Becoming a PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

1. Becoming aPROFESSIONAL ENGINEER All you need to know (or most of it…)

2. But first, what is a professional engineer? • A professional engineer ( P.E.) is a person who is licensed to practice engineering in a particular state or US territory after meeting all requirements of the law. To practice in multiple states or territories, the P.E. must be licensed in each state in which he or she wishes to practice.

3. OVERVIEW • Legal Requirements for Engineering Practice • Professional Registration Process • FE Examination Specifications • Strategies for Passing the FE Exam • Study Materials • Answers to Common Questions • Why Become a Licensed Professional Engineer?

4. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS • All States and Jurisdictions have Registration Laws Governing the Practice of Engineering • Most States prohibit persons who are not registered PE’s from: • advertising, using a business card, or otherwise indicating to the public that they are an engineer • assuming the title of engineer • practicing, offering to practice or holding themselves out as qualified to practice as an engineer • Exemptions for Industrial Practice

5. What are the requirements to become licensed as a P.E.? • Education (ABET/EAC) • FE Exam (EIT) • Experience (4 years) • PE Exam (P&PE)

6. What are the 10 reasons for becoming licensed as a P.E.? • There are really more than 10 reasons but most will fall in four categories . . . • 1. A legal necessity. • 2. Improved employment security. • 3. Better opportunities for advancement. • 4. Personal satisfaction.

7. Legal Necessity • 1. If you ever want or need to become a consulting engineer, you must be licensed as a P.E. • 2. Only a P.E. can sign and seal engineering documents that are submitted to a public authority or for public and private clients.

8. Improved Employment Security • 3. Restructuring, downsizing and outsourcing ARE REAL! A P.E. license may make the difference in finding new employment. • 4. Industry and utility exemptions are being eliminated in some jurisdictions. • 5. Continuing education is required for a professional engineer-- in some states by law but in all states in practice.

9. Opportunities for Advancement • 6. Many companies encourage licensure and some even pay a bonus for becoming a P. E. • 7. In education, more colleges are requiring a P.E. license for engineering faculty or for holding certain titles. • 8. Increasingly, in many industry, utility, and government positions, a P.E. is required for specified jobs or levels.

10. Opportunities for Advancement - Continued • 9. With the engineering profession now operating in an international environment, licensing may be required to work in or for other countries. You will be prepared in the event your career moves in this direction.

11. Personal Satisfaction • 10. Licensure is the mark of a professional. Ethical standards, continuing education, and professional competency are expected. P.E. after your name indicates you have met the standards and can be respected as a professional.

12. ... And One More Reason

13. What to Expecton the FE Exam • 8 Hours long • AM and PM Sessions • Multiple choice format • Is a test of engineering fundamentals • Given twice per year

14. FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING EXAMINATION MORNING SESSION 4 HOURS - 120 QUESTIONS -12 TOPIC AREAS: Math, Statistics, Chemistry, Computers, Ethics, Engineering Econ., Mechanics (Statics & Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Material Properties, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism MECHANICAL CIVIL ELECTRICAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ENGINEERING ENGINEERING ENGINEERING ENGINEERING 120 POINTS 120 POINTS 120 POINTS 120 POINTS 120 POINTS New FE Examination Format

15. MORNING SECTION • Chemistry 9 % • Computers 7 % • Strength of Materials 7 % • Electrical Circuits 10 % • Engineering Economics 8 % • Engineering Ethics 7 % • Fluid Mechanics 7 % • Materials Science 7 % • Mathematics 15 % • Statistics 7 % • Electricity /Magnetism 9 % • Statics / Dynamics 10 % • Thermodynamics 7 % Total 100 %

16. Chemistry 9% Thermodynamics Computers 7% 7% Statics 5% Dynamics 5% Mechanics of Materials Electrical Circuits 7% 10% Engineering Economics Mathematics Ethics 8% 15% 7% Materials Science/Structure of Fluid Mechanics Matter 7% 7% Morning Sessions Subjects

17. AFTERNOON SECTION • Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Chemical Engineering • Industrial Engineering • General

18. FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING EXAMINATION AFTERNOON SESSION - 4 HOURS - 60 QUESTIONS -12 TOPIC AREAS IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING: Modeling and Computation Engineering Economics Manufacturing and Production Systems Probability and Statistics Industrial Management Facilities and Logistics Human Factors & Work Design Quality New FE Examination Format

