Education in San Antonio

Engineering degrees are great areas of study for any person to get into. Taking this path and becoming a qualified Professional Engineer is really a good choice any engineer can make. Professional engineers (or PE’s for short) make very good salaries and work on many challenging projects. Although just like other certification processes, getting certified is no easy task. The following paragraphs describe the various steps in order to get a professional engineering license.

The first step is obvious; complete an undergraduate degree in engineering. Specifically, within an ABET endorsed engineering curriculum. Usually these are at least four-year programs within a discipline of engineering like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and chemical engineering. In the program you will learn the basic fundamental core concepts in the craft including mathematical problem solving and scientific evaluation, as well as participate in projects involving design work.

The FE Exam (stands for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam) is a formal proctored exam that must be taken on the path toward becoming a professional engineer. The exam was developed in order to test out your general mathematics, science, and engineering skills. As mentioned previously, these are core competencies one would expect to gain in an undergrad engineering program. The exam is given at two times during the year and much like other standardized tests, requires preparation and study beforehand.

One of the most arduous requirements for becoming a professional engineer is the necessity to have work experience for a minimum of four years. And not just any work experience, but work experience in a functional engineering role. Hence job tasks such as determining equipment features, coming up with technical designs, or programming technical components would be acceptable. In addition, you will have to record this experience and identify your individual contributions. The reason for this is because you will need to submit this experience record when you formally apply for your license.

While different states will have different specifics, you will need to formally apply to be a Professional Engineer with your state’s engineering board. Usually this will entail appropriate forms to fill out and the submission of several documents including your working experience statement, referral letters, and school transcripts. Once approved, you will be able to sit for the PE exam, the final step in the licensure process.

The Professional Engineering Exam (known as the PE Exam) second and last exam you must pass on the path toward licensure. It takes a different approach from the FE Exam in that you need to show your know-how inside of your individual part of engineering. For example, an electrical engineer specializing in the power area would only be tested in topics such as power flow or power electronics. In general the PE exam will be more difficult as it aims to insure you are technically competent in your profession.

Getting your PE license will take self-discipline and a strong work ethic. But it is well worth it. Professional engineers stand for technical knowledge and professionalism. In addition, they can be rewarding and lucrative careers. Thus it is a valuable credential any engineer can decide to pursue.

Learn more about being a professional engineer. Get more information at FE Exam Review.