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Interesting thread.
Technically, if you complete that 4-5 year degree and pass the EIT exam, you're only an "engineer-in-training". You need another 5+ years of appropriately-supervised experience and proven proficiency and then take/pass a PE exam in your discipline before you are a licensed professional engineer. Most states have laws (that are generally ignored) that say only those who are licensed may titled as "engineer".
I'm an ME (tier 1 by the previously posted taxonomy, 20+ years across heavy machine design / nuclear / aerospace / semiconductor) and have earned my professional license. I consider myself fortunate to have been mentored by several "old-school" ME's when I was an EIT. A few observations/conclusions that I have at this point in my career:
- I find most "arrogant" engineers are new in their field. I don't necessarily see this arrogance as a sign of the profession as much as a sign of youth. I see arrogance as evenly-spread across most young professionals.
- I often run across "engineers" in industry who have been falsely titled; many don't have the expertise or education to carry the title. Some have been promoted to the title after completing years of technician-level work in their company. I have met several of these people who truly are arrogant (and in some cases dangerous in their practice of engineering). Fortunately, almost all of these cases required oversight of a PE who had final design authority.
- In my opinion, younger business-oriented managers mistake confidence portrayed by older, experienced engineers (or technically-oriented people for that matter) as arrogance. (Those in business who won't believe anything until they experience it first-hand often do the same.)
- Engineers, by nature and training, generally look to learn from the experiences and mistakes of others when solving problems. Others who insist on being "experiential learners" often classify engineers as arrogant.
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