Regulation and Licensure in Engineering - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

12/22/11 Regulation and licensure in engineering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1/16en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_and_licensure_in_engineering

Regulation and licensure in engineeringFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protectthe safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process throughwhich an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the public.

The professional status and the actual practice of professional engineering is legally defined and protectedby a government body. In some jurisdictions only registered or licensed engineers are permitted to use thetitle of engineer or to practice engineering professionally. Another earmark that distinguishes a licensedprofessional engineer is the authority to take legal responsibility for engineering work. For example, alicensed engineer may sign, seal or stamp technical documentation such as reports, drawings, andcalculations for a study, estimate, design or analysis.

Contents1 Registration and regulation

1.1 United States1.2 Canada1.3 United Kingdom1.4 India1.5 Europe

2 Designations2.1 Africa2.2 Asia2.3 Europe2.4 Latin America2.5 North America2.6 Oceania

3 Title usage3.1 Canada3.2 United States3.3 United Kingdom3.4 Europe and Latin America3.5 International professional bodies

4 See also5 References6 External links

Registration and regulationBecoming an engineer is a widely varied process around the world with use of the term engineer regulatedin some regions and unregulated in others. In regions where engineering is a regulated profession, there arespecific procedures and requirements for obtaining license to practice, or charters, or registration from agovernment agency or charter-granting authority acting on its behalf and as in other regulated professions,engineers are subject to regulation by these bodies.[1]



Licensed engineers enjoy significant influence over their regulation. They are often the authors of thepertinent codes of ethics used by some of these organizations.[1] Engineers in private practice often, but notalways, find themselves in traditional professional-client relationships in their practice. Engineers employedin government service and industry are on the other side of the same relationship. Despite the differentfocus, engineers in industry as well as private practice face similar ethical issues and reach similarconclusions.[2] One American engineering society, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)has sought to extend professional licensure and a code of ethics across the field regardless of practice areaor employment sector.[3]

United States

In the United States, registration or licensure of Professional Engineers is performed by the individualstates. Each registration or license is valid only in the state where it is granted. Many ProfessionalEngineers maintain licenses in several states for this reason, and comity between states can make it easy toobtain a license in one state based on licensure in another state without going through the full applicationprocess.[4] The licensing procedure varies but the general process is:[5]

1. Graduate with a degree from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditedfour-year university program in engineering.

2. Complete a standard Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) written examination, which tests applicantson breadth of understanding of basic engineering principles, and optionally some elements of anengineering specialty. Completion of the first two steps typically qualifies for certification in the U.S.as an Engineer-In-Training (EIT), sometimes also called an Engineer Intern (EI).[6]

3. Accumulate a certain amount of engineering experience. In most states the requirement is four years,but in others the requirement is lower.

4. Complete a written Principles and Practice in Engineering ('PE') examination, testing the applicant'sknowledge and skills in a chosen engineering discipline (civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical,etc.), as well as engineering ethics.

For standardization, the EIT and PE exams are written and graded by a central organization, NCEES.However each state's Board of Professional Engineers individually sets the requirements to take the tests,as well as the passing scores. For example, in some states applicants must provide professional referencesfrom several PEs before they can take the PE test.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have engineering boards that are represented by the NationalCouncil of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which administers both the FE and PEexaminations.[7]

Degree requirements in the United States are evolving. Effective 1 January 2020, the NCEES model willrequire additional credits beyond a bachelor of science in engineering. The type of creditable activities thatwill satisfy the additional educational requirement are under development by NCEES. This has receivedsome support from civil engineers.[8][9]

There is a fairly large range in exam pass rates for these exams (FE and PE), but the pass rate for repeattest takers is significantly lower.[10]

As of 2009, it is still possible for an individual to bypass Steps 2 and 4. In Texas, for example, both FEand PE exam waivers are still available to individuals with several years of creditable experience.[11][12]



In a few states it is still possible for an individual to bypass Step 1, and apply to take the registrationexaminations, as long as a P.E. sponsors the applicant, and work experience can be substituted foracademic experience. The years of experience may also vary; for instance, in California it is possible totake a Principles and Practice in Engineering examination with only two years of experience after abachelor's degree, or one year of experience after graduate school. In Nevada, college graduates areeligible to take the Principles and Practice exam immediately after graduation and passing the EIT, beforeacquiring the required experience.[13] Some states also have state-specific examinations, most notablyCalifornia where there is a state-specific structural engineering exam and two additional exams in landsurveying and earthquake engineering for civil engineering candidates.

Some states issue generic Professional Engineering licenses. Others, known as "discipline states", issuelicenses for specific disciplines of engineering, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering andElectrical Engineering. In all cases, however, engineers are ethically required to limit their practice to theirarea of competency, which is usually a small portion of a discipline. While licensing boards do not oftenenforce this limitation, it can be a factor in negligence lawsuits. In a few states licensed Civil Engineersmay also perform land surveys.

In addition to the person's licensure, most states require that firms engaged in providing engineeringservices are authorized to do so. For instance, the State of Florida issues a Certificate of Authorization tofirms that are owned by a Professional Engineer.

Civil engineers account for a large portion of licensed Professional Engineers. In Texas, for example,about one-third of licenses are for civil engineers, and civil exams make up over half of the examstaken.[14][15] Many of the remainder are mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers whose practiceinvolves areas that states regulate, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems forbuildings or public infrastructure. However, some engineers in other fields obtain licenses for the ability toserve as professional witnesses, or just for prestige, even though they may never actually sign and sealdesign documents.

