Qualifying Experience (PE input requested)

[oiprocs]

If you are a professional engineer, then I could use your help.

I graduated 3 years ago with a degree in structural engineering. Shortly thereafter I began working for a process supplier in the water/wastewater industry.

Part of my job involves working with engineering firms (MWH, K/J, AECOM, etc.) on specifications and drawings for upcoming projects. When I work on a project with an engineer, I am typically doing the following tasks: writing specs or reviewing draft copies; checking site conditions to make sure equipment can be installed correctly; correctly sizing equipment for design conditions; checking for a slightly less efficient but more cost effective design; calcuating NPSH for chemical systems and adjusting pipe dimensions/layout as needed.

That isn't the whole of it, but it gives you an idea. The equipment I supply ranges from biological treatment, screenings, pumps, chemical metering skids, presses, filtration units, UV/Ozone disinfection, and others.

My question is...would I qualify to take the PE? My official title is sales engineer - I'm not designing or making drawings, but I do some engineering work.

I've been studying for 2 months and I only now looked at the engagement record form...it has me wondering if I have been wasting my time. No one in my company has a P.E., but every engineer I've worked with at those firms has a P.E.

FYI, I want it because even though I'm not truly an engineer, I want to be taken seriously in my business. There are crappy salesmen peddling products, and then there are those providing real solutions.

 

[yh125d]

You sound like a process engineer to me, based on my experience in the petrochemical design world.

Dunno what bearing that has on becoming a PE though

 

[oiprocs]

That sounds appropriate, but when I'm not working on projects, I'm out visiting end users trying to earn their busiess and sell them equipment. Sometimes there is little to no engineering involved if it's an application I'm familiar with. I simply have to choose the right equipment.

I would say it's 70/30, with the latter being my time spent with engineers. Thanks for the input.

 

[FleshLight]

What state are you in? Which PE are you going for? From the looks of it, you don't even need a PE.

 

[Oil]

http://engineers.texas.gov/lic_basic.htm

 

[Imp]

What state are you in? Which PE are you going for? From the looks of it, you don't even need a PE.

If he's selling, the PE after his name would definitely make buying easier.


We only need to do an ethics/law test and get the "right" experience to become a PE here. The only real takeaway from all those tests is that you police yourself -- if you don't know what the hell you're doing, then don't do it. Thus, no technical exam necessary.

I'm officially an EIT (with his mind on another career), maybe a year or two from being licensed. The trick to get my licensing requirement fulfilled is to sugarcoat and bullshit (i.e. extend the truth) as much as possible. The licensing organization wants, officially, a huge chunk of design experience, but the definition of "design" experience in product literature (was that out loud?) is so broad that you can fit anything into it. As long as your reference backs up what you write, you're good to go.

 

[bonkers325]

if your supervisor is not a P.E., then no, you do not qualify to be a P.E.

some states will let you sit the exam, but without 4 years of experience under the supervision of a P.E., you cannot get licensed.

 

[oiprocs]

I'm in California. Requirements are 24 months of qualifying experience. I would be going for water resources (civil) because a lot of it revolves around my work, but I've heard transportation is easier than the other modules.

My dad agrees with you Imp...he's licensed and he says the work I'm doing should qualify. He says at a minimum, round up my references and send in the application. He even offered to pay the fee. If they say no, so be it. But if they say yes, then I can continue studying.

I'm just worried that if I do that, they'll harass the references for details and I don't want those guys to get in trouble. I don't want to lie either. I want to be honest about it - either I can take it, or I can't.

 

[FleshLight]

I also work in the water/wastewater field in CA at a large consulting firm. I also think you are eligible to sit for the exam but be aware that they do look into the references. I have never seen anyone apply using their clients as references though and hopefully PELS has a loose interpretation of the "direct supervision under a CA PE" rule.

 

[jaha2000]

Does CA make you do references first? In MI you only do that after you pass the exam.

As long as you can get some references with PE's to give you the signoff there should be no issue. I work at at firm as the only engineer and got some clients with PE's to sign off for me..

 

[oiprocs]

Looks like I'll petition the board first before I do anymore studying.

Thanks for the replies.