Regulation and licensure in engineering

Regulation and License in Engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage public welfare; safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the Licensure process through which an Engineer becomes authorized to provide Professional Services to the public.

The professional status and the actual practice of Professional Engineering is legally defined and protected by Governments. In some jurisdictions only Registered or Licensed Engineers are permitted to practice Engineering. Another earmark that distinguishes a Licensed or Registered Engineer is the authority to take legal responsibility for Engineering Work or Projects. Regulations may require that only a Licensed or Registered Engineer can sign, seal or stamp technical documentation such as reports, plats, engineering drawings & calculations for study estimate or valuation, or carry out design, analysis, repair, servicing, maintenance, supervision of Engineering Work/Process/Project. In case where Public Safety; Property & Welfare is concerned; it is must that such Engineer be a Licensed/Registered Engineer irrespective of whether he is self-practicising as Consulting Engineer/employed as Executive Engineer/Superitending Engineer/Dy.Chief Engineer/Asst.Chief Engineer/Chief Engineer in Gov't/Public Sector/Public Ltd. Co./Pvt.Co./Pvt.Firm / Pvt.Org. Also Engg Advice & Engg Prescription of Materials/Equipments/Tools/Techniques/Methods should be given only by such Licensed/Registered Engineers.

Expert Witness or Opinion in Courts/Committees/Commissions should be given by them only. Such Licensed/Registered Engineer should use his/her Seal/Stamp with Lic/Reg.No. in all designs drawings; plats; reports & paperwork. Irrespective of Discipline; such Consulting Engineers must be Registered/Licensed. University affiliated Engineering Colleges prefer them as Prof./Assoc.Prof/Asst. Prof.

Registration and regulation

Becoming an Engineer is a widely varied process around the world with use of term 'Engineer' regulated in some regions and unregulated in others. In regions where Engineering is a regulated profession, there are specific procedures and requirements for obtaining License to practice, or Charter, or Registration from a Government or Charter-granting authority acting on its behalf and Engineers are subject to regulation by these bodies.

Licensed Engineers enjoy significant influence over their regulation. They are often the authors of the pertinent codes of ethics used by some of these organizations. Engineers in private practice often, but not always, find themselves in traditional professional-client relationships in their practice. Engineers employed in Government Service and Industry are on the other side of the same relationship. Despite the different focus, Engineers in industry as well as private practice face similar ethical issues and reach similar conclusions. One American Engineering Society, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has sought to extend professional licensure and a code of ethics across the field regardless of practice area or employment sector.

United States

In the United States, Registration or Licensure of Professional Engineers and Engineering Practice is performed by the individual states. Each Registration or License is valid only in the State where it is granted. Many Professional Engineers maintain Licenses in several States for this reason, and comity between States can make it easy to obtain a License in one State based on License in another State without going through the full application process. The licensing procedure varies but the general process is:

1. Graduate from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited four-year College or University program in Engineering (e.g. BE, BS(Engg), BSE, MS(Engg), MSE degree).
2. Complete a standard Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) written examination, which tests applicants on breadth of understanding of basic engineering principles, and optionally some elements of an engineering specialty. Completion of the first two steps typically qualifies for certification in the U.S. as an Engineer-In-Training (EIT), sometimes also called an Engineer Intern (EI).
3. Accumulate a certain amount of engineering experience. In most states the requirement is four years, but in others the requirement is lower.
4. Complete a written Principles and Practice in Engineering ('PE') examination, testing the applicant's knowledge and skills in a chosen engineering discipline (civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, etc.), as well as engineering ethics.

For standardization, the FE and PE exams are written and graded by a central organization, NCEES. However each state's Board of Professional Engineers individually sets the requirements to take the tests, as well as the passing scores. For example, in some states applicants must provide professional references from several PEs before they can take the PE test.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have engineering boards that are represented by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which administers both the FE and PE examinations.

Degree requirements in the United States are evolving. Effective 1 January 2020, the NCEES model will require additional credits beyond a BS(Engg) degree. The type of creditable activities that will satisfy the additional educational requirement are under development by NCEES. This has received some support from civil engineers.

There is a fairly large range in exam pass rates for these exams (FE & PE), but the pass rate for repeat test takers is significantly lower.

As of 2009, it is still possible for an individual to bypass Steps 2 and 4. In Texas, for example, both FE and PE exam waivers are still available to individuals with several years of creditable experience.

In a few states it is still possible for an individual to bypass Step 1, and apply to take the registration examinations, as long as a PE sponsors the applicant, and work experience can be substituted for academic experience. The years of experience may also vary; for instance, in California it is possible to take a Principles and Practice in Engineering examination with only two years of experience after a BS(Engg) degree,or one year of experience after MS(Engg). In Nevada, BS(Engg) are eligible to take the Principles and Practice exam immediately after graduation and passing the FE, before acquiring the required experience. Some states also have state-specific examinations, most notably California where there is a state-specific Structural Engineering exam and two additional exams in Land Surveying and Earthquake Engineering for Civil Engineering candidates.

Some states issue generic Professional Engineering licenses. Others, known as "discipline states", issue licenses for specific disciplines of engineering, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering and Electrical Engineering. In all cases, however, Engineers are ethically required to limit their practice to their area of competency, which is usually a small portion of a discipline. While licensing boards do not often enforce this limitation, it can be a factor in negligence lawsuits. In a few states Licensed Civil Engineers may also perform land surveys.

