Is Pursuing a Professional Engineering License as a Mechanical Engineer Worth It? My Journey Says Yes!
As an engineer who has navigated the path to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), I can attest to the immense value of obtaining this credential. In my experience, it carries more significance than pursuing a master's degree.
Becoming a PE involves meeting specific educational and experience requirements, including holding a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from a US-based ABET accredited institution and accumulating four years of professional engineering experience under the supervision of a licensed PE. This is then followed by successfully passing a rigorous eight-hour exam. My personal journey involved taking the Machine Design and Materials discipline exam twice before passing with a score of more than 70%.
While maintaining the license incurs a biennial fee, the investment is minor compared to the opportunities it unlocks. Moreover, you have the option to keep your status inactive to avoid these fees.
The value of holding a PE license varies across fields, but it particularly benefits engineers working on projects involving government contracts or stringent regulatory compliance. Additionally, having a team of PEs can enhance your company's reputation and client attraction.
For the exam you will need to buy the MERM [PPI Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual https://a.co/d/0gubxTd], and then label and tab sections for easy reference during the test. During my preparation for the exam, I found two study guides to be invaluable: PPI 101 Solved Mechanical Engineering Problems https://a.co/d/i7sdCw8 and 101 Solved Mechanical Engineering Problems https://lnkd.in/gaJWvBPs
Studying diligently for a year, consistently devoting time each evening, ultimately paid off for me. With determination and the right resources, passing the PE exam is achievable and well worth the effort for advancing your engineering career.
Senior Design Engineer
2moThis guy is walking engineering text book. Very knowledgeable and asset to Practical Engineering.