Regulation and licensure in engineering: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:08, 12 February 2025

Revision as of 13:22, 7 June 2025

Line 289:

In the United States, the practice of professional engineering is highly regulated and the title "professional engineer" is legally protected, 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. Also, many states prohibit unlicensed persons from calling themselves an "engineer" or indicating branches or specialties not covered by the licensing acts.<ref name="tex eng pdf1">{{Cite web |title=Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules Concerning the Practice of Engineering and Professional Engineering Licensure |url=https://engineers.texas.gov/downloads/lawrules.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613235036/https://engineers.texas.gov/downloads/lawrules.pdf |publisher=The State of Texas |archive-date=13 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 471: Engineering |url=https://fbpe.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Chapter-471-04.13.15.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012101229/https://fbpe.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Chapter-471-04.13.15.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2017 |date=12 July 2015 |department=Title XXXII: Regulation of Professions and Occupations |work=The 2015 Florida Statutes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 15. Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors |url=http://sos.ga.gov/plb/acrobat/Laws/09_Professional_Engineers_and_Land_Surveyors.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223001350/http://sos.ga.gov/plb/acrobat/Laws/09_Professional_Engineers_and_Land_Surveyors.pdf |archive-date=2016-12-23 |url-status=dead |department=Title 43. Professions and Businesses |publisher=State of Georgia |access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref> 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."

Every state regulates the practice of engineering to ensure public safety by granting only Professional Engineers (PEs) the authority to sign and seal engineering plans and offer their services to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/what-pe|title=What is a PE?|website=nspe.org|access-date=2018-05-17|archive-date=2018-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125743/https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/what-pe|url-status=live}}</ref> There are additional requirements to include at least one professional engineer within the firm for these typetypes of companies to include the word engineering in the title of the business, although these requirements are not universal.

In the United States an "industrial exemption" allows businesses to employ employees and call them an "engineer", as long as such individuals are under the direct supervision and control of the business entity and function internally related to manufacturing (manufactured parts) related to the business entity or work internally within an exempt organization. Such person does not have the final authority to approve or the ultimate responsibility for, engineering designs, plans or specifications that are to be: (A) incorporated into fixed works, systems or facilities on the property of others; or (B) made available to the public. These individuals are prohibited from representing an ability or willingness to perform engineering services or make an engineering judgment requiring a licensed professional engineer, engage in practice of engineering, offer engineering services directly to the public and/or other businesses; unless the business entity is registered with the state's board of engineering and the practice is carried on/supervised directly only by engineers licensed to engage in the practice of engineering.<ref name="tex eng pdf1"/> Examples are [[sanitation engineer]], [[production engineer]], [[test engineer]], [[network engineer]], [[project engineer]], [[systems engineer]] and [[sales engineer]]. These are often seen in engineering job advertisements online and in news papers. Most of the advertisements and employers do not require licensing because these positions do not pose a direct threat to public health or pose a liability danger.