In addition to the person's License, most states require that firms engaged in providing engineering services are authorized to do so. For instance, the State of Florida issues a Certificate of Authorization(CoA) to firms that are owned by a Professional Engineer.

Civil Engineers account for a large portion of licensed Professional Engineers. In Texas, for example, about one-third of licenses are for Civil Engineers, with Civil Engineering exams making up more than half of the exams taken. Many of the remainder are Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers whose practice involves areas that states regulate, such as HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, & Fire Protection systems for buildings or public infrastructure. However, some Engineers in other fields obtain Licenses for the ability to serve as professional witnesses in Courts or before Government Committees or just for prestige, even though they may never actually sign and seal design documents.

Since regulation of the practice of Engineering is performed by the individual States in the U.S., areas of Engineering involved in interstate commerce are essentially unregulated. These areas include much of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, and may be specifically exempted from regulation under an "Industrial Exemption". An industrial exemption covers Engineers who design products such as automobiles that are sold (or have the potential to be sold) outside the State where they are produced, as well as the equipment used to produce the product. Structures subject to building codes are not covered by an industrial exemption, though small residential buildings often do not require an Engineer's seal. In many jurisdictions, the role of Architects & Structural Engineers overlap.

Many private companies employ non-degreed workers in technical positions with Engineering titles such as "Test Engineer" or "Field Engineer". Such position may not require an Engineering degree at the discretion of the company. It is important however, to make a distinction between a "Graduate Engineer" and a "Professional (or Licensed) Engineer". A "Graduate Engineer" is anyone holding a degree in Engineering from an accredited four-year university program; but is not licensed to practice or offer services to the public. Unlicensed Engineers usually work as employees for a company and are governed under the industrial exemption clause.

Canada

In Canada the designation "Professional Engineer" can only be used by Licensed Engineers and the practice of Engineering is protected in law and strictly enforced in all provinces. With the exception of the Province of Quebec, it is not an offense to use the title "Engineer" per se, as long as one does not imply they are a Professional Engineer but it is rare that Non- License Engineers use the term because it can attract legal consequences. The regulation and Licensing of Engineers are accomplished through a self-governing body that is given the power to license and discipline Professional Engineers as well as regulate the practice of the Professional Engineers in their province, such as Professional Engineers Ontario. A self-governing body's prime purpose is to protect the public. An Engineering License and the award of title P.Eng. grants the right to practice as a Professional Engineer. Many of these associations are also responsible for regulating other related professions. The process for registration is generally as follows:

1. Graduate with a degree from an accredited program in engineering or applied science, accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).
2. Complete an Engineer in Training or "Engineering Internship" program under the direction of a P.Eng. (This is a minimum four-year program with the exception of Quebec.)
3. Review of work experience by the Association.
4. Pass a Professional Practice Exam (content and format of which differs by province).

Professional Engineers are not licensed in a specific discipline but are bound by their respective provincial Code of Ethics (e.g. in Ontario: Professional Engineers Act R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 941) from practising beyond their training and experience. Breaches of the code are often sufficient grounds for enforcement, which may include the suspension or loss of license, as well as financial penalties and now, through recent changes to Canadian law, could also result in jail, should negligence be shown to have played a part in any incident that causes loss of human life.

Engineers are not tested on technical knowledge during the licensing process if their education was accredited by the CEAB. Accreditation of schools and their accredited degree granting status are monitored and controlled. This accreditation process is governed by Engineers Canada through their active group the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. The accreditation process is continuous and enforced through regular accreditation reviews of each school. These reviews typically include the review of the school's curriculum (including marked final exams and assignments), interviews of current students, extra curricular activities and teaching staff as well additional areas the visiting board may feel need addressing. The specific areas considered are Curriculum Content, Program Environment, and General Criteria. The associations are granted both an exclusive right to title and an exclusive right to practice. There are only a few exceptions specifically noted in the acts and it does not include any "industrial exemptions". Therefore, a Professional Engineer is legally required to be registered. The level of enforcement varies depending on the specific industry. There is no requirement of having graduated from an accredited Canadian university in order to be a Professional Engineer in some provinces.

The Professional Engineer's license is only valid in the province of delivery. There are however agreements between the associations to ease mobility. In 2009 the Professional Engineers Ontario led an initiative to develop a National Engineering Licensing framework.

The term "Engineer" is often used loosely in some industry sectors in Canada to describe people working in the field of Engineering Technology (not Professional Engineering) as Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians and Trades (Stationary Engineer). For example the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy often calls its technicians internally but not in the public domain; "Marine Engineers", "Power Engineers" and "Military Engineers". "Locomotive Engineers" have been an integral part of the Canadian railroad industry since its inception. Stationary Engineers are a trade whose Technicians operate heavy machinery and equipment that provide heat, light, climate control and power.

United Kingdom

Main article: Chartered Engineer (UK)

The Engineering Council is the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession. It holds the national registers of 235,000 Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Chartered Engineers (CEng). CEng is a global brand with strong engineering, management and leadership qualities Wile Engineering in UK is highly regulated for high standards the practitioner does not need to be licensed to work as an engineer. UK Professional Engineers registered by the Engineering Council CEng, IEng, EngTech and ICTTech are fully protected under law by means of the Engineering Council's Royal Charter and Bye-laws; further legislation is thus unnecessary. In order to protect these titles action is taken through the courts against their unauthorized use.

