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I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

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Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
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Data are limited so far but the information we have so far suggests about a 10% income boost for engineers with Board Certification (https://aawre.org/certification/benefits-board-certification).

Presently, benefits are most noticeable in increased credibility for board certified engineers. They are more likely to be hired/contracted for top level roles. That will eventually show up in ASCE's salary surveys.

Bill

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

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Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I am sure several raised this question. What about engineers certified in California? In California we do have Geotechnical Engineer (GE) and Structural Engineer (SE) which I think is way more valuable than Board Certified because of the additional requirements and additional exams prior to obtaining these licenses. How is this benefiting GEs and SEs in CA? I strongly suggest that Board Certification should follow same requirements as GE or SE, as they are more stringent, and having exams as well prior to providing certification. 

Data are limited so far but the information we have so far suggests about a 10% income boost for engineers with