Professional Engineer license - how do I get there from here?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by David

I just checked the web site and didn't see anything about getting a PE in Texas without a degree but I swear it in there about 10 years ago.


Mechanical Design and Engineering can be related. When I took the PE exam several years ago it was the PE Mechanical: Mechanical Design test. And yes, contrary to what some think of me on PARF, I did pass on the first try

You're misunderstanding me. In Texas, you have to take the tests these days. And there is no way to get a license without a degree or related degree. Again, I'm doing my FE in 45 days and will do my PE exam in Spring of 2011. I should have my Texas license by next summer, if all goes well.

In New York State, you can still get a PE license without a degree.

[David]

Originally Posted by red-beard

You're misunderstanding me. In Texas, you have to take the tests these days. And there is no way to get a license without a degree or related degree. Again, I'm doing my FE in 45 days and will do my PE exam in Spring of 2011. I should have my Texas license by next summer, if all goes well.

In New York State, you can still get a PE license without a degree.

That's good. I work with a guy who failed his first try so he waited til the 12 year mark and applied about two years ago and was given a license with no PE test. I assume he passed the EIT though.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Amail

Mechanical design and engineering better be related - I sure do a lot of engineering in my designs! I look at strength of materials, corrosion analysis, statics, effects of temperature and pressure, manufacturability, general "fit-for-function" in most everything I design.

Just because there's no sparks in it, or HVAC, doesn't mean there's no engineering going on.

Amail - if what you design breaks and someone gets hurt, can you be held personally or professionally liable? Can you lose your livelihood and house? If you were a P.E. this is what is at stake.

Engineering is more than doing simple hand calcs based on tensile yield etc. Do you look at what happens should a part fail and predict what will break and the outcome should a component be incorrectly loaded? What about the socioecomomic effects of a given product - are these considered (not always a factor)?

[Amail]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Amail - if what you design breaks and someone gets hurt, can you be held personally or professionally liable? Can you lose your livelihood and house? If you were a P.E. this is what is at stake.

Engineering is more than doing simple hand calcs based on tensile yield etc. Do you look at what happens should a part fail and predict what will break and the outcome should a component be incorrectly loaded? What about the socioecomomic effects of a given product - are these considered (not always a factor)?

I do not shoulder the personal liability that I would as a licensed P.E., that's for certain. My designs are for offshore use, subsea for the most part, and are not mission critical. Failure of any of my designs would be a warranty issue if it were a workmanship or materials defect, and would be on the client's nickel if it were the result of mishandling.

For liability reasons we steer away from projects that could pull the company thru a knot-hole if something went wrong.

Still, engineering covers a broad range of disciplines from simple hand calcs to socioeconomic effects of catastrophic failures. I work in a band within that range.

[swang]

That all sound like lots of work for doing a PPI?

You are ok now, settle in and work