Oftentimes, people compare CEng to PEng or PE. But the PE, PEng are really different. PE in USA or PEng in Canada is a license with core elements of technical practice. CEng is a global brand and a benchmark with strong engineering, management and leadership qualities. To become a CEng it is required to have significant demonstrable leadership and management competencies in addition to professional competence through education, training and practice.

In the UK the term "Engineer" is sometimes used to describe Mechanics, installers, and maintenance workers, e.g. Gas Safe Register Engineer, or British Telecom - Telephone Engineer. An "Aerospace Satellite Engineer" could be a person with 3 weeks training, who installes a dish TV antenna on a side of house. In USA "Aerospace Satellite Engineer" is usually someone who has 8 years university education (bachelors, masters or PhD) in engineering or engineering science and who designs, and builds spacecraft.

Only the Chartered Engineer is entitled to register through the European Federation of National Engineering Associations as a European Engineer and use the pre-nominal of Eur Ing.

A Chartered professional is a person who has gained a level of competence in a particular field of work and as such has been awarded a formal credential by an organization in recognition.

India

In India, Engineers with BE/BTech/ME/MTech degree from University are allowed to practice as Consulting Engineers-there is Licence or Registration with local City Municipal Corp.in case they submit Public Plans; Designs; Drawings for approval & record. Institution of Engineers (India) having British Royal Charter of Yr 1935 admits Engineers having above degree/s as Corporate Members (AMIE) & as Chartered Engineer [India]:C.Eng [India]-which is recognized title throughout India & World-Over. They command good professional mobility & status. IE(India)also offer 'Professional Engineer [India]':PE [India] & 'International Professional Engineer':PE [Int'l]registration to Member Engineers having seven(7) years of active practical Engineering experience after above degree. IE(India) is a member of IPEA (International Professional Engineers Agreement)& has bilateral agreements with many National; Foreign & International Engineering Institutions and is respected; recognized world-over. Many Municipal Corp. exempt Chartered Engineer [India] from their Lic./Reg. by Comity. All such Consulting Engineers should be Licensed/Registered/Chartered irrespective of discipline/area.

Pakistan

In Pakistan Engineers with Engineering Degree (BE/BSC/BS) from PEC Accredited University/Institute are allowed to practice as Registered Engineer. After 5 years of experience they have to go for Engineering Practice Examination (EPE) conducted by Pakistan Engineering Council and those who pass the Engineering Practice Examination are given registration.

Europe

Main article: European Engineer

The European Engineer (Eur Ing, EUR ING) is an international professional qualification for engineers used in many European countries. The title is granted after successful application to a national member of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI), which includes representation from many European countries, including much of the European Union. It allows a person who has an engineering degree and usually an engineering professional qualification in one of the member countries to use the qualification in others, but this depends on local legislation.

The title Eur Ing is "pre-nominal", i.e. it is placed before rather than after the name as in the case of a post-nominal title such as that for academic degrees (however, in some EU countries, academic degrees are also pre-nominal). Names are also placed on the FEANI Register maintained by FEANI in additional to national member registers.

Another association in Europe is The EurEta. Professional title: Ing. EurEta - is used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof). An engineer registered with EurEta "European Higher Engineering and Technical Professionals Association" is called an "EurEta Registered Engineer", and has the right to use this title in Europe.

Germany

In Germany academic title Dipl.-Ing. (Diplom-Ingenieur, Diploma Engineer) is awarded by the educational ministries of the federal states (the Bundesländer) after having completed an academic engineering education according to the German Engineer's Law (Ingenieurgesetz), however it is not a license to practice engineering, rather an academic title. The degrees Ing. grad. (Graduierter Ingenieur, Graduate Engineer) and Obering. (Oberingenieur, Supervisor Engineer) are not awarded any more. (pre-nominal letters). It is recognized by FEANI as a precursor for registration as Eur Ing. It is important to note that "Dipl.-Ing." does not confer licensing by the government, and therefore is not equivalent to the steps of licensing (e.g., mandatory references, minimum work experience and a second theoretical and practical exam) conducted in other countries such as the UK, Canada or the United States.

The State-certified Engineer is a European Union qualification for Professional Engineer of Technology or Professional Engineering Technologist (not to be confused with Engineering Technician or Dipl.-Ing). It is granted to Engineering Technologists upon successful completion of a Technical College and it is also granted by an International Organization with headquarters in Germany, the Bundesverband höherer Berufe der Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung e.V. ("Federal Association of higher professions for technology economy and design") or BVT.

EU Directive 2005L0036-EN 01.01.2007

ANNEX III List of regulated education and training referred to in the third sub paragraph of Article 13(2)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/53286830/Directive-2005-36-EC

A member of the BVT is entitled to use the initials BVT after his name. To achieve this qualification a completed apprenticeship program (3.5 years) and a minimum 2400 hour college diploma in engineering or technology with two years relevant experience and pass State Examination is required. The State Certified Engineer Academic requirement is a level 6 on EQF = Bachelor - The European Qualification Framework. Bachelors (Hon) Degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology from an accredited University is also equated to level 6 on EQF, a State-certified Engineer does not require to complete a university degree. On the contrary, a State Certified Engineer certificate in the past before 31/1/2012 usually qualified the holder to proceed to Bachelor's level education at a University of Applied Science. This has led to wide and contreversial discussions between Bachelor's and Master's degree engineers and State-Certified-Engineers in the past.

