palvarez83
Project Engineer
It varies by state. However, the backgroud is that Civil is the grand daddy of all engineering disciplines. The name Civil comes from civil works projects. In the early 1900's as buildings started to get more complicated, with elevators, hvac, and lighting, ect. it was determined that a "Civil" couldn't do it all. So they broke it off into specialized areas of civil engineering mechanical, electrical, and structural. The later being more stringent for obvious reasons.
Like i said it varies by state. In CA you can't just practice any discpline with any PE license. As a ME, I can only practice mechanical, fire protection, and plumbing. I had to go get my electrical license in order to practice EE. However, if I had had my Civil license(which I'm now studying for) I could theoretically stamp anything (so long as a structrual license is not required). However, there is the clause that says you will only practice in the area which you are competent in. You can however, have someone else who is competent do the design and you oversee it. A stand alone nail salon here won't require any license.
Also, I can go get my Civil Engineering License and then after 3 years of practicing structural take the SE exam. You undegraduate major is irrelavant. They are not trying to do it to be fair! They are trying to do it to be safe. Just my 2 cents.
Like i said it varies by state. In CA you can't just practice any discpline with any PE license. As a ME, I can only practice mechanical, fire protection, and plumbing. I had to go get my electrical license in order to practice EE. However, if I had had my Civil license(which I'm now studying for) I could theoretically stamp anything (so long as a structrual license is not required). However, there is the clause that says you will only practice in the area which you are competent in. You can however, have someone else who is competent do the design and you oversee it. A stand alone nail salon here won't require any license.
Also, I can go get my Civil Engineering License and then after 3 years of practicing structural take the SE exam. You undegraduate major is irrelavant. They are not trying to do it to be fair! They are trying to do it to be safe. Just my 2 cents.
