We're back with another career question, this time from Arvin, who asks "I am a mechanical engineering student and my question is as follows: Is it necessary to do a Masters and/or FE/PE license to get a good job after graduating?"
Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Absolutely. Well, probably.
Here's the thing: there is no national professional engineer license. Every state has different rules, which require mechanical engineers to meet strict guidelines that show they are qualified to practice in that state.
Because of this state-by-state licensing, many engineers get licensed in multiple states. But if you don't know where you want to work after graduation, you might want to wait until you land in your chosen state before you pursue the license for that state. You'll definitely need your four-year degree before you take the exam.
You don't need a Masters degree to get a PE license -- yet. But the rules are changing and it will be required before too much longer.
As for the FE -- Fundamentals of Engineering exam -- this is another definite. It's actually a step in the process to get your PE license. Again, rules vary from state to state, but depending on where you live, you can take this exam in or before your Senior year.
Long story short, your four-year degree might teach you what you need to work as an engineer, but until you pass these rather rigorous exams, no one is going to hire you for a good job. You might get some beginner-level jobs, which could help you build up experience, or an employer might even put you in an internship program that will lead to your getting the PE license on their dime, but until you get those essential pieces of paper, your career isn't going anywhere.
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Like most technology people, I care about creating positive change in the world. I do this by working as a journalist, humorist, activist and publicist covering environmental issues, entrepreneurship and new technologies. In addition to writing for Experience.com, I founded Extinction Blog, the world's first news source devoted entirely to endangered species.
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3 comments:
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I couldn't disagree more. There are plenty of good jobs out there that don't require an MS or PE. If you want very very technical research, than it will give you a leg up on someone else, but there plenty of good positions, technical, design, or otherwise that you can get without this designation. In most cases the MS or PE are for people that need that validation or fuzzy feeling that says there are real engineer. If you are strong technically, you don't need this to validate yourself. As a recruiter, it is pretty easy to tell those who are strong technically and who has the designation just for show.
I agree with osurugby10, at least in regards to being an EE (don't know about ME). Here in Seattle, unless you're working with the government, people avoid hiring PEs because they're "too expensive". No one I know in the IEEE is a PE, nor do they know anyone who is at their place of employment. I never see job descriptions asking for it, unless of course it's for Puget Sound Energy or Seattle City Light.
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