Today this is on the same level as Bachelors Degree. One can continue to Study to Masters Degree with the SCE qualification. The academic requirements for qualification are similar to Incorporated Engineer qualification / registration by EC UK. State Certified Engineers now assist Master's and Diploma Engineers, they are also holding full engineering positions for Systems Engineers, Integration Engineers, Test Engineers, QA Engineers etc.

State Certified Engineer, Business Manager, Designer level now level 6 - Bachelor on DQF, EQF as of Jan 31, 2012 Following the top representatives and agents Institutions were involved: Federal Government (Federal Ministry for Education and Research, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology), Standing Conference and economic ministerial meeting of countries, the German Confederation of hand- plant, the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, German Trade Union Federation, Federal Institute for Vocational application. They agreed on a common position on the implementation of the EQF is a German qualifications framework (DQR) agreed.

Designations

Post-nominal or pre-nominal letters are commonly used to denote the holder of an engineering license in various jurisdictions:

Africa

• Ing. in Ghana (for engineers holding a B.Sc. or higher with relevant engineering experience) and a registered member of the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE)
• Pr.Eng. or Pr.Ing is used as a post-nominal in South Africa (for engineers holding a B.Eng., B.Sc. or B.Sc.Eng. with relevant experience). Pr.Tech.Eng. is used as a post-nominal in South Africa (for engineers holding a B.Tech. with relevant experience and three years of practicing in the engineering field) "Pr.Tech.Eng" standing for Professional Engineering Technologist; see Engineering Council of South Africa "Pr.Cert.Eng" standing for Professional Certificated Engineer is used as a post-nominal for Engineers who have registered with the Engineering Council South Africa after passing the Engineers Certificate of Competence Examinations.
• R.Eng standing for Registered Engineer in Kenya (Holders of Five years post-secondary Engineering Education and four years of work experience)
• Eng. is used for engineers holding B.Sc., B.Eng. or higher with relevant engineering experience in Egypt and must be a member in the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers.
• Engr is used as a pre-nominal in Nigeria (for holders of bachelor or higher degree in engineering with relevant experience and having successfully passed the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Professional Exams and fulfill other NSE and Council For Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) requirements)"
• R.Eng or CEng is used as post-nominal for registered engineers in Nigeria after fulfilling both NSE and COREN requirements.
• Eng is used as a pre-nominal in Uganda for registered engineers. In Uganda, a registered Engineer must as a prerequisite be a member of the Uganda Institution of professional Engineers (UIPE) and must have a B.Sc. or higher in Engineering together with relevant engineering experience that must be documented, supported by 2-registered engineers, and defended by the applicant in an interview with the Engineers' Registration Board (ERB), which has the power to confirm a Registered Engineer. Annual fees must be paid to the ERB by all registered engineers.

Australia and New Zealand

• NPER is used as a post nominal in Australia for engineers registered on the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) and is subject to CPD requirements to maintain status. Registration is performed by the National Engineering Registration Board.
• RPEQ is used as a post nominal in Queensland for Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland and is subject to CPD requirements to maintain status. Registration is performed by the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland.
• MIEAust is used as a post nominal to designate a member of Engineers Australia. This indicates at least three years experience beyond graduation, but does not imply chartered membership by itself.
• CPEng is used as a post nominal in Australia and New Zealand for Chartered Professional Engineers, and subject to a rigorous competence based assessment and ongoing CPD requirements to maintain status.
• FIEAust is used to designate a Fellow (highest membership category) of Engineers Australia.

Asia

• Mohandess Payeh 1 and Mohandess Payeh 2 are titles used respectively for Professional Engineer and Engineer in Training in Iran.
• Ir is used as a pre-nominal in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Er is used as a pre-nominal in Singapore and P.E. / P.Eng. ( Professional Engineer ) are used as post-nominals.
• P.E.Jp as a pre-nominal in Japan.
• Engr. or Engineer, To use it before your name, you have take a membership from IEB Bangladesh.
• Engr. is used as a pre-nominal for Engineers in Pakistan registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council after completing a four years BE/BS Engg. degree. R.E. / R.Engr. ( Registered Engineer ) or P.E. / P.Engr. ( Professional Engineer ) are used as post-nominals.
• Mohandes is used as a pre-nominal in Arab countries like Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
• Eng. or .م as a pre-nominal in Jordan (for engineers holding a university degree in engineering after five years of studies).
• Engr. or Engineer is used as a pre-nominal in the Philippines for individuals passing the government regulated professional licensure examination, which is only given for certain fields of engineering.
• CEng (Sri Lanka) is used in Sri Lanka as a post-nominal abbreviation by Corporate Members of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL).
• IEng. Incorporated Engineers offered by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka.
• CEng[India]used as post-nominal abbr.in India who are registered as Chartered Engineer [India] with Institution of Engineers [India].
• Er. is used before self name by all such Chartered Engineers [India] of IE [India].

