Discussion Thread

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals. 

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals. 

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like. 

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.   

I do appreciate any feedback. 

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Hi Christian,

I have been in a similar situation to you. I have a degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from a United Kingdom, this is therefore not ABET accredited! I applied for the NCEES credential evaluation where they evaluated my degree by basically determining how many credits each of my modules was and then tallying them up into different areas of education i.e Maths, Engineering, Sciences etc. Luckily for me I had all the required credits to be ABET accredited but it was definitely useful to understand any 'deficiencies' in my degree. 

I think your first step unless someone can answer on this thread would be to unfortunately search through the rules of / email each engineering board to find out whether your degree would be accepted. I have had to do this with several states as I have a mix of both foreign and domestic experience. I'd also reach out internally and see if there are professional engineers in other states who may be more familiar with the rules of their respective boards.

Henry

------------------------------
Henry Morris EIT, A.M.ASCE
Structural Engineer
Philadelphia PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 10:12 AM
From: Christian Alonso
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals.

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals.

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like.

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.

I do appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Good information, thank you Henry. 

Unfortunately, most of the science/math courses wouldn't qualify as "equivalent", therefore an NCEES rep suggested I retake those undergraduate courses but I am unaware of the practicality of this with a full-time job. 

Nonetheless, I will enjoy the states I can practice in as a PE.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2020 07:50 AM
From: Henry Morris
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hi Christian,

I have been in a similar situation to you. I have a degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from a United Kingdom, this is therefore not ABET accredited! I applied for the NCEES credential evaluation where they evaluated my degree by basically determining how many credits each of my modules was and then tallying them up into different areas of education i.e Maths, Engineering, Sciences etc. Luckily for me I had all the required credits to be ABET accredited but it was definitely useful to understand any 'deficiencies' in my degree.

I think your first step unless someone can answer on this thread would be to unfortunately search through the rules of / email each engineering board to find out whether your degree would be accepted. I have had to do this with several states as I have a mix of both foreign and domestic experience. I'd also reach out internally and see if there are professional engineers in other states who may be more familiar with the rules of their respective boards.

Henry

------------------------------
Henry Morris EIT, A.M.ASCE
Structural Engineer
Philadelphia PA

Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 10:12 AM
From: Christian Alonso
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals.

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals.

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like.

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.

I do appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Christian, I completely understand your situation.  My degree is a BSAS in Civil Engineering Technology from Youngstown State University, 1984.  I am a registered professional engineer in several states that recognize my degree and/or experience.  Now with the benefit of over 36 years of engineering and construction experience my advice to you is to go back to an ABET Engineering School and pursue a BS & MS in engineering.  Professional societies, including ASCE have been promoting the MS Engineering degree as the minimum educational requirement for professional engineering registration for some time.  I guess I am one of the last CET's that have become a PE.  Nevertheless I know of many jurisdictions that completely ignore the engineering technology career path to professional registration as an engineer. 

It is interesting that I have 28 years of professional engineering experience and that 27 years of those years I have completed at least 15 professional development hours of continuing education each of those years. This amount of continuing education should be equivalent to a master's degree. But as far as I know of no recognition of continuing education as a graduate degree by any jurisdiction has been made.

I will add this statement: My engineering technology education was a perfect fit for the career I have had as a professional engineer. I also feel that work experience in engineering and construction is far better than education.  Under-graduate education provides a foundation for one to build a career on. Additionally I feel that one's engineering education never ends.

Good luck with your career.

Sincerely,

David A. Brown, PE
M. ASCE, M. ACI


------------------------------
David Brown P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Project Engineer
Fleming OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 10:12 AM
From: Christian Alonso
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals.

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals.

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like.

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.

I do appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Christian,
I went to a university where they offered both EAC ABET accredited civil engineering degrees and TAC ABET accredited civil engineering degrees. There were many students with TAC accredited degrees that were having similar issues to you. What many of the students did was take their PE test in a state that accepted TAC accredited degrees, obtain their PE from that state when they completed the required number of years of experience, and then applied for a PE license in the state they wanted to work in through reciprocity. I know you said you have already taken your PE exam, so this method might not work for you.

Here is a resource that can help with state requirements for TAC accredited degrees. 
https://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/resources/pdfs/admin/publications/NSPE-Eng-Tech-Grad-PE-License.pdf

I hope that helps.

------------------------------
Doug Cantrell P.E., M.ASCE
Professional Engineer
Durham NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 10:12 AM
From: Christian Alonso
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals.

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals.

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like.

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.

I do appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Doug, thank you very much for sharing this information. I was not aware of the NSPE and am interested to learn more about them. Also, the document you provided was similar to the research I have done but much easier to go through as opposed to sifting hundreds of pages of multiple state laws to find what applied to my career. 

This is extremely useful and I will share it with others in the future and in similar situations. 

Thanks!

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-06-2020 03:38 PM
From: Doug Cantrell
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Christian,
I went to a university where they offered both EAC ABET accredited civil engineering degrees and TAC ABET accredited civil engineering degrees. There were many students with TAC accredited degrees that were having similar issues to you. What many of the students did was take their PE test in a state that accepted TAC accredited degrees, obtain their PE from that state when they completed the required number of years of experience, and then applied for a PE license in the state they wanted to work in through reciprocity. I know you said you have already taken your PE exam, so this method might not work for you.

Here is a resource that can help with state requirements for TAC accredited degrees.
https://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/resources/pdfs/admin/publications/NSPE-Eng-Tech-Grad-PE-License.pdf

I hope that helps.

------------------------------
Doug Cantrell P.E., M.ASCE
Professional Engineer
Durham NC

Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 10:12 AM
From: Christian Alonso
Subject: Civil Engineering Technology Graduates

Hello, I am attempting to reach out to the Civil Engineering Technology Graduate(TAC/ABET) professionals.

I am Junior Engineer in South Carolina(A state which does not recognize this degree), I have passed my PE and have approximately 1 more year until my experience matures in several states which I plan to get my license through. This isn't a message to discuss specifics or opinions on TAC vs. EAC of ABET accreditation but was curious if there are any professionals within the ASCE collaborative organization who has been through what I have as it pertains to licensure and searching state by state how they regulate us as professionals.

I have recently reached out to NCEES about this situation and they have explained that people have taken additional undergraduate classes and have performed a credential evaluation to essentially earn the EAC qualification in order to get licensed in states that otherwise wouldn't accept the degree. I would like to know if anyone has gone through this and could give me some insight as to what that is like.

Although I work in South Carolina, I am fortunate the company whom I work for, is very broad. I have personally worked on more projects outside of South Carolina than in, which luckily doesn't allow my eligibility for a license in SC to restrain me from growing throughout the company. Also, it makes gaining licensure in other states applicable to my career.

I do appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

------------------------------
Christian Alonso EIT, A.M.ASCE
GREENVILLE SC
------------------------------