Since regulation of the practice of engineering is performed by the individual states in the U.S., areas ofengineering involved in interstate commerce are essentially unregulated. These areas include much ofMechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, and may be specificallyexempted from regulation under an "Industrial Exemption". An industrial exemption covers engineers whodesign products such as automobiles that are sold (or have the potential to be sold) outside the state wherethey are produced, as well as the equipment used to produce the product. Structures subject to buildingcodes are not covered by an industrial exemption, though small residential buildings often do not requirean engineer's seal. In many jurisdictions, the role of architects and structural engineers overlap.

Many private companies employ non-degreed workers in technical positions with engineering titles such as"test engineer" or "field engineer". Such position may not require an engineering degree at the discretionof the company. It is important however, to make a distinction between a "graduate engineer" and a"professional (or licensed) engineer". A "graduate engineer" is anyone holding a degree in engineeringfrom an accredited four-year university but is not licensed to practice or offer services to the public.Unlicensed engineers usually work as employees for a company and are governed under the industrialexemption clause.

Canada

In Canada the designation Professional Engineer can only be used by licensed engineers and is protectedin law and strictly enforced in all provinces. The regulation and licensing of engineers are accomplished



through a self-governing body that is given the power to license and discipline engineers as well asregulate the practice of engineering in their province, such as Professional Engineers Ontario. A self-governing body's prime purpose is to protect the public. An engineering license and the award of titleP.Eng grants the right to practice engineering. Many of these associations are also responsible forregulating other related professions. The process for registration is generally as follows:

1. Graduate with a degree from an accredited program in engineering or applied science, accredited bythe Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

2. Complete an Engineer in Training or "engineering Internship" program under the direction of aP.Eng. (This is a minimum four-year program with the exception of Quebec[16])

3. Review of work experience by the Association,4. Pass a Professional Practice Exam[17] (content and format of which differs by province).

Engineers are not licensed in a specific discipline but are legally bound by their respective provincial Codeof Ethics (e.g. in Ontario: Professional Engineers Act R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 941) from practisingbeyond their training and experience. Breaches of the code are often sufficient grounds for enforcement,which may include the suspension or loss of license, as well as financial penalties and now, through recentchanges to Canadian law, could also result in jail, should negligence be shown to have played a part in anyincident that causes loss of human life.

Engineers are not tested on technical knowledge during the licensing process should their education beaccredited by the CEAB; however, the accreditation of schools and their accredited degree granting statusare tightly monitored and controlled. The Canadian system thus ensures that a specific and regimentedcurriculum is offered and tested with strict accordance to set national standards. This streamlines the overalllicensing process and ensures a firm national standard on the quality of engineering in Canada. Thisaccreditation process is governed by Engineers Canada through their active group the CanadianEngineering Accreditation Board. The accreditation process is continuous and enforced through regularaccreditation reviews of each school. These reviews typically include the review of the school's curriculum(including marked final exams and assignments), interviews of current students, extra curricular activitiesand teaching staff as well additional areas the visiting board may feel need addressing. The specific areasconsidered are Curriculum Content, Program Environment, and General Criteria. The associations aregranted both an exclusive right to title and an exclusive right to practice.

There are only a few exceptions specifically noted in the acts and it does not include any "industrialexemptions". Therefore, a practising engineer is legally required to be registered. The level of enforcementvaries depending on the specific industry. The federal government is exempt from provincial laws, but ingeneral the federal government only gives the title "engineer" to their employees who, as part of their jobrequirements, are able register as a licensed Professional Engineer.

The engineer's license is only valid in the province of delivery. There are however agreements between theassociations to ease mobility. In 2009 the Professional Engineers Ontario led an initiative to develop anational engineering licensing framework.

United Kingdom

Main article: Chartered Engineer (UK)

The term "professional engineer" or "engineer", has no legal meaning in the UK and is sometimes used todescribe mechanics, installers, and maintenance workers, e.g. Gas Safe Register engineer, or BritishTelecom - telephone engineer. The qualifications to become a "professional" engineer in the UK vary



widely. For example, qualifications for British Telecom professional engineer include having a drivinglicense, being physically fit, and not being color blind. Chartered Engineers require University educationplus monitored professional practice training. The Society of Professional Engineers UK a private limitedcompany provides the designation P.Eng (UK) but this is not recognized by the UK government orinternationally. The Engineering Council UK is the regulatory authority for registration of chartered andIncorporated engineers in the United Kingdom. ECUK registration controls, by law, the award ofengineering qualifications and titles Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, and EngineeringTechnician, but has no authority to restrict engineering practice. The Chartered Engineer is recognized asthe professional title for engineers under the Washington Accord. The Washington has no legal authorityin any country and is basically a broad guideline that establishes mutual recognition of engineeringqualifications and professional competence. A Chartered Engineer is registered with the EngineeringCouncil UK (the British regulatory body for engineers). Newly Chartered Engineers hold a Mastersdegree, and have gained professional qualifications through structured competency-based training andexperience. The formation process (academic + internship/apprenticeship/graduate-training + peer-reviewed professional practice) of a Chartered Engineer spans typically takes 8 to 12 years. The titleChartered Engineer is protected by civil law. However unlike Canada and certain US states the practice ofengineering is not protected in law nor the use of the title "Engineer". So anyone in the UK can callthemselves an engineer, which many semi-skilled repair people do.

For registration as a Chartered Engineer, it is necessary for candidates to demonstrate that they areprofessionally competent through education, training and professional practice. Although many CharteredEngineers have non engineering degree qualifications, or honours degrees in engineering, science ormathematics, since 1997 it has been necessary to demonstrate University Masters-level knowledge andunderstanding, most commonly by completion of the 4 year undergraduate integrated MEng degree, or bygaining an appropriate masters degree following completion of a 3 year bachelor degree in engineering ora cognate subject.