Europe

• Eur Ing, (EUR ING) (European Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof) after being suitably registered in their own country and then accepted by FEANI.
• Ing.P.Eur (European Professional Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal.
• Ing. (Ingeniero) in Spain, used as a pre-nominal, for the engineers who have the equivalent to a master's degree as they studied five or six courses in an Engineering Superior School. Also exists the Ingeniero Técnico (I.T.), who is a professional that holds a Degree and a minimum formation of three courses in an engineering official college. Both types of engineers have full competency in their respective professional field of engineering, being the difference that the three-year Engineers have competence only in their speciality (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.) and the "Engineering Superior School" Engineers have wider competences. The Bologna process changes this structure. The Degree will require four courses and the Superior Engineering School Engineers will equal the ones that hold a Master in Engineering.
• Eng. (Engenheiro) in Portugal, used as a pre-nominal. An Engenheiro is a full chartered professional in engineering who was awarded a masters' degree (2nd study cycle according to the Bologna process system) by an accredited engineering school. In Portugal there is also the Engenheiro Técnico who is a professional with a bachelor's degree (1st study cycle) in engineering or engineering sciences. Accredited masters' degrees in engineering are regulated and certified by the Ordem dos Engenheiros (Order of Engineers), and every professional full chartered engineer is registered at the Ordem.
• In Finland, regulation affects only academic degrees. In academic education, the degree of diplomi-insinööri (dipl. ins. or DI), officially translated "Master of Science (Technology)", is awarded by universities and universities of technology, and is preceded by an intermediate bachelor's degree (tekniikan kandidaatti) or equivalent studies. In vocational education, the degrees insinööri (amk) and ylempi insinööri (amk) are awarded by polytechnics.
• In Germany the Dipl.-Ing. (Diplom-Ingenieur, Diploma Engineer) is awarded by the educational ministries of the federal states (the Bundesländer) after having completing an academic engineering education according to the German Engineer's Law (Ingenieurgesetz). The degrees Ing. grad. (Graduierter Ingenieur, Graduate Engineer) and Obering. (Oberingenieur, Supervisor Engineer) are not awarded any more. (pre-nominal letters)
• Ing. EurEta - used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof). An engineer registered with EurEta "European Higher Engineering and Technical Professionals Association" is called an "EurEta Registered Engineer", and has the right to use this title in Europe.
• State-certified Engineer BVT. These titles are the respective translations, authorised by the German Federal Government, of "Staatlich geprüfter Techniker", in Europe.
• Ir. in the Netherlands (for engineers holding a Master's degree from a university) or Ing. (for engineers holding a Bachelor's degree from a professional school). (pre-nominal letters)
• Ir. in Belgium (for engineers holding a Master's degree in engineering/bio-engineering sciences from a university) or Ing. (for engineers holding a Master's degree in applied engineering from other institutes of higher education). (pre-nominal letters)
• Ing. in Italy used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof. and only for engineers holding a Master's degree) or Ing.jr (Bachelor's). A state exam is required. (pre-nominal letters) Registration is with the Consiglio Nazionale degli Ingegneri.
• Siv. Ing. (Sivilingeniør, M.Sc) and ing. (Høyskoleingeniør, B.Sc) in Norway. The titled is used by persons holding degrees from accredited engineering colleges and universities.
• CEng (Chartered Engineer) and IEng (Incorporated Engineer) in the UK and Ireland. UK and Irish engineers may also carry post-nominal letters specific to their specialist engineering institute, such as MIET (professional engineers and graduate professionals registered with the Institution of Engineering and Technology). In the UK these are recognised as regulated qualifications and titles.
• Civ. Ing. in Denmark and Sweden (for engineers holding a Master's degree in Engineering, also M.Sc. Eng, master of science in engineering) and Högskoleingenjör in Sweden (for engineers holding a B.Sc. degree).
• Ing. in Romania, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof.).
• Ing. for engineers holding a Master's degree in Czech Republic and Slovak republic, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Mgr. = M.Sc.).
• inż. and mgr inż. in Poland, inż., inżynier (engineer) is the title obtained after 3,5 years of technical studies; inżynier who obtained M.Sc. degree, uses mgr inż. (magister inżynier, literally: master engineer). The mgr degree can be obtained in 2 years post-graduate education, or formerly (until full adaptation of Bologna process by university) through integrated 5 years B.Sc-M.Sc. programme. Some (particularly in the U.S.) mistakenly believe that "mgr inż." is some kind of separate degree, while in fact these are two degrees, regardless of how they were obtained. The degree in general includes license to practice, although some regulation may require additional registration to perform specific tasks (see pre-nominal letters).
• маг. инж. (Mag. Inzh. from Magister (Master) Engineer) in Bulgaria (for engineers holding a Master's (Magister) degree) or инж. (for engineers holding a Bachelor's degree). (pre-nominal letters)
• "Inġ." in Malta (for engineers holding a university degree and at least 3 years of experience).
• "PEng (UK) in UK (for Engineers members of Society of Professional Engineers UK).
• "BVT in Germany (for Engineers holding 3.5 years certified apprentice, followed by min 2,400 hours degree and minimum of 2 years approved relevant experience, members of the Federal - Association of higher professionals for technology, economy and design).
• "Müh." or ""Mühendis" in Turkey. The titled is used by persons holding degree from 4 year study in accredited engineering universities.

