Devrelle Dumas, EIT Corey A. Frazier, Ph.D., PE NSBE Portland Metro Professionals General Body Meeting July 15, 2014

E.I.T./E.I. = Engineer in Training or Engineer Intern First step towards a P.E. license Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam  Designed for recent grads and students close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree  Eligibility – An individual must be at least in the last two semesters of an ABET-accredited engineering program  Computer-based  $225 Registration fee  Look into the possibility getting reimbursed for cost – demonstrate its value to career What is an EIT Certification?

The PE license tells the public that an engineer has mastered the critical elements of the profession. Professional Engineers: – Demonstrate years of experience and expertise in their field – Can stamp and seal engineering documents – Can bid for government contracts – Can offer their services to the public – Perform consulting services in accordance to state laws What is a PE Certification?

PE Stats Source: Abt Associates Inc., Engineers in the U.S.: An Overview of the Profession, 2004

Pre-EIT to PE Flow Engineer-In-Training Engineering Professional Job Responsibilities Performs engineering analysis and tasks. Elevates those results to senior engineers for approval. Key Transition Points Complete required years of experience Successfully apply for PE certification Pass PE exam Successfully petition to waive PE exam and receive certification Professional Engineer Engineering Professional Job Responsibilities Approves engineering documentation in accordance with state and local regulations. May perform engineering analysis and tasks. May elevate results to other senior engineers, senior management, or officials. Key Transition Points: Maintain certification and expertise Mentor other engineers Pre-Engineer-In-Training Engineering Student or Engineering Professional Job Responsibilities Studies engineering principles and practices. Performs engineering analysis and tasks. Elevates those results to senior engineers for approval. Key Transition Points Pass FE exam Successfully petition to waive FE exam and receive EIT certification

Increase employment potential Entrepreneurship Industry  Academia – Allows engineers in academia to transfer innovation and theoretical principles to real world problem solving What Opportunities Are Available with a PE License?

True or False: As a PE you are only allowed to sign on for work you directly performed analysis on. Question

False PEs certification extends to signature authority on documents, analysis, and designs under your supervision or ownership, but not necessarily performed by you. It may be your responsibility to approve or deny engineering work as part of a team engineering project. Answer

Pros & Perks Stays with you "forever" Title/credibility Job opportunities Leadership opportunities: – Responsibility over other engineering activities requiring state/local approval – Input to senior management decisions and officials PE Certification Benefits and Tradeoffs Cons & Taxes Major commitment – Requires re-licensure – Continuing Ed accountability Awareness/responsibility of team and designs (technical knowledge)

PE Application Process Experience PE References Paperwork $$$ PE Application Components

PE Application Process Experience PE References Paperwork $$$ Requirements (may vary by state) – Degree-level dependent + years of experience Example for Texas: accredited B.S. degree + 4 years Begin building a record of your duties – Include how you go/went about performing engineering tasks – Not just a resume regurgitation

PE Application Process Experience PE References Paperwork $$$ PE References: – Licensed PEs who can verify your claims of engineering acumen – May or may not be familiar with your work or work with you – At least 3 will be needed to sign off on Supplementary Experience Record Tips to gain PE References – Network during “apprenticeship” to gain PEs who provide guidance and will sign off – Look up on state directory and write a polite letter

PE Application Process Experience PE References Paperwork $$$ Fees – $250 Application Fee – Investigate Company Sponsorship/Reimbursement

PE Application Process Experience PE References Paperwork $$$ Notable Paperwork – Ethics Exam: Online exam, submitted with PE application – Supplementary Experience Record (SER) Form: Detailed record of all engineering exp. Supplementary Experience Record (SER) Form Anti-résumé: First person with complete sentences and active engineering type verbs SER Pitfalls – easy ways to mess up the PE application – Original SER provided to state board, copies go to PE references for verification – SERs must be provided with an envelope for your PE references to seal upon review or mail independently to board Other documents include transcripts, criminal history, foreign degree verification

FEPE Training/Prep (3+ month head start) Free prep classes offered through schools or through private companies for a fee Recommended Coursework Refresher courses in 101-level subject areas (chemistry, physics, etc.) if you've been a practicing engineer for a while Practice exams – questions from past exams offered online. General knowledge review. PE Prep courses specific to field. Sponsorship may be available through your company! References Allowed in the Exam FE Reference Handbook Textbooks Standards NCEES Workbook PE Reference book(s) Exam Preparation

Registration Getting acclimated to the test environment Best Practices – Get there EARLY – Do not leave for lunch – Bring snacks – Pace yourself FE Exam: ~3 minutes per question PE Exam: ~6 minutes per question What to Expect on Exam Day

Example of FE Exam Specifications Exam Specifics

FE Exam – Expect results in 7 to 10 days Pass/fail – NCEES does not report grades to test takers – I PASSED! Now what? Find P.E. mentors Gain professional engineering experience – Re-take Available year round, so test can be taken whenever you’re ready again $225 registration fee required each time test is taken Plan for success: Take note of difficult sections Post-FE Exam

Professional branding and title – Use “PE” title (modern format) “P.E.” also acceptable – Unacceptable (*unless specified by your company/regulations) “P.Eng” and “Ing” (foreign designations) – Not needed (*unless specified by your company/regulations) License #, PE discipline  LinkedIn, CV, other databases General: No subordinate degree levels Stamp vs Seal – Mandatory to obtain one or the other Post-PE Exam: Passing

Continuing Education (measured in Professional Development Hours) – Annual CE requirements vary by state Annual CE requirements High: Texas, North Carolina, and many others states (15 PDH + 1 ethics hr) Low: Florida & Virginia (8 PDHs), Vermont (10 PDHs) – Auditing Electronically verify (honor code style) upon yearly renewal Recommend Tracking/Log Sheet in case of auditTracking/Log Sheet – Not required in first year…BUT DO IT ANYWAY! State PE Board Newsletter – Read for information on new standards and license revocations/suspensions Professional Orgs – National Society of Professional Engineers National Society of Professional Engineers Post-PE Exam: Passing

Post-Exam – Immediately note: – Exam subject areas/question types you found difficult NCEES will NOT tell you your score – Exam day challenges and obstacles Take time to relax and evaluate – Exams are only administered in October and April Post-PE Exam: Re-take 4 Maximum attempts $200+ Cost per test attempt Not the end of the world!...but there’s still URGENCY Am I banned if I fail 4 consecutive times? NO. But… Must go through the application process again Prohibited from applying for 1 year NCEES/State board will gladly take your money

Lean, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma certifications Project Management Professional (PMP) & Project Management-related certifications Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) and Systems Engineering- related certifications Business Process Management (BPM) certification Configuration Management certifications Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification Professional Certification Presentations on the Horizon

BACKUP

* First-time test takers, within 9 months of graduation reported only. FE Exam Pass/Fail Rates

* PE Exam Pass / Fail rates (as of April 2014)

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