Washington allows it also for some experience, but you do need to have worked with a PE at one point or another in WA. But basically, since it's only a requirement for enabling you to sit for the exam, once you pass, comity should be no problem except in maybe a handful of states.
The original topic seems to have taken off into a whole different direction, but it's interesting reading the different perspectives. I do agree that graduate degrees are not equivalent to professional engineering licensing and vice-versa. But as far as value, I think it really depends on discipline and industry you work in. I think for individuals working in a civil engineering fields (except academia), I believe without question a PE license is more valuable than either a Masters or PhD. Naturally, possession of a PE and graduate degree is more advantageous, but if we're talking about one or the other than the PE has to be considered more valuable. This may be different for industrial, electrical, mechanical, etc.?
It's never a good idea to allow your original state to lapse, but I forget the reason why. Something about getting licensed in other states maybe?
Are you sure about that?? I didn't think any state required a retake of either Exam I or II. I thought the only examination that might be required to be retaken were state specific exams.
if you want comity license then thats true, but if you want to change your original license to another state from your first that is different scenario
Nope. That's not what most of the responses said at all. The consensus was to not let your "home" state license lapse. The best course of action to know for sure would be to probably contact both state boards in question. Or as @snickerd3 suggested, look into what options are available for "inactive" status for your home state license.
Umm, so why go through all the trouble of getting your PE license then? I realize it is required for your career, but it's exactly that, a license. Licenses are different than say an educational qualification (e.g. undergraduate degree, etc.) where they need to be maintained on an annual or bi-annual basis. CE's aren't just for practicing licensed engineers either. It's to drive engineers to remain engaged in their respective professional fields so as to stay somewhat current with new and developing technologies. And also new developments for licensed engineers in general.
No one is 100% certain of this except the state board(s). Best to verify the necessary requirements with them.
I don't think it makes a big difference on whether you maintain an active license in the original state you were licensed in or not, I think what's more important is that you maintain an active license in a state or US territory to avoid the additional requirements. Once you become licensed in a state through comity, there isn't a distinction or benefit for applicants applying for comity in another state, it just cuts down on the cost and amount of records you have to forward to the state you're applying. But with the NCEES Records program, it makes the process a lot smoother.
I don't think that's true. Speaking for myself, I've taken the SE exams in Montana which don't recognize the SE license. Yet I can apply for an SE license by comity. I don't think that's any different.
It's the military, we do some strange things. What I was fed is we need a license to be on par with our peers in industry (civil engineering specifically). I am not a civil engineer, and will not be doing any engineering (other than the contingency type) and will certainly not be stamping anything. If I don't get my PE I don't make the next rank, period. It's not all bad as it helps weed some people out. I'm also a little cynical of the process anyways (sorry) because even if I wasn't in the military I would be working in aerospace where it's not a requirement. Anywhoo, I'll call the respective boards and see what they say. Though comity and going inactive on my NC license doesn't sound too difficult.
Yeah, for the majority of the states, application for licensing via comity isn't any less cumbersome than someone applying for their initial license, because most still require you to forward your exam scores, submit your college transcripts, professional experience and professional references...so why even call it comity.
I think there may be a couple of states that have comity/reciprocity agreements with other states, but for the vast majority the closest thing to comity they have is the NCEES Records program.