Latin America

• Ing. in most Spanish speaking countries (pre-nominal letters) (similar to Dr. or Prof): Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, México, Perú, Uruguay, Venezuela.
• In Chile customary practice consists in placing the post-nominal word Ingeniero Civil plus the specialty area, such as Ingeniero Civil Eléctrico, Ingeniero Civil en Minería or Ingeniero Civil Químico.
• Eng. (Engenheiro) customary practice in post-nominal word "Engenheiro Civil", "Engenheiro Mecânico", "Engenheiro Eletricista", "Engenheiro Florestal", Engenheiro Agrônomo", "Engenheiro de Segurança do Trabalho" in Brazil. Registration by CONFEA/CREA in the states of the federation Pará, Maranhão, Tocantins, São Paulo and others but to work in more than one state is possible only with "Visto".
• "R.Eng." Registered Engineer in Trinidad and Tobago, as accredited by the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago.

North America

• P.E. or PE is used in the U.S. Individual states grant PE registration, which can sometimes be endorsed by other states.
• P.Eng. is used in Canada (as a post-nominal), except in the province of Quebec. Granted to specified technical educational degree holder residing in Canada upon application.
• Eng. (French: ing.) is used in Quebec.

Title usage

In many countries, laws exist that limit the use of job titles containing the word "engineer".

Canada

In Canada it is illegal to practice engineering, or use the title "Professional Engineer", without a licence. Engineering in Canada is regulated in the public interest by self-governing professional licensing bodies. These bodies were established by Canada's 13 provincial and territorial governments through legislation. The provincial and territorial governments have delegated their constitutional authority to regulate engineers and engineering in Canada to professional licensing bodies that are maintained and governed by the profession, creating a system of self-regulation.

The first law related to professional engineering in Ontario was created in 1922 and allowed for the creation of a voluntary association to oversee registration of engineers. The Act of 1922 was "open", meaning that membership in the association was not mandatory for practising engineers. In Ontario, regulation of engineering practice dates to 1937, when the Professional Engineers Act was amended and the engineering profession was "closed" to non-qualified individuals; that is, licensure was made mandatory for anyone practising professional engineering. The provincial government determined that it would be in the public interest to restrict the practice of engineering to those who were qualified, and the right to practise was "closed" to non-engineers as a result of the failures of bridges and buildings, which had been designed by unskilled individuals.

Self-regulation recognizes that the engineering profession itself, at the provincial and territorial level, is best positioned to regulate the practice of engineering in a manner that protects both the public and the environment. The licensing bodies fulfill this mandate by ensuring high standards of engineering practice and education in Canada, by setting high standards for admission into the profession, by disciplining engineers who fail to uphold the profession's practice and ethical standards, and by preventing the misuse of the title "Professional Engineer" by individuals who are not licensed members of the profession. They also take appropriate action to prevent the illegal practice of engineering by unlicensed individuals. Each licensing body's mandate and obligation to undertake this role is laid out in the act that created it. Although each act is slightly different, most also define a scope of practice for engineers and specifically restrict the use of the title Professional Engineer to individuals who have been licensed by the engineering licensing body in the province or territory where the act applies.

The use of the term "engineer" was an issue between professional bodies, the I.T. industry, and the security industry, where companies or associations may issue certifications or titles with the word "engineer" as part of that title (such as security engineer or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). Microsoft have since changed the title to "Microsoft Certified IT Professional". Several licensing bodies for professional engineering contend that only licensed professional engineers are legally allowed to use the title "Engineer". The I.T. industry, on the other hand, counters that:

1. These title holders never presented themselves as "Professional Engineers";
2. Provincial laws, other than in Quebec and Ontario, regulate only the use of term "Professional Engineer", and not any title with the word "Engineer" in it; in Quebec and Ontario, the term "Engineer" is protected by both the Engineers Act and by section 32 of the Professional Code); and,
3. The I.T. industry has used the term "engineer" since the dawn of the computing industry in the 60s.

Court rulings regarding the usage of the term "engineer" have been mixed. For example, after complaints from the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, a court in Quebec fined Microsoft Canada $1,000 for misusing the "engineer" title by referring to MCSE graduates as "engineers". Conversely, an Alberta court dismissed the lawsuit filed by The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) against Raymond Merhej for using the title "System Engineer", claiming that, "The Respondent's situation is such that it cannot be contended that the public is likely to be deceived, confused or jeopardized by his use of the term…" APEGGA also lost the appeal to this decision.

The Canadian Information Processing Society and in particular CIPS Ontario have attempted to strike a balance between the professional engineering licensing bodies and the IT industry over the use of the term "engineer" in the software industry, but so far no major agreements or decisions have been announced.

Additional confusion has taken place over similarly named occupations. One such example would be power engineers or stationary engineers. Graduates of a two-year (in Nova Scotia) college level Power Engineering Technology program may use the title "Power Engineer" or "Stationary Engineer". This is conflicting with the title often used in the electrical industry for professional engineers designing related equipment. The incorporation of the word "engineer" in "Power Engineer" or "Stationary Engineer" can itself cause confusion.

