning brain instead of somebody that holds down a chair all day.

In response to your #1... As I understand it, the PE does not typically distinguish. You can be held liable for practicing in areas beyond your knowledge. Even if you take HVAC but work in machine design, you need only be competent to the level expected of a PE. This is more obvious if you took the machine design test, but certainly taking a different exam does not mean you are incompetent.

-- MechEng2005

 

[photoengineer]

Professional Engineers design mechanical systems that will be used by or around the public at large. Professional engineers are held accountable by the state board to do a good job on engineering.

Successfully passing your Fundamentals of Engineering exam will give you what is called an Engineer-In-Training but the EIT does not allow you to practice. After having 4 years of qualifying experience you can take a second exam. Passing that exam will give you your Professional Engineer license.

Mechanical PEs design heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. They can design the mechanical systems in a building. They can do some pumping work (although that's more common for civil engineering) and perhaps design irrigation.

Professional engineers are generally used when a government entity requires a PE to sign off on something.

I didn't receive a pay raise or a one time bonus when I got my P.E.

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[kepharda]

My real response is to the first post.

As a PE any drawing you "stamp" you need to also design.

The process you describe where your company "sends out a drawing for a stamp" isn't legal IMHO.

The PE needs to be directly involved in the design and development of any drawing he/she will seal and stamp.

Now each state has somewhat differing definitions, but just reviewing someone else's work and putting your stamp on it is a Major No No.

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[kepharda]

Photo:

Pumping systems are the domain of Mechanical Engineers. I have seen Civils do pumps, but only for sumps etc. But I also work mainly in Heavy Industry so maybe in your field this is different.

And easier way to think about what ME PE's do is to consider the main fields:

Thermal and Fluid Systems
Mechanical Design
HVAC

Thermal and Fluids has a bunch of stuff, heat exchangers, pumps, piping systems, insulation, etc. Obviously a 20 hp water pump design does not need a PE Stamp, but you would need it if you were working for your own company.

A PE is needed in Mech Design if you want to do anything fancy that involves DOT regulations. But other than that not a whole lot.

HVAC is maybe the largest field, all the Commercial, Government, and Residential Engineering firms must have PE to stamp the drawings to get the proper permits for building.

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[yangrui115]

Maybe I should take the HVAC in the PM section. On one hand I do have the interest to learn more in this field. And this PE exam is a good opportunity. On the other hand HVAC has more opportunities, as far as I know.

 

[photoengineer]

Yangrui115,

I'd take the PE exam in the area that you know the best (probably the classes that you learned the most in while in college.) I work in aerospace (not covered on the PE) but excelled in a thermodynamics class so I took Thermal and Fluid Systems.

The afternoon portion of the exam you take doesn't affect what you can or can't sign off on. Actually, in some states the general type of exam (mechanical, civil, industrial, etc) doesn't affect what you can or can't sign off on. I am a Montana licensed Professional Engineer and it doesn't indicate what area I took the exam in. I must do a good job designing whatever the gizmo is but that holds true regardless of whether it is a civil, mechanical, or electrical design.



Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[TCAir]

All have mentioned great answers. I will add one more. If doing government work, it is highly favored.



Engineering has always been my love, but it ended up being my second career...

 

[kepharda]

I agree, because of accounting concerns of the major corporations in the US, Engineering Consulting is a growing field.

Basically Companies can hire consultants to work on their Capital projects then they go away once the project is over.

This way it appears to share holders that the Company is spending more money on Capital and less on Expenses.

Never mind that I have clients that I am constantly working for in effect I am overhead, but I am almost always working on capital.

And in the Consulting Field a PE is becoming a necessary certification.

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