Only the Chartered Engineer is entitled to register through the European Federation of NationalEngineering Associations as a European Engineer and use the pre-nominal of Eur Ing. In the UKIncorporated Engineers may use the post-nominals of IEng (and also e.g. MIET if appropriately registeredwith the IET as one of the 37 accrediting Engineering Council institutions). The Incorporated Engineer is aprofessional qualification that is acknowledged as a professional engineer in the UK through theEngineering Council of the United Kingdom and the European definition of title under 2005/36/EC.[18]

India

In India, engineers with an engineering degree (BE/BTech/ME/MTech) are allowed to practice asConsulting Engineer. There is no need for any further license or registration with any institution or bodybut such Engineers who are Chartered Engineers of IE(India)are preferred in all fields.They also commandhigh professional & social status & mobility in all states.

Engineers registered as Chartered Engineer (India) with the Institution of Engineers(India) can practice inany state or city. They must be Corporate Members of Institution of Engineers to register. IE(India) alsooffers 'Professional Engineer(India)' and 'Professional Engineer(International)'registration to Engineershaving at least 7 years of engineering experience. They too must be Corporate Members of IE(India) toapply for it. Generally, BE/BTech/ME/MTech degree and five years engineering experience are requiredto apply for AMIE(Associate Member of IE(India). IE(India) has a British Royal Charter since 1935 &widely recognized worldover.



Europe

Main article: European Engineer

The European Engineer (Eur Ing, EUR ING) is an international professional qualification for engineersused in many European countries. The title is granted after successful application to a national member ofthe European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI), which includes representationfrom many European countries, including much of the European Union. It allows a person who has anengineering degree and usually an engineering professional qualification in one of the member countries touse the qualification in others, but this depends on local legislation.

The title Eur Ing is "pre-nominal", i.e. it is placed before rather than after the name as in the case of a post-nominal title such as that for academic degrees (however, in some EU countries, academic degrees are alsopre-nominal). Names are also placed on the FEANI Register maintained by FEANI in additional tonational member registers.

DesignationsPost-nominal or pre-nominal letters are commonly used to denote the holder of an engineering license invarious jurisdictions:

Africa

Ing. in Ghana (for engineers holding a B.Sc. or higher with relevant engineering experience)and a registered member of the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE)Pr.Eng. or Pr.Ing is used as a post-nominal in South Africa (for engineers holding a B.Eng.,B.Sc. or B.Sc.Eng. with relevant experience). Pr.Tech.Eng. is used as a post-nominal in SouthAfrica (for engineers holding a B.Tech. with relevant experience and three years of practicing inthe engineering field)"Pr.Tech.Eng" standing for Professional Engineering Technologist; seeEngineering Council of South Africa "Pr.Cert.Eng" standing for Professional CertificatedEngineer is used as a post-nominal for Engineers who have registered with the EngineeringCouncil South Africa after passing the Engineers Certificate of Competence Examinations.R.Eng standing for Registered Engineer in Kenya (Holders of Four years post-secondaryEngineering Education and four years of work experience)Eng. is used for engineers holding B.Sc., B.Eng. or higher with relevant engineering experiencein Egypt and must be a member in the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers.Engr is used as a pre-nominal in Nigeria (for holders of bachelor or higher degree in engineeringwith relevant experience and having successfully passed the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) Professional Exams and fulfill other NSE and Council For Regulation of Engineering inNigeria(COREN)requirements)" [19]

R.Eng or CEng is used as post-nominal for registered engineers in Nigeria after fulfilling bothNSE and COREN requirements.Eng is used as a pre-nominal in Uganda for registered engineers. In Uganda, a registeredEngineer must as a prerequisite be a member of the Uganda Institution of professional Engineers(UIPE) and must have a B.Sc. or higher in Engineering together with relevant engineeringexperience that must be documented, supported by 2-registered engineers, and defended by theapplicant in an interview with the Engineers' Registration Board (ERB), which has the power toconfirm a Registered Engineer. Annual fees must be paid to the ERB by all registeredengineers.[20]



Asia

Mohandess Payeh 1 and Mohandess Payeh 2 are titles used respectively for ProfessionalEngineer and Engineer in Training in IranIr is used as a pre-nominal in Hong Kong, Malaysia and IndonesiaP.E.Jp as a pre-nominal in JapanEngr. or Engineer, To crate it before your name, you have take a membership from IEBBangladeshEr. is used as a pre-nominal in India, Nepal and SingaporeP.E. or Professional Engineer is used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof.) in PakistanMohandes is used as a pre-nominal in Arab countries like Iraq, Syria and LebanonEng. or .! as a pre-nominal in Jordan (for engineers holding a university degree in engineeringafter five years of studies).Engr. or Engineer is used as a pre-nominal in the Philippines for individuals passing thegovernment regulated professional licensure examination, which is only given for certain fieldsof engineering.CEng (Sri Lanka) is used in Sri Lanka as a post-nominal abbreviation by Corporate Membersof the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL).IEng. Incorporated Engineers offered by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka.

