August 1 is a Professional Engineers (PE) Day. To celebrate our PE's achievements, next week we will be hosting Meet Coastal Engineering's PEs series on our social media.
2018.07.30 - August 1 is a Professional Engineers (PE) Day. To celebrate our PE's achievements, next week we will be hosting Meet Coastal Engineering's PEs series on our Facebook and LinkedIn.
What is a PE?
PE licensure is the engineering profession's highest standard of competence, a symbol of achievement and assurance of quality. Licensed professional engineers are dedicated to applying scientific knowledge, mathematics, and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical, societal, and commercial problems while holding paramount the public health, safety, and welfare.
A century ago, anyone could work as an engineer without proof of competency. In order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the first engineering licensure law was enacted in 1907 in Wyoming. Now every state regulates the practice of engineering to ensure public safety by granting only Professional Engineers (PEs) the authority to sign and seal engineering plans and offer their services to the public.
What does it take to get licensed?
To become licensed, engineers must complete a four-year college degree, work under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, pass two intensive competency exams and earn a license from their state's licensure board. Then, to retain their licenses, PEs must continually maintain and improve their skills throughout their careers.
Yet the results are well worth the effort. By combining their specialized skills with their high standards for ethics and quality assurance, PEs help make us healthier, keep us safer and allow all of us to live better lives than ever before.
What makes a PE different from an engineer?