19. PM Exam Subjects • All exams are contained in one exam book so you can preview each exam • Is not necessarily linked to your major • The General Session will be much like the morning session • Must stay within a specific session once selected

20. FE EXAM STRATEGIES • Watch the time • THINK before you start • Eliminate incorrect choices • Answer all questions • Prepare for the test

21. Strategies for Takingthe FE Exam • Watch the clock, time limits are strictly enforced • Average of 2 minutes/problem in the AM • Average of 4 minutes/problem in the PM • Attack the areas you know best, first • Save difficult problems for last

22. Strategies for Takingthe FE Exam • Make your best guess (may be your first guess) with a “?” and come back to it • Make notes and best guess before moving on to the next question • Answer each question • There is no penalty for an incorrect answer • Your score is based on number of correct answers

23. Handling Difficult Problems • If you have no clue at all: • Make your best guess • Circle the problem number (or identify it some other way) to indicate you have no clue • Come back to these problems only if have more time • Never leave a question unanswered

24. Saving Time • Write the letter of the correct answer in the margin on the test booklet • At the end of the page, transcribe the answers to the answer sheet • Do this one page at a time. • Do not do this for the entire exam and then attempt to transfer the answers

25. Units • In the morning some problems are given in both SI and US units • Work what you are most comfortable with • Most afternoon exams will be SI only so be prepared • Civil exam uses both sets of units for some topic areas

26. Terminology • Not everyone uses the same terminology • Try to be familiar with other nomenclature • Focus on the problem; do you know it by another name?

27. Reference Manual • Be familiar with its organization • Where are your most frequently used equations? • What data will you use the most? • Not necessarily a good idea to study by the reference manual

28. Work Out Of Sequence • Problems tend to be grouped in sections • Work what you know best, first • Save the most difficult for last • If you don’t know it, guess

29. Write Out the Problem • Work in the test booklet • Solving problems in your head may not be the fastest way • Make sure you record your answer on the answer sheet—graders do not look at your test booklet

30. What If You Do Not Pass? • Take it again • Exam is offered twice a year • Review and study for the next time • No adverse information is placed on your record

31. STUDY MATERIALS • FE Sample Questions Book • FE Exam Supplied Reference Book NCEES P.O. Box 1686 Clemson, SC 29633-1686 Phone: (800) 250-3196 Fax: (803) 654-6033 Internet: www.ncees.org

32. STUDY MATERIALS • FE examinees will be furnished a copy of the FE Supplied-Reference Handbook at the exam site. This is the only reference material you will use during the exam.

33. FREQUENT QUESTIONS • Can I transfer my EIT Registration? • Will graduate school count for the 4 years experience requirement? • What score is required to pass the test? • If I fail, can I take the test again? • How can I contact the registration board in my state when I’m ready for the PE exam?

34. What is an “accredited” degree? • Most colleges or universities that award an engineering degree are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. If you do not have a degree accredited by EAC/ABET additional experience requirements may apply.

35. After qualifying, am I licensed as a P.E. in Industrial Engineering? • In some states, yes. • In other states, you are licensed as a P.E. without any other designation, however, you can practice only in your field of expertise gained by education or experience.

36. Can I become licensed nationally? • No. Just as with other professions, the requirements for licensure are left to the states. However, most state laws are similar to the NCEES model law so usually you do not have to pass exams again and you can be licensed by “comity”.

37. The future . . . Are you ready? Having a P.E. license is the best insurance policy and could affect your career. The time to start is now. Contact your state licensing board for requirements and examination dates. Licensing board addresses and phone numbers can be obtained from the Internet -- http://www.ncees.org/boards.html

38. Useful Links http://www.ncees.org/exams/scoring/scoring_method.php#difficulty http://www.nspe.org/index.html http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/WhatisaPE/index.html http://www.fbpe.org/

39. Useful Links http://www.ncees.org/exams/fundamentals/fe_exam_specs.pdf http://www.iienet2.org/seminar.aspx?id=9462&seminar=PEI http://www.eng.fiu.edu/cee/Training.htm

40. Useful Links http://catalog.asme.org/Education/Webinar/PE_EXAM_REVIEW_WEBINAR_SERIES.cfm http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/~eeconomy/FundExam.htm http://cgi.ebay.com/FE-EIT-Engineering-Exam-Review-Study-Video-DVD_W0QQitemZ160199154985QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL080116114a32570

41. P.E. NSPE encourages you to get it.