Breaches of engineering law are often sufficient grounds for enforcement measures, which may include the suspension or loss of license and financial penalties.
[5] In addition to licensure, there are voluntary certification programs for various disciplines which involve examinations accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards.
After at least five years of relevant work experience and accumulation of at least 17 CPD (Continued Professional Development) points, they may attempt the Engineering Practice Examination (EPE) conducted by the PEC.
CPD points are awarded for various developmental activities such as formal education (e.g. Postgraduate diploma, master or PhD), on-job experience, participating in conferences/workshops as audience, speaker or organizer, publications in technical journals, part-time teaching activities, serving as guest lecturer (other than full-time teaching) and serving as external examiner for master/PhD thesis.
On 29 June 2018, International Engineering Alliance (IEA) bestowed on PEC the authority to award IPE (IntPE) status to qualifying candidates.
This is most commonly the case for freelance consulting (Beratender Ingenieur) activities in construction, but can also be required for other engineering work.
The certificate 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 "BVT", Federal Association of Higher Professions for Technology, Economy and Design (Bundesverband höherer Berufe der Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung e.V.).
Techniker certificates have been grouped on the same level as academic bachelor's degrees in national (DFQ) and European Qualifications Framework (EFQ).
To achieve this qualification, it is required to complete a 42-month apprenticeship program, a minimum 2,400 hour college diploma in engineering or technology, two years of relevant experience and pass the state examination.
The academic requirement to be a state-certified engineer is a degree equivalent to level 6 on EQF = bachelor on the European Qualification Framework.
Before Jan. 31, 2012, a state-certified engineer certificate usually qualified the holder to proceed to bachelor's level education at a university of applied science.
However there are a small number of areas of work, generally safety related, which are reserved by statute, regulations or industry standards to licensed or otherwise approved persons.
To receive designation as a CEng, it is required to have approved education (typically to Master's level) and also demonstrate significant technical and commercial leadership and management competencies.
Breaches of the code are often sufficient grounds for enforcement measures, which may include the suspension or loss of license and financial penalties.
It could also result in serving time jail, should negligence be shown to have played a part in any incident that causes loss of human life.
The level of enforcement varies depending on the specific industry but often a complaint needs to be filed for regulatory action to commence.
"Stationary engineering" is a trade whose technicians operate heavy machinery and equipment that provide heat, light, climate control and power.
After enactment, Johnson would wryly write about the effect of the law, saying, "A most astonishing change took place within a few months in the character of maps and plans filed with the applications for permits."
[38] Requirements for licensing vary, but generally are as follows:[39] For standardization, FE and PE exams are written and graded by a central organization, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
However, each state's board of professional engineers individually sets the requirements to take the exams, as well as the passing score.
Effective January 1, 2020, the NCEES model will require additional credits beyond a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree.
However, in all cases engineers are ethically required to limit their practice to their area of competency, which is usually a small portion of a discipline.
However, some engineers in other fields obtain licenses for the ability to serve as professional witnesses in courts, before government committees or just for prestige—even though they may never actually sign and seal design documents.
[62] 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...'"[63] APEGGA also lost the appeal to this decision.
This conflicts with the title often used in the electrical industry for professional engineers who design related equipment and can cause confusion.
Also, many states prohibit unlicensed persons from calling themselves an "engineer" or indicating branches or specialties not covered by the licensing acts.
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."
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.
[citation needed] Generally engineering regulatory bodies will not launch an investigation without a complaint form being filled out by an individual.