Europe

Eur Ing, (EUR ING) (European Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. orProf) after being suitably registered in their own country and then accepted by FEANI.Ing.P.Eur (European Professional Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominalIng. (Ingeniero) in Spain, used as a pre-nominal, for the engineers who have the equivalent to amaster's degree as they studied five or six courses in a Engineering Superior School. Also existsthe Ingeniero Técnico (I.T.), who is a professional that holds a Degree and a minimumformation of three courses in an engineering official college. Both types of engineers have fullcompetency in their respective professional field of engineering, being the difference that thethree year Engineers have competence only in their speciality (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical,etc.)and the "Engineering Superior School" Engineers have wider competences. The Bolognaprocess changes this structure. The Degree will require four courses and the SuperiorEngineering School Engineers will equal the ones that hold a Master in Engineering.Eng. (Engenheiro) in Portugal, used as a pre-nominal. An Engenheiro is a full charteredprofessional in engineering who was awarded a masters' degree (2nd study cycle according tothe Bologna process system) by an accredited engineering school. In Portugal there is also theEngenheiro Técnico who is a professional with a bachelor's degree (1st study cycle) inengineering or engineering sciences. Accredited masters' degrees in engineering are regulatedand certified by the Ordem dos Engenheiros (Order of Engineers), and every professional fullchartered engineer is registered at the Ordem.In Finland the Dipl.ins., or DI for short, (Diplomi-insinööri, Diploma Engineer or Master ofScience (Technology))) is awarded universities and universities of technology.In Germany the Dipl.-Ing. (Diplom-Ingenieur, Diploma Engineer) is awarded by the educationalministries of the federal states (the Bundesländer) after having completing an academicengineering education according to the German Engineer's Law (Ingenieurgesetz). The degreesIng. grad. (Graduierter Ingenieur, Graduate Engineer) and Obering. (Oberingenieur,Supervisor Engineer) are not awarded any more. (pre-nominal letters)Ing. EurEta - used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof). An engineer registered with EurEta"European Higher Engineering and Technical Professionals Association" is called an "EurEtaRegistered Engineer", and has the right to use this title in Europe,



[www.eureta.org/html/startframe.htm] .State-certified Engineer BVT. These titles are the respective translations, authorised by theGerman Federal Government, of "Staatlich geprüfter Techniker", in Europe.[21]

Ir. in the Netherlands (for engineers holding a Master's degree from a university) or Ing. (forengineers holding a Bachelor's degree from a professional school). (pre-nominal letters)Ir. in Belgium (for engineers holding a Master's degree in engineering/bio-engineering sciencesfrom a university) or Ing. (for engineers holding a Master's degree in applied engineering fromother institutes of higher education). (pre-nominal letters)Ing. in Italy used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof. and only for engineers holding aMaster's degree) or Ing.jr (Bachelor's). A state exam is required. (pre-nominal letters)Siv. Ing. (Sivilingeniør, M.Sc) and ing. (Høyskoleingeniør, B.Sc) in Norway. The titled is usedby persons holding degrees from accredited engineering colleges and universities.CEng (Chartered Engineer) and IEng (Incorporated Engineer) in the UK & Republic of Ireland.UK and Irish engineers may also carry post-nominal letters specific to their specialistengineering institute, such as MIET (professional engineers and graduate professionalsregistered with the Institution of Engineering and Technology). In the UK these are recognisedas regulated qualifications and titles.[22]

Civ. Ing. in Denmark and Sweden (for engineers holding a Master's degree in Engineering, alsoM.Sc. Eng, master of science in engineering)and Högskoleingenjör in Sweden (for engineersholding a B.Sc degree).Ing. in Romania, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof.).Ing. for engineers holding a Master's degree in Czech Republic and Slovak republic, used as apre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof.).in!. and mgr in! in Poland, in Poland in!. is the title obtained after 4 years of studies (similar toB.Sc. degree); in!ynier who obtain M.Sc. level use mgr in! (magister in!ynier). The mgr levelcan be obtained through post-bachelor education usually 2 years of studies, or through integratedB.Sc/M.Sc. program that usually is 1 year shorter than the non-integrated program. Some(particularly in the USA) mistakenly believe that "mgr in!" is a separate title, while in fact it istwo titles one "in!." indicating technical science 4 year education and the "mgr" indicating theadvanced education of 2 cycle regardless of how it was obtained. The degree in general includeslicense to practice, although some regulation may require additional registration to performspecific tasks. (pre-nominal letters)"#$. %&'. (Mag. Inzh. from Magister (Master) Engineer) in Bulgaria (for engineers holding aMaster's (Magister) degree) or %&'. (for engineers holding a Bachelor's degree). (pre-nominalletters)"In"." in Malta (for engineers holding a university degree and at least 3 years of experience)"PEng(UK) in UK (for Engineers members of Society of Professional Engineers UK)

Latin America

Ing. in most Spanish speaking countries (pre-nominal letters) (similar to Dr. or Prof): Argentina,Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, México, Perú,Uruguay, Venezuela.In Chile customary practice consists in placing the post-nominal word Ingeniero Civil plus thespecialty area, such as Ingeniero Civil Eléctrico, Ingeniero Civil en Minería or Ingeniero CivilQuímico.Eng. (Engenheiro)customary practice in post-nominal word "Engenheiro Civil", "EngenheiroMecânico", "Engenheiro Eletricista", "Engenheiro Florestal", EngenheiroAgrônomo","Engenheiro de Segurança do Trabalho" in Brazil.Registration byCONFEA/CREA in the states of the federation Pará, Maranhão, Tocantins, São Paulo andanothers but, This possible to work in more one state only with "Visto".



North America

P.E. or PE is used in the U.S. Individual states grant PE registration, which can sometimes beendorsed by other states.P.Eng. is used in Canada (as a post-nominal), except in the province of Quebec. Granted tospecified technical educational degree holder residing in Canada upon application.Eng. (French: ing.) is used in Quebec.

