Questions on Requirements For PE and SE Exams

[BillTheBuilder]

I've been working in engineering for several years now but have yet to take my FE. As I begin to prepare to take the FE this year, I had a few questions. If I have the necessary experience and pass the FE, can I also take the PE later this year or early next year? Additionally, is the PE required to take the SE? Appreciate any information and help. Thanks!

 

[pgheng]

No experience required to take the FE. PE experience depends on the state.
I'm not in a state that has SE, but I imagine PE would be required.
Look into Maine for the FE. No board approval required, and you can take the test remotely in any state.

 

[rayuribe]

Here in Texas, yes you can take the PE anytime after passing the FE. And no, the SE would be taken in place of the PE

 

[dougL]

I passed the FE in Mass., applied for Maine EI Certification (EIT) and paid the fee, obtained that cert., which requires no continuing ed. Took the PE Civil exam 3-14-24, which did not need prior approval from Maine PE Board. Assuming I pass, I will apply for Maine PE registration post-facto. Seems a good pathway. Maine PE will require continuing ed., which Mass (my residence state) does not. Mass. pre-approval requirements to take PE exam were burdensome. It's a trade-off, I suppose.

 

[pgheng]

When you meet Mass. experience requirements, you should be able to apply to take the PE exam. Once approved, send them your Maine test result. That's how it works in Pennsylvania, it should be the same everywhere since the test is the same everywhere. It could save you continuing education and cost of additional state license. Make sure you check with the Mass board first, to make sure they accept test results from other states, before paying.

 

[Reverse Polish]

I've been working in engineering for several years now but have yet to take my FE. As I begin to prepare to take the FE this year, I had a few questions. If I have the necessary experience and pass the FE, can I also take the PE later this year or early next year? Additionally, is the PE required to take the SE? Appreciate any information and help. Thanks!

Bear in mind that taking a licensing exam is not the same as applying for licensure. To answer your questions:

1. Whether you can take the PE exam depends on the state to which you are applying. Many states have decoupled the exam from licensure, meaning you can sit for the PE exam prior to obtaining the necessary work experience for licensure. On the other hand, some states will only let you sit for the PE exam after you have acquired the necessary experience (four years in most cases). Pennsylvania requires four years experience after obtaining an EIT certificate. Check your state board's requirements.

2. Passage of a PE exam is not necessary to take the SE exam. This is most prolific in Illinois, where a PE cannot (by law) perform structural work. On the other hand, states like California, Oregon, and Washington all require passage of a PE exam (and licensure as a Civil PE) prior to applying for licensure as a Structural Engineer. These states require an additional amount and type of work experience after obtaining a PE license in order to become licensed as an SE. Again, check your state board's requirements.

 

[RBHeadge PE]

2. Passage of a PE exam is not necessary to take the SE exam. This is most prolific in Illinois, where a PE cannot (by law) perform structural work.

OOC, could an engineer in Illinois have both a PE and SE?

 

[Reverse Polish]

OOC, could an engineer in Illinois have both a PE and SE?

In theory, yes. You would have to have the appropriate work experience in each field.
Illinois has separate boards that govern licensure of Structural Engineers and Professional Engineers, and treats them as two distinct professions. You would have to meet the licensure requirements of each board, same as e.g. a Professional Engineer who is also an attorney.

 

[Reverse Polish]

In theory, yes. You would have to have the appropriate work experience in each field.
Illinois has separate boards that govern licensure of Structural Engineers and Professional Engineers, and treats them as two distinct professions. You would have to meet the licensure requirements of each board, same as e.g. a Professional Engineer who is also an attorney.

^^^Just want to add on that, because Illinois considers Professional Engineering and Structural Engineering to be two distinct professions, there is no "overlap" for the experience requirement--you're either practicing Structural Engineering *or* Professional Engineering at a given time. For example, a person with four years of work experience, strictly spent designing structures, would have 0 experience for Professional Engineering purposes. At least that's my understanding.

Both the PE Board and SE Board are known to investigate and charge persons who are practicing outside the scope of their Profession--PE practicing Structural Engineering, and SE practicing Professional Engineering.