United States

In the United States, most states prohibit unlicensed persons from calling themselves an "engineer" or indicating branches or specialties not covered by the licensing acts.

The title "Engineer" is legally protected in many states, meaning that it is unlawful to use it to offer engineering services to the public unless permission, certification, or other official endorsement is specifically granted by that state, through a Professional Engineering license, an "industrial exemption", or certain other non-engineering titles such as "operating engineer". Employees of state or federal agencies may also call themselves engineers if that term appears in their official job title. The IEEE's formal position on this is as follows: "The title, Engineer, and its derivatives should be reserved for those individuals whose education and experience qualify them to practice in a manner that protects public safety. Strict use of the title serves the interest of both the IEEE-USA and the public by providing a recognized designation by which those qualified to practice engineering may be identified." It is generally a requirement in the United States to have at least a Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering discipline or related applied science to be considered an engineer and practice as such.

A business generally cannot offer engineering services to the public or have a name that implies that it does so unless it employs at least one Professional Engineer.

Due to industrial exemption many non-professional engineers are titled as engineers. Examples are Production Engineers, Test Engineers, Integration Engineers, Network Engineers, Project Engineers, Systems Engineers, and Sales Engineers.

This is seen in engineering job advertisements on line and in news papers, most of the advertisements and the employers don't require licensing due to the industrial exemption.

In the United States, use of the title Professional Engineer is restricted to those holding a Professional Engineer's license. These people have the right to add the letters "P.E." after their names on resumes, business cards, and other communication. However, each state has its own licensing procedure, and the license is valid only in the state that granted it.

Other uses of the term "engineer" are legally controlled and protected to varying degrees, dependent on the state and the enforcement of its engineering certification board. The term is frequently applied to fields where practitioners may have no engineering background, or the work has no basis in the physical engineering disciplines; for example sanitation engineer. However, in many jurisdictions, the usage of this term is limited to internal use by a company, rather than in a professional or marketing aspect, if said company is not licensed to perform engineering work. This is because what is legally recognized as engineering work (and thus requiring licensure to be practiced) is held to strict criminal liability.

With regard to the term "software engineer", many states, such as Texas and Florida, have license requirements for such a title that are in line with the requirements for more traditional engineering fields.

United Kingdom

Engineering in the UK is not a licensed profession. In the UK, the term "engineer" is often applied to non-degreed vocations such as technologists, technicians, draftsmen, machinists, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, repair people, and semi-skilled occupations. Many of these occupations adopt the term "engineer", "professional engineer", "registered engineer", "gas engineer", "heating engineer", "drainage engineer", "automobile engineer", "aircraft engineer" and many hundreds of derivatives. British Gas describe their installation and maintenance mechanics as registered professional engineers. Most members of the UK public perceive the engineer and engineering as a semi-skilled trade and is often looked down upon with disdain. The work and identity of UK Chartered Engineers is often styled as science and scientists by the UK media causing public confusion. There are a few fields of practice, generally safety related, which are reserved by statute to licensed persons. A growing movement in the UK is to legally protect the title "Engineer" so that only professional Engineers can use it; a Directgov petition was started to further this cause.

The Engineering Council UK grants the titles Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, Engineering Technician, Information and Communications Technology Technician and declares them to be "professional engineers". The Incorporated Engineer is an Engineer as declared by the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom and the European definition of title under 2005/36/EC. UK Incorporated Engineers are recognized internationally through the Sydney Accord academic agreement as Engineering Technologists.

According to European Union The European Commission the Chartered Engineer is a Regulated Profession

Competent authorities are responsible to take a decision when a professional from another member state wants to practice this regulated profession. In case of provision of service, the declaration must be sent to UK Engineering Council prior to the provisioning of services.

All Chartered and Incorporated engineers in the UK are members of an engineering institution usually aligned with their undergraduate degree (Mechanical, civil, chemical, electrical, aeronautical etc.). There are various levels of membership including; student, associate, member, fellow with designation letters.

An example is Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) (formerly Institution of Electrical Engineers). This category is open to professional engineers with suitable qualifications and involvement in areas relevant to the interests of the Institution (Engineering and Technology). MIET is a regulated professional title recognized in Europe by the Directive 2005/36. MIET is listed on the part 2 professions regulated by professional bodies incorporated by Royal Charter-Statutory Instruments 2007 No. 2781 Professional Qualifications-The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007.

MIET Title:Electrical and computer (technology) engineer

The U.K. has other "professional" engineering titles registered via the Engineering Council UK (ECUK): Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Incorporated Engineer is a first-cycle qualification for Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree holders (Sydney Accord, equivalent to Technologist). Chartered Engineer is a second-cycle qualification usually reserved for holders of integrated Master of Engineering degrees . Both IEng and CEng require substantial professional experience (4–8 years post graduate), a professional review and interview.

It is illegal in the U.K. to hold that one is a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer unless so registered with Engineering Council. The title of "Engineer" by itself is not regulated in the U.K.

While Engineering Council is the primary body registering Engineers in U.K., there are other professional societies that register engineers as well. Under its Royal Charter, Engineering Council grants licences to engineering institutions allowing them to assess candidates for inclusion on its Register of Professional Engineers and Technicians, and to accredit academic programmes and professional development schemes. There are over 30 institutions licensed to register professional engineers with Engineering Council.