Oceania

RPEQ is used as a post nominal in Queensland for Registered Professional Engineers ofQueensland and is subject to CPD requirements to maintain status. Registration is performed bythe Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland.[23]

MIEAust is used as a post nomial to designate a member of Engineers Australia. This indicates atleast three years experience beyond graduation, but does not imply chartered membership byitself.CPEng is used as a post nomial in Australia and New Zealand for Chartered ProfessionalEngineers, and subject to a rigorous competence based assessment and ongoing CPDrequirements to maintain status.FIEAust is used to designate a Fellow (highest membership category) of Engineers Australia.

Title usageIn many countries, laws exist that limit the use of job titles containing the word "engineer".

Canada

In Canada, it is considered illegal to practice engineering, or use the title "Engineer", without aProfessional engineers license. Engineering in Canada is regulated in the public interest by self-governingprofessional licensing bodies. These bodies were established by Canada's 13 provincial and territorialgovernments through Engineering Acts. The provincial and territorial governments have delegated theirconstitutional authority to regulate engineers and engineering in Canada to professional licensing bodiesthat are maintained and governed by the profession, creating a system of self-regulation. The first lawrelated to professional engineering in Ontario was created in 1922 and allowed for the creation of avoluntary association to oversee registration of engineers. The Act of 1922 was "open", meaning thatmembership in the association was not mandatory for practicing engineers. In Ontario, regulation ofengineering practice dates to 1937, when the Professional Engineers Act was amended and theengineering profession was "closed" to non-qualified individuals; that is, licensure was made mandatoryfor anyone practising professional engineering. The provincial government determined that it would be inthe public interest to restrict the practice of engineering to those who were qualified, and the right topractise was "closed" to non-engineers as a result of the failures of bridges and buildings, which had beendesigned by unskilled individuals.

Self-regulation recognizes that the engineering profession itself, at the provincial and territorial level, is bestpositioned to regulate the practice of engineering in a manner that protects both the public and theenvironment. Engineering's 12 licensing bodies fulfill this mandate by ensuring high standards ofengineering practice and education in Canada, by setting high standards for admission into the profession,by disciplining engineers who fail to uphold the profession's practice and ethical standards, and bypreventing the misuse of the title "engineer" by individuals who are not licensed members of the



profession. They also take appropriate action to prevent the illegal practice of engineering by unlicensedindividuals. Each licensing body's mandate and obligation to undertake this role is laid out in theEngineering Act that created it. Although each Act is slightly different, most also define a scope of practicefor engineers and specifically restrict the use of the title engineer to individuals who have been licensed bythe engineering licensing body in the province or territory where the Act applies.

In Canada, it is considered illegal to practice engineering, or use the title "Engineer", without aprofessional engineer's license P.Eng. The use of the term "engineer" was an issue between professionalbodies, the I.T. industry, and the security industry, where companies or associations may issuecertifications or titles with the word "engineer" as part of that title (such as security engineer or MicrosoftCertified Systems Engineer). Microsoft have since changed the title to "Microsoft Certified ITProfessional". Several licensing bodies for professional engineering contend that only licensed professionalengineers are legally allowed to use the title "Engineer". The I.T. industry, on the other hand, countersthat:

1. These title holders never presented themselves as "Professional Engineers";2. Provincial laws, other than in Quebec and Ontario, regulate only the use of term "Professional

Engineer", and not any title with the word "Engineer" in it; in Quebec and Ontario, the term"Engineer" is protected by both the Engineers Act[24] and by section 32 of the ProfessionalCode[25]); and,

3. The I.T. industry has used the term "engineer" since the dawn of the computing industry in the60s.[26]

Court rulings regarding the usage of the term "engineer" have been mixed. For example, after complaintsfrom the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, a court in Quebec fined Microsoft Canada $1,000for misusing the "engineer" title by referring to MCSE graduates as "engineers".[27] Conversely, anAlbertan court dismissed the lawsuit filed by The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, andGeophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) against Raymond Merhej for using the title "System Engineer",claiming that, "The Respondent's situation is such that it cannot be contended that the public is likely to bedeceived, confused or jeopardized by his use of the term…"[28] APEGGA also lost the appeal to thisdecision.[29]

The Canadian Information Processing Society[30] and in particular CIPS Ontario[31] have attempted tostrike a balance between the professional engineering licensing bodies and the IT industry over the use ofthe term "engineer" in the software industry, but so far no major agreements or decisions have beenannounced.

Additional confusion has taken place over similarly named occupations. One such example would bepower engineers or stationary engineers. Graduates of a two-year (in Nova Scotia) college level PowerEngineering Technology program may use the title "Power Engineer" or "Stationary Engineer". This isconflicting with the title often used in the electrical industry for professional engineers designing relatedequipment. The incorporation of the word "engineer" in "Power Engineer" or "Stationary Engineer" canitself cause confusion.

United States

In the United States, most states prohibit unlicensed persons from calling themselves an "engineer" orindicating branches or specialties not covered by the licensing acts.



The title "Engineer" is legally protected in many states, meaning that it is unlawful to use it to offerengineering services to the public unless permission is specifically granted by that state, through aProfessional Engineering license, an "industrial exemption", or certain other non-engineering titles such as"operating engineer". Employees of state or federal agencies may also call themselves engineers if thatterm appears in their official job title. The IEEE's formal position on this is as follows: "The title, Engineer,and its derivatives should be reserved for those individuals whose education and experience qualify themto practice in a manner that protects public safety. Strict use of the title serves the interest of both the IEEE-USA and the public by providing a recognized designation by which those qualified to practiceengineering may be identified." It is generally a requirement in the United States to have at least a Bachelorof Science degree in an engineering discipline or related applied science to be considered an engineer andpractice as such.

