Engineers

Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination

Listed below are the minimum requirements to be considered for admittance to the Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination:

Education Requirements

(1) Graduation with an EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering degree (4-year minimum) or a degree in engineering that has been determined to be substantially equivalent by our Board.

(2) Graduation from a four-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree approved by the board, completion of post-graduate coursework in engineering curriculum leading to a master's degree or higher in engineering approved by the board,

(3) Graduation from an ABET/ETAC accredited engineering technology curriculum of four years or more that is approved by the board, holding a post-graduate degree in engineering from an institution with an ABET/EAC accredited undergraduate engineering program approved by the board.

Once an applicant passes the Principals and Practice of Engineering examination, they will need to apply for licensure. Listed below are the minimum requirements to be considered for licensure.

Applicants must attest that they meet one (1) of the four (4) following requirements for licensure:

(1) Graduation from an approved engineering curriculum, minimum four years experience, passage of an examination on the fundamentals of engineering, and passage of an examination on the principles and practice of engineering; OR

(2) Graduation from an approved engineering curriculum, minimum 12 years' experience, and passage of an examination on the principles and practice of engineering; OR

(3) Graduation from a four-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree approved by the board, completion of post-graduate coursework in engineering curriculum leading to a master's degree or higher in engineering approved by the board, passage of the examination on the fundamentals of engineering, passage of the examination on the principles and practice of engineering, and minimum eight years' experience; OR

(4) Graduation from an ABET/ETAC accredited engineering technology curriculum of four years or more that is approved by the board, holding a post-graduate degree in engineering from an institution with an ABET EAC accredited undergraduate engineering program approved by the board, minimum eight years' experience, passage of the examination on the fundamentals of engineering, and passage of the examination on the principles and practice of engineering.

• Substantial equivalency means comparable in program content and level of educational experience but not necessarily identical in format or method of delivery. It implies that the graduates of these programs possess the necessary competencies to begin professional engineering practice at the entry level
• Undergraduate degrees in fields of study other than engineering are not considered by the Board to be an acceptable curriculum, even if coupled with a master's degree in engineering.
• The Board may grant toward experience requirements for registration as an engineer one (1) year of credit for graduation with a master's degree (or higher) in engineering from an approved curriculum or up to one (1) year of qualified experience obtained in an established cooperative education program, which is carried out within the framework of an approved engineering curriculum, and which has been approved by the Board. OR three (3) years or more qualified experience obtained prior to graduation under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer.

What constitutes progressive engineering experience?

The Special Committee on Experience Evaluation of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has developed the following guidelines for the work areas and skills an engineer intern must develop to obtain progressive engineering experience. Board members utilize these guidelines when evaluating exam applications, with greater weight being given to the Practical Application of Theory component.

Practical Application of Theory

• ANALYSIS--of operating conditions; performance assessment; feasibility studies; constructability; value engineering; safety; environmental issues; economic issues; risk assessment; reliability.
• DESIGN--construction plan or specification preparation; product specifications; component selection; maintenance and social implications of final product.
• TESTING--developing or specifying testing procedures; verifying functional specifications; implementing quality control and assurance; maintenance and replacement evaluation.
• IMPLEMENTATION--of engineering principles in design, construction, or research; performance of engineering cost studies; process flow and time studies; implementation of quality control and assurance; safety issues; environmental issues.
• SYSTEMS APPLICATION--evaluation of components of a larger system; evaluation of the reliability of system parts; design and evaluation of equipment control systems while considering ergonomics, utility, manufacturing tolerances, and operating and maintenance concerns; the engineering required to establish programs and procedures for the maintenance and management of buildings, bridges, and other types of structures where failure or improper operation would endanger the public health and safety.
• TIME IN THE ENGINEERING PROCESS--difficulties of workflow; scheduling; equipment life; corrosion rates and replacement scheduling.
• KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING--codes, standards, regulations, and laws that govern applicable engineering activities.

Management of Engineering

Engineering management includes supervising staff, managing engineering projects, and managing and administering technology as it is applied in the field or in construction. It may involve:

• PLANNING--developing concepts; evaluating alternative methods.
• SCHEDULING--preparing task breakdowns and schedules.
• BUDGETING AND CONTRACTING--cost estimating and control; contract development.
• SUPERVISING--organizing human resources; motivating teams; directing and coordinating project resources.
• PROJECT CONTROL--complete or partial project control.
• RISK ASSESSMENT--assessment of risk associated with the progression of the project.

Communication Skills

• Accumulation of project knowledge through interpersonal communication with supervisors, clients, subordinates, or team interaction.
• Transmission of project knowledge in verbal or written methods to clients, supervisors, subordinates, the general public, or team members. Examples would be via meetings, written reports, public hearings and reporting or findings and suggestions, other written correspondence and/or verbal briefings.

Social Implications of Engineering

• Promoting and safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public as demonstrated in daily work activities.
• Demonstrating an awareness of the consequences the work performed may incur and a desire to mitigate or eliminate any potential negative impact.
• Following a code of ethics that promotes a high degree of integrity in the practice of professional engineering.