Virginia PE Requirements

[EngineerPerson]

Hello,

I've been doing a bit of searching for this online but I'm a little confused by the information. I have a STEM bachelors degree. Currently, I'm a student trying to decide if I want to pursue a Masters or 2nd Bachelors. In Virginia, if I decide to go into a Master's program, will I be eligible to sit for the PE exam? By the time I finish, I'll have 6 years of verifiable experience working under a PE.

 

[pgheng]

Maybe taking the FE exam will help you decide.

 

[RBHeadge PE]

Hello,

I've been doing a bit of searching for this online but I'm a little confused by the information. I have a STEM bachelors degree. Currently, I'm a student trying to decide if I want to pursue a Masters or 2nd Bachelors. In Virginia, if I decide to go into a Master's program, will I be eligible to sit for the PE exam? By the time I finish, I'll have 6 years of verifiable experience working under a PE.

Is your undergraduate degree an ABET accredited engineering degree?

 

[EngineerPerson]

Maybe taking the FE exam will help you decide.

I took it the first semester of going into the post bacc program. I failed it but think that I need to take all circuits theory classes before doing it again. I got about 50% of the questions correct.

 

[EngineerPerson]

Is your undergraduate degree an ABET accredited engineering degree?

No it's just a plain science STEM degree

 

[RBHeadge PE]

A few years ago, one of my engineers was in a similar situation to you: non-ABET STEM BS and MS, and another MS in Engineering from ABET school. They still made him get 6 years of experience before he could sit for the exam.

The master's degree will be valuable to you during your career than a second bachelors. IMHO, it's also faster and easier. And while the ABET engineering degree will make things easier for getting licensed in Virginia, it doesn't really add much else to your CV. But as you indicated above, it's moot since you'll have right experience requirement at the end of either option.

I presume you are working under a PE now?

Virginia does not let you double count concurrent experience and degree-for-experience. So factor that into your experience requirement if you planned on having the masters degree count as a year.

You will need to pass the FE at some point regardless. Take and pass the FE as soon as possible. It only gets harder the longer you wait. If that meant taking Circuits 1, then so be it. You should also self-study on whatever other areas showed improvement on your diagnostics. It's been almost 20 years since I took the FE, so this may not be relevant anymore, but take the general exam, and not the discipline specific FE exams.

 

[EngineerPerson]

A few years ago, one of my engineers was in a similar situation to you: non-ABET STEM BS and MS, and another MS in Engineering from ABET school. They still made him get 6 years of experience before he could sit for the exam.

The master's degree will be valuable to you during your career than a second bachelors. IMHO, it's also faster and easier. And while the ABET engineering degree will make things easier for getting licensed in Virginia, it doesn't really add much else to your CV. But as you indicated above, it's moot since you'll have right experience requirement at the end of either option.

I presume you are working under a PE now?

Virginia does not let you double count concurrent experience and degree-for-experience. So factor that into your experience requirement if you planned on having the masters degree count as a year.

You will need to pass the FE at some point regardless. Take and pass the FE as soon as possible. It only gets harder the longer you wait. If that meant taking Circuits 1, then so be it. You should also self-study on whatever other areas showed improvement on your diagnostics. It's been almost 20 years since I took the FE, so this may not be relevant anymore, but take the general exam, and not the discipline specific FE exams.

Yes, I'm currently working under a PE and all of my experience has been under a PE. I don't plan on counting the degree as experience since I'll be right at 6 years when I finish a degree.

Thank you for the response! It answers all my questions.

I started in a post bacc 2nd bachelors program but took a break. My employer is offering a huge raise and reimbursement for the PE exam so I was wanting to pass the FE and finish my degree ASAP. I've applied for some Master's programs around me.

 

[pgheng]

I took it the first semester of going into the post bacc program. I failed it but think that I need to take all circuits theory classes before doing it again. I got about 50% of the questions correct.

You need to pass the FE exam, among other things, before you are eligible to sit for the PE exam.

 

[EngineerPerson]

You need to pass the FE exam, among other things, before you are eligible to sit for the PE exam.

Yes I'm aware of that.

 

[EngineerPerson]

Yes I'm aware of that.

I'm just worried that I wouldn't be eligible to sit for the PE in Virginia without an undergraduate engineering degree.

 

[Mosharrof]

You need to pass the FE exam, among other things, before you are eligible to sit for the PE exam.

Hello! I have passed the FE exam and just started working under a PE two months ago. Do I need to take approval from Virginia before I sit for PE exam? If yes, then how many years of experience is required to get the approval?

 

[EngineerPerson]

Hello! I have passed the FE exam and just started working under a PE two months ago. Do I need to take approval from Virginia before I sit for PE exam? If yes, then how many years of experience is required to get the approval?

You will need 4 years of verified experience under a P.E. here in Virginia.

 

[Mosharrof]

You will need 4 years of verified experience under a P.E. here in Virginia.

Thanks for your reply. Actually, I just got my answer from a Virginia official this afternoon. I can sit for PE exam anytime after obtaining my EIT certification, but I will require 6 years of experience to be eligible for PE licensure. I don't mind that at all. Whereas, most of the states are asking for 3-4 years of experience only for EIT! Also, many of them require approval for just taking the PE exam! (Note: I have a foreign BS degree and a US MS degree)

 

[EngineerPerson]

Thanks for your reply. Actually, I just got my answer from a Virginia official this afternoon. I can sit for PE exam anytime after obtaining my EIT certification, but I will require 6 years of experience to be eligible for PE licensure. I don't mind that at all. Whereas, most of the states are asking for 3-4 years of experience only for EIT! Also, many of them require approval for just taking the PE exam! (Note: I have a foreign BS degree and a US MS degree)

Oh okay I see! I assumed you had a 4 year ABET accredited engineering degree. I’ll also need 6 years since I will have only an engineering masters.

 

[Mosharrof]

We are on a similar page! Have you already received your EIT certification from Virginia? How long does it take after applying?

 

[EngineerPerson]

I have not! I’ll have to retake it. I do know that your decision will be made whenever the board of engineering meet up again. I think. At least that’s how it was.

 

[Mosharrof]

I have not! I’ll have to retake it. I do know that your decision will be made whenever the board of engineering meet up again. I think. At least that’s how it was.

Oh, I hope that doesn't take long. I'm planning to apply tomorrow and wait.

 

[Mosharrof]

I just wanted to share the good news. I have been granted the EIT designation from Virginia! It took only 3-4 working days, which is pretty fast!