Comity question - PA vs DE

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David J

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Hi all,

A rather confusing (and long) question regarding comity. First, my background: I have a PhD and 3 years work experience (in academia). I have not taken the FE or PE exams, though I am currently scheduled to take the FE Mechanical in August.

After scheduling my FE exam, I happened to be looking at the rules for neighboring states (I live in PA) and saw that in DE, my PhD allows me to waive the FE exam. In addition, my graduate work counts as 2 years of experience, so that plus my 3 years of work post-PhD gives me more than enough experience years to take the PE now. So it seemed like cancelling my FE exam registration and just gearing up to take the PE and get my Delaware PE license in 2016/17 was the logical choice. Then I could get comity for PA and even NJ.

Problem is that Pennsylvania has no such waiver of the FE exam for getting a terminal degree. AND your years of experience begin accumulating only after you receive the EIT. Which probably means any application for comity (DE --> PA/NJ) would be rejected. So, my question is: has anyone had a similar experience and been able to get comity in the state(s) with stricter rules and regulations? Is there any precedent for a case like mine? I'd much rather get the PE license in 2016/17 in Delaware and apply for comity rather than take the FE exam now and wait until 2020 to take the PE in PA. I'll save a little money and a ton of time.

 
David J said:
Hi all,A rather confusing (and long) question regarding comity. First, my background: I have a PhD and 3 years work experience (in academia). I have not taken the FE or PE exams, though I am currently scheduled to take the FE Mechanical in August.

After scheduling my FE exam, I happened to be looking at the rules for neighboring states (I live in PA) and saw that in DE, my PhD allows me to waive the FE exam. In addition, my graduate work counts as 2 years of experience, so that plus my 3 years of work post-PhD gives me more than enough experience years to take the PE now. So it seemed like cancelling my FE exam registration and just gearing up to take the PE and get my Delaware PE license in 2016/17 was the logical choice. Then I could get comity for PA and even NJ.

Problem is that Pennsylvania has no such waiver of the FE exam for getting a terminal degree. AND your years of experience begin accumulating only after you receive the EIT. Which probably means any application for comity (DE --> PA/NJ) would be rejected. So, my question is: has anyone had a similar experience and been able to get comity in the state(s) with stricter rules and regulations? Is there any precedent for a case like mine? I'd much rather get the PE license in 2016/17 in Delaware and apply for comity rather than take the FE exam now and wait until 2020 to take the PE in PA. I'll save a little money and a ton of time.
Click to expand...
Each state is unique in what they will accept (Ohio being one that won't allow for waivers), so if you plan on being licensed in multiple states it might be best to bite the bullet. Of course, it is always safest to chat with the state board you need to be licensed in.

I hate tapatalk

 
Well, you might want to check on the requirements for getting comity.  It's not a guaranteed that one state will accept another.  On the bright side for you, the FE is not a terribly difficult exam (IMO), at least compared to the PE and it sounds like you're already prepared for it.

 
David J said:
Hi all,

A rather confusing (and long) question regarding comity. First, my background: I have a PhD and 3 years work experience (in academia). I have not taken the FE or PE exams, though I am currently scheduled to take the FE Mechanical in August.

After scheduling my FE exam, I happened to be looking at the rules for neighboring states (I live in PA) and saw that in DE, my PhD allows me to waive the FE exam. In addition, my graduate work counts as 2 years of experience, so that plus my 3 years of work post-PhD gives me more than enough experience years to take the PE now. So it seemed like cancelling my FE exam registration and just gearing up to take the PE and get my Delaware PE license in 2016/17 was the logical choice. Then I could get comity for PA and even NJ.

Problem is that Pennsylvania has no such waiver of the FE exam for getting a terminal degree. AND your years of experience begin accumulating only after you receive the EIT. Which probably means any application for comity (DE --> PA/NJ) would be rejected. So, my question is: has anyone had a similar experience and been able to get comity in the state(s) with stricter rules and regulations? Is there any precedent for a case like mine? I'd much rather get the PE license in 2016/17 in Delaware and apply for comity rather than take the FE exam now and wait until 2020 to take the PE in PA. I'll save a little money and a ton of time.
Click to expand...
but do you want/need the PA PE?  With a no waiver policy, they likely will not agree to the comity.  Best call the PA board and ask directly.  

 
snickerd3 said:
but do you want/need the PA PE?  With a no waiver policy, they likely will not agree to the comity.  Best call the PA board and ask directly.  
Click to expand...
I live in the PA/NJ/DE tri-state area, so a license in PA (along with the other two states) makes sense for me. And I did call the PA board, they said I would still need to take the FE exam, even if I got the PE license through Delaware with the waived FE.

In talking to a couple folks I know, they made it sound lie when you apply for comity, the rules aren't so hard and fast, and if you make your case they may grant it. Just trying to see if anyone has ever experienced this.

 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. From what you've said - and from what the PA board tells me - seems like the most likely outcome will be:

1) Go ahead and take the FE exam as scheduled (August 2016),, even though I'm exempt from it per DE's rules.

2) Utilize Delaware's eligibility rules to take the PE exam sooner (perhaps April 2017), rather than wait until 2020, when PA's laws would allow for it (because you need 4 years experience post-FE in PA).

3) Apply for comity in PA, with FE exam in hand. This should allow me to get the PE in PA sooner than 2020 and I won't have to waste so many years :)

 
Yep, I would take that approach. I had the chance to get a waiver in TX for the FE exam due to the amount of experience I had after getting my BSME (>10 years), but given the potential issue with transferring it, I decided to just bite the bullet. In the end, the FE exam was not very difficult (IMO), and it was a good refresher on a few topics I hadn't worked with much since graduating. 

I think it helped me prepare for the PE exam somewhat.

 
Hello all; wondering what the Delaware Board means by a different experience requirement (8 years) for candidates with non-ABET degree. Has anyone here been asked to complete 8 years of experience?

Also, Delaware accepts experience verified by a supervisor or a colleague. Does it have to be from a PE?

Experience: Graduates from an ABET-accredited engineering curriculum are required to have four (4) years of acceptable, verifiable engineering experience. All other graduates (non-ABET accredited engineering, engineering technology, or science-related to engineering programs) are required to have eight (8) years of acceptable, verifiable engineering experience.

Experience must be verified by supervisors or work colleagues (applicants may not self-verify). Additionally, all applicants must provide 5 professional references, including at least 3 that are active Professional Engineers.
 
You should double check the exact legal code for experience. In NJ,the 4 years has to be under direct supervision of a PE.

The additional schooling is because ABET schools have to follow specific curriculum with the courses. At a non accredited school, you may not cover all required topics hence why they want more actual experience.

Try to find the
 

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