A business generally cannot offer engineering services to the public or have a name that implies that it doesso unless it employs at least one Professional Engineer.

Due to industrial exemption many professionals are titled as engineering. Examples are ProductionEngineers, Test Engineers, Integration Engineers, Network Engineers, Project Engineers, SystemsEngineers, Sales Engineers etc.

This is seen in engineering job advertisements on line and in news papers, most of the advertisements andthe employers don't require licensing due to the industrial exemption.

In the United States, use of the title Professional Engineer is restricted to those holding a ProfessionalEngineer's license. These people have the right to add the letters "P.E." after their names on resumes,business cards, and other communication. However, each state has its own licensing procedure, and thelicense is valid only in the state that granted it.

Other uses of the term "engineer" are legally controlled and protected to varying degrees, dependent on thestate and the enforcement of its engineering certification board. The term is frequently applied to fieldswhere practitioners may have no engineering background, or the work has no basis in the physicalengineering disciplines; for example sanitation engineer. However, in many jurisdictions, the usage of thisterm is limited to internal use by a company, rather than in a professional or marketing aspect, if saidcompany is not licensed to perform engineering work. This is because what is legally recognized asengineering work (and thus requiring licensure to be practiced) is held to strict criminal liability.[32]

With regard to the term "software engineer", many states, such as Texas and Florida, have licenserequirements for such a title that are in line with the requirements for more traditional engineering fields.Jurisdictions such as these tend to refer to the position of network engineer as a technician.[32]

See also: Debates within software engineering

United Kingdom

Engineering in the UK is not a licensed profession. In the UK, the term "engineer" is often applied to non-degreed vocations such as technologists, technicians, draftsmen, machinists, mechanics, plumbers,electricians, repair people, and semi-skilled occupations. Many of these occupations adopt the term"engineer", "professional engineer", "registered engineer", "gas engineer", "heating engineer", "drainageengineer", "automobile engineer", "aircraft engineer" and many hundreds of derivatives. British Gasdescribe their installation and maintenance mechanics as registered professional engineers. Most membersof the UK public perceive the engineer and engineering as a semi-skilled trade. The work and identity of



UK Chartered Engineers is often styled as science and scientists by the UK media causing publicconfusion. There are a few fields of practice, generally safety related, which are reserved by statute tolicensed persons.[33] The Engineering Council UK grants the titles Chartered or Incorporated Engineer,and declares them to be "professional engineers." [34] The Incorporated Engineer is an Engineer asdeclared by the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom and the European definition of title under2005/36/EC.[18] UK Incorporated Engineers are recognized internationally through the Sydney Accordacademic agreement as Engineering Technologists.

All Chartered and Incorporated engineers in the UK are members of an engineering institution usuallyaligned with their undergraduate degree (Mechanical, civil, chemical, electrical, aeronautical etc.). Thereare various levels of membership including; student, associate, member, fellow with designator letters. Anexample is Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) (formerly Institution ofElectrical Engineers). This category is open to professional engineers with suitable qualifications andinvolvement in areas relevant to the interests of the Institution (Engineering and Technology). MIET is aregulated professional title recognized in Europe by the Directive 2005/36.[35] MIET is listed on the part 2professions regulated by professional bodies incorporated by Royal Charter-Statutory Instruments 2007No. 2781 Professional Qualifications-The European Communities (Recognition of ProfessionalQualifications) Regulations 2007.[36]

The U.K. has other "professional" engineering titles registered via the Engineering Council UK (ECUK):Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).[37]

Incorporated Engineer is a first-cycle qualification for Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Sciencedegree holders(Sydney Accord, equivalent to Technologist). Chartered Engineer is a second-cyclequalification usually reserved for holders of integrated Master of Engineering degrees or Bachelor ofEngineering/Bachelor of Science degrees. Both IEng and CEng require substantial professional experience(4–8 years post graduate), a professional review and interview.

It is illegal in the U.K. to hold that one is a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer unless so registered withEngineering Council. The title of "Engineer" by itself is not regulated in the U.K.[38]

While Engineering Council is the primary body registering Engineers in U.K., there are other professionalsocieties that register engineers as well. Under its Royal Charter, Engineering Council grants licences toengineering institutions allowing them to assess candidates for inclusion on its Register of ProfessionalEngineers and Technicians, and to accredit academic programmes and professional development schemes.There are over 30 institutions licensed to register professional engineers with Engineering Council.

Candidates can become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer(IEng) in the UK throughthe Engineering Council Examinations that are administered by the City and Guilds London Institute.These qualifications also offer a flexible way to meet requirements for further learning or continuedprofessional development.

The exams are available at 3 levels, from undergraduate level to the equivalent of a MEng degree. You canchoose from areas such as electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical and computer engineering.

The Engineering Council Examinations are for those with extensive science or engineering knowledge.

For the Level 5 qualification, you'll need at least 2 'A' levels or Level 4 qualifications in engineering orscience. For Level 6 you should have already gained the Level 5 Certificate in Engineering or a



comparable qualification. And for Level 7, you'll need the Level 6 Diploma in Engineering or a UK-accredited BEng degree. These examinations have been administered by City and Guilds since 2001.

Europe and Latin America

Engineers in Europe table (http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?fuseaction=profession.regProfs&profId=6000) showing all countries where this profession isregulated, with the name of the profession as used in the country.

