While there are job opportunities
available for recent graduates in engineering functions such as
research and production, you�ll need more than a B.S. to be fully
recognized as a professional. An increasing number of firms and
agencies are requiring that their employees are licensed
engineers. Some consultants cannot refer to themselves as
engineers or give the approval on schematics without a license.
Licensure requires that you hold an engineering degree from an
accredited four-year bachelor�s program, log four years of work
experience after graduation and pass a series of standardized
tests. These exams prove that you have knowledge of both general
and specialized engineering knowledge.
Once you complete these criteria, you�ll be fully registered
and licensed to practice as an engineer, which often gives you
access to more responsibilities and promotions in the field. It�s
possible to be registered in more than one state, provided you
meet the requirements for each.
If you�re interested in learning more about professional
engineers in your specialty, visit the following websites for
more information:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum
Engineers (AIME)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