Candidates can become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) in the UK through the Engineering Council Examinations that are administered by the City and Guilds London Institute. These qualifications also offer a flexible way to meet requirements for further learning or continued professional development.

The exams are available at 3 levels, from undergraduate level to the equivalent of a MEng degree. One can choose from areas such as electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical and computer engineering.

The Engineering Council Examinations are for those with extensive science or engineering knowledge.<(") - The Engineering Council Examinations are no longer available, instead City and Guilds developed programs that lead to City and Guilds Graduate Diploma in Engineering and Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering. These diplomas are recognized by IET for registration as CEng and IEng.

For the Level 5 qualification, at least 2 "A" levels or Level 4 qualifications in engineering or science are needed. For Level 6, the Level 5 Certificate in Engineering or a comparable qualification is required. Level 7 requires the Level 6 Diploma in Engineering or a UK-accredited BEng degree. These examinations have been administered by City and Guilds since 2001 to 2011.

Europe and Latin America

• Engineers in Europe table showing all countries where this profession is regulated, with the name of the profession as used in the country.

• In Germany and some other European and Latin American countries, the term Diploma Engineer implies that the person has completed typically one more year of academic work beyond the basic engineering bachelor's degree. The Diploma Engineer is therefore a university degree, and not a professional registration or license. However, in Germany and most other countries where the Diploma Engineer degree exist, there is no professional registration or license in engineering (with a very limited number of exceptions, such as civil engineering in Germany). This is the reason why graduates of these degrees are generally allowed to use the legally protected title of "Engineer" within these countries. In Germany the usage of the term engineer (Ingenieur) as such, not just the Diplom-Ingenieur, is protected by various Länder (States of Germany) laws, since education matters fall into the legislation of the Länder, not the federal government. Although the details of the laws vary, they all properly restrict the usage of the term. Examples of such laws are

• In France, engineer title can be used pretty liberally, and is often attributed based on professional position rather than initial qualification, however the title Ingénieur diplomé (Diploma Engineer) is reserved to people having followed one of the trainings listed by Commission des titres d'ingénieur (Commission for Engineer Titles). It corresponds to a highly selective Master degree level, as three selections occurs: in high school, after two years of classes preparatoires, and for the diploma delivering.

• In Turkey title is limited by law for the people with an engineering degree from accredited engineering universities. Usage of the title by others (even persons with much more work experience) is illegal and punishable by law.

• In Chile, the Ingeniero (engineer) title is regulated by law, which distinguishes at least three different kinds of professional engineering titles. First, the Ingeniería de Ejecución, which only requires a degree in applied science and a technical degree, from a university or a technical institute (usually four years of formation); Ingeniería, which requires a major degree in basic sciences plus a technical degree, both from a university (usually five years of formation); and Ingeniería Civil, which requires an academic major degree in basic sciences, a minor degree in applied sciences and a technical degree, all from a university (usually six or six and a half years). In all cases, the term refers to a professional degree conceded by an educational institution, yet it can only be given by certain institutions when all legal requirements are met.

• In Brazil, the title of Engenheiro (engineer) and in Argentina the title of Ingeniero can only be legally used by someone with a five or six-year engineering degree. In Argentina most universities have a five or six-year engineering degree (Around 3500–4000 hours of classes or approx. 240–250 credits, one credit = 16 contact hours). Both countries concede the degree through universities (most common) and certain institutions (most rarely).

• In Puerto Rico, use of the title Ingeniero (engineer) is restricted to those holding an engineer's license registered by the College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico. These people have the right to add the letters "Ing." before their names on resumes, business cards, and other communication.

Asia

• In Pakistan, use of the titles Registered Engineer or Professional Engineer is reserved for those holding a license from the Pakistan Engineering Council. These people are given the rights to use the prefix Engr. or Engineer as prefix and postfix R.E or P.E depending on their status of registration with the council.

International professional bodies

The AACE, a professional body for Cost Engineers, explains why a technical engineering background is not required for their profession with the following statement:

The skills and knowledge required to deal with costs (e.g., cost estimating, planning and scheduling, etc.) are quite different from those required to deal with the physical design dimension. From that difference, the field of cost engineering was born. Cost engineering practitioners work alongside of and are peers with engineers, software analysts, play producers, architects, and other creative career fields to handle the cost dimension, but they do not necessarily have the same background. Whether they have technical, operations, finance and accounting, or other backgrounds, cost engineering practitioners need to share a common understanding, based on "scientific principles and techniques", with the engineering or other creative career functions.

See also

• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge
• College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico
• Engineers Australia
• Engineering Council
• Engineering Council of South Africa
• Engineering education
• Engineering ethics
• The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
• Institution of Engineering and Technology
• Institution of Engineers (disambiguation)
• Institution of Engineers (India)
• Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
• National Society of Professional Engineers
• Pakistan Engineering Council
• Society of Operations Engineers
• Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
• IETEInstitution of Electronics & Telecom Engineers-India
• FIDICInternational Federation of Consulting Engineers
• Software engineer

External links

• Professional Engineers in Europe
• Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition - Engineers, Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
• Going Global: The case for enhancing global trade in professional services - Institution of Engineers, Australia 2003 (refer to: http://servicesaustralia.co/file_download/61/going-global-institute-of-engineers.pdf)