In Germany and some other European and Latin American countries, the term DiplomaEngineer implies that the person has completed typically one more year of academic workbeyond the basic engineering bachelor's degree. The Diploma Engineer is therefore a universitydegree, and not a professional registration or license. However, in Germany and most othercountries where the Diploma Engineer degree exist, there is no professional registration orlicence in engineering (with a very limited number of exceptions, such as civil engineering inGermany). This is the reason why graduates of these degrees are generally allowed to use thelegally-protected title of "Engineer" within these countries. In Germany the usage of the termengineer (Ingenieur) as such, not just the Diplom-Ingenieur, is protected by various Länder(States of Germany) laws, since education matters fall into the legislation of the Länder, not thefederal government. Although the details of the laws vary, they all properly restrict the usage ofthe term. Examples of such laws are[39][40][41]

In France, engineer title can be used pretty liberally, and is often attributed based on professionalposition rather than initial qualification, however the title Ingénieur diplomé (Diploma Engineer)is reserved to people having followed one of the trainings listed by Commission des titresd'ingénieur (Commission for Engineer Titles). It corresponds to a highly-selective Master degreelevel, as three selections occurs: in high school, after two years of classes preparatoires, and forthe diploma delivering. This highly-selective process and the French undervaluing of Ph.D.s(with exception to those in the industries of medicine and veterinary science) makes theIngénieur title very prestigious.

In Chile, the Ingeniero (engineer) title is regulated by law, which distinguishes at least threedifferent kinds of professional engineering titles. First, the Ingeniería de Ejecución, which onlyrequires a degree in applied science and a technical degree, from a university or a technicalinstitute (usually four years of formation); Ingeniería, which requires a major degree in basicsciences plus a technical degree, both from a university (usually five years of formation); andIngeniería Civil, which requires an academic major degree in basic sciences, a minor degree inapplied sciences and a technical degree, all from a university (usually six or six and a half years).In all cases, the term refers to a professional degree conceded by an educational institution, yet itcan only be given by certain institutions when all legal requirements are met.

In Brazil, the title of Engenheiro (engineer) and in Argentina[42] the title of Ingeniero can onlybe legally used by someone with a five or six-year engineering degree. In Argentina mostuniversities have a five or six-year engineering degree (Around 3500–4000 hours of classes oraprox 240-250 credits, one credit = 16 contact hours). Both countries concede the degreethrough universities (most common) and certain institutions (most rarely).

In Puerto Rico, use of the title Ingeniero (engineer) is restricted to those holding an engineer'slicense registered by the College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico. These peoplehave the right to add the letters "Ing." before their names on resumes, business cards, and othercommunication.



International professional bodies

The AACE, a professional body for Cost Engineers, explains why a technical engineering background isnot required for their profession with the following statement:[43]

“ The skills and knowledge required to deal with costs (e.g., cost estimating, planning andscheduling, etc.) are quite different from those required to deal with the physical designdimension. From that difference, the field of cost engineering was born. Cost engineeringpractitioners work alongside of and are peers with engineers, software analysts, playproducers, architects, and other creative career fields to handle the cost dimension, but theydo not necessarily have the same background. Whether they have technical, operations,finance and accounting, or other backgrounds, cost engineering practitioners need to sharea common understanding, based on “scientific principles and techniques,” with theengineering or other creative career functions.

”

See alsoAmerican Society of Civil EngineersCivil Engineering Body of KnowledgeCollege of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto RicoEngineers AustraliaEngineering CouncilEngineering Council of South AfricaEngineering educationEngineering ethicsThe Hong Kong Institution of EngineersInstitution of Engineering and TechnologyInstitution of EngineersInstitution of Professional Engineers New ZealandInstitution of Mechanical EngineersNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and SurveyingNational Society of Professional EngineersPakistan Engineering CouncilSociety of Operations Engineers

References1. ^ a b Layton, Edwin (1986). The Revolt of the Engineers: Social Responsibility and the American Engineering

Profession. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-3287-X. (pp. 6-7)2. ^ NSPE. NSPE Ethics in Employment Task Force Report

(http://web.archive.org/web/20060927020844/http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-report.asp) . Archived from theoriginal (http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-report.asp) on 2006-09-27.http://web.archive.org/web/20060927020844/http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-report.asp. Retrieved 2006-10-20.

3. ^ Layton (1986). pp. 238-239.4. ^ "Licensure by Comity" (http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/Resources/LicComity/index.html) . National Society

of Professional Engineers. 2008. http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/Resources/LicComity/index.html. Retrieved2008-03-14.

5. ^ "Model Law" (http://www.ncees.org/About_NCEES/Publications/Publications/Model_Law.php) (php).



National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. 2009.http://www.ncees.org/About_NCEES/Publications/Publications/Model_Law.php. Retrieved 2010-05-05.

6. ^ 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 475.12. Retrieved 16 August 2006 from Oklahoma state board of licensure forprofessional Engineers and Land Surveyors (http://www.pels.state.ok.us/regulat/Statutes.pdf) .

7. ^ http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php8. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2001) Academic Prerequisites for Licensure and Professional

Practice. Policy Statement 465 (http://sections.asce.org/indiana/ASCE_%20Pol_Stat_465.pdf) .9. ^ American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) (2007) White Paper on Implementation of Additional

Engineering Education Requirements as a Prerequisite for Licensure, [1] (http://www.acec-nh.org/pdfs/2007_12_4_15_43.pdf)

10. ^ NCEES. "Exam Pass Rates" (http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php) .http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php. Retrieved 2010-07-10.

11. ^ "New/Old Waiver Rule Comparison" (http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/downloads/waivercompare.pdf) . TexasBoard of Professional Engineers. 2006. http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/downloads/waivercompare.pdf. Retrieved2009-08-12.

12. ^ "Exam Waiver Requirements" (http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/lic_waiver.htm) . Texas Board of ProfessionalEngineers. 2008. http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/lic_waiver.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-12.

13. ^ NV.us(http://www.boe.state.nv.us/BOE%20Forms/PE%20Application/PE_Exam%20Only_BS%20degree.htm)

14. ^ "Texas PE License Information Roster" (http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/downloads.htm#roster) . Texas Board ofProfessional Engineers. 2007. http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/downloads.htm#roster. Retrieved 2007-01-24.

15. ^ "Examination Pass/Fail Rates" (http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_passfail.htm) . Texas Board of ProfessionalEngineers. 2006. http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_passfail.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-24.

16. ^ [2] (http://www.oiq.qc.ca/documents/255/A-Cheminement_permis_sept.2010.pdf)17. ^ [3] (http://www.peo.on.ca/registration/ppe.html)18. ^ a b "Engineer" (http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?

fuseaction=regProf.show&RPId=3359) . Regulated professions database. European Commission.http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?fuseaction=regProf.show&RPId=3359.Retrieved 25 January 2010.

19. ^ [4] (http://www.corenng.org/registration/registration.htm)20. ^ [5] (http://main.constructionreviewonline.com/aprilug2_10.html)21. ^ BVT-online.de (http://www.bvt-online.de/)22. ^ Regulated Professions in the UK (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/europeopen/eutouk/authorities_list.shtml) . (UK)

Department for children, schools and families. Accessed 2 November 2007.23. ^ Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (http://www.bpeq.qld.gov.au)24. ^ Engineers Act (http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?

type=2&file=%2F%2FI_9%2FI9_A.htm)25. ^ Professional Code (http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?

type=2&file=%2F%2FC_26%2FC26_A.htm)26. ^ Andronache, Tatiana, The Importance of "Being Engineer"

(http://www.galtglobalreview.com/infotech/being_engineer.html) .27. ^ http://www.ccpe.ca/e/files/microsoftmay04.pdf28. ^ APEGGA website (http://www.apegga.org/Members/Publications/peggs/Web05-02/titles.htm)29. ^ ASET Technology Alberta, p. 2 (http://www.aset.ab.ca/Content_Files/Files/TAB/TAB_v21n01.pdf)30. ^ CIPS National website (http://www.cips.ca)31. ^ CIPS Ontario website (http://cipsontario.ca)32. ^ a b http://sce.uhcl.edu/helm/SWEBOK_IEEE/papers/10%20reprint%205.pdf33. ^ ECUK - About the International Registers (http://www.engc.org.uk/professional-qualifications/chartered-

engineer/international-professional-engineer)34. ^ Gas fitters are also declared as registered "professional engineers" by the British Gas utility.C&IEWeb06

(http://www.engc.org.uk/ecukdocuments/internet/document%20library/UK-SPEC.pdf)35. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?fuseaction=regprof.show&RPId=12286

qualifications36. ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20072781_en_1 gov.uk37. ^ "The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) (First General System)



Regulations 2005" (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050018.htm) . UK Office of Public SectorInformation. 2005. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050018.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-19.

38. ^ "Engineering Council UK website, FAQ page" (http://www.engc.org.uk/faq/professional-titles) . EngineeringCouncil UK. 2011. http://www.engc.org.uk/faq/professional-titles. Retrieved 2011-02-17.

39. ^ Niedersächsisches Ingenieurgesetz (NIngG) in der Neufassung vom 12.7.2007 (Nds.GVBl. 21/2007 S.324;ber. Nds.GVBl. 26/2007 S.434), geändert durch Art. 2 des Gesetzes v. 10.12.2008 (Nds.GVBl. Nr.25/2008S.370) (http://www.recht-niedersachsen.de/7721001/ningg.htm)

40. ^ Gesetz zum Schutze der Berufsbezeichnung "Ingenieur" und "Ingenieurin" - Ingenieurgesetz - IngG -(BayRS 702-2-W), zuletzt geändert durch § 1 des Gesetzes vom 24. März 2010 (GVBl S. 138)(http://by.juris.de/by/gesamt/IngG_BY.htm)

41. ^ Brandenburg.de (http://www.bravors.brandenburg.de/sixcms/detail.php?gsid=land_bb_bravors_01.c.47028.de) , Brandenburgisches Ingenieurgesetz (BbgIngG) Vom 29. Juni 2004(GVBl.I/04, [Nr. 15], S.326), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 2 des Gesetzes vom 11. März 2010 (GVBl.I/10,[Nr. 15])

42. ^ http://www.cai.org.ar/43. ^ "what is cost engineering?"

(http://web.archive.org/web/20071119144246/http://www.aacei.org/membership/about/whatIsCE.shtml) .Archived from the original (http://www.aacei.org/membership/about/whatIsCE.shtml) on 2007-11-19.http://web.archive.org/web/20071119144246/http://www.aacei.org/membership/about/whatIsCE.shtml.Retrieved 2007-11-21.

20 Regulated Professions in the UK.www.europeopen.org.uk/index.asp?page=14

External linksProfessional Engineers in Europe(http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?fuseaction=profession.regProfs&profId=6000)Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition - Engineers, Bureau of Labor Statistics ofthe U.S. Department of Labor (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Regulation_and_licensure_in_engineering&oldid=467177927"Categories: Professional titles and certifications

This page was last modified on 22 December 2011 at 12:29.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms mayapply. See Terms of use for details.Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Date post:	29-Nov-2014
Category:	Documents
Upload:	hrmoezi
View:	54 times
Download:	0 times

Regulation and Licensure in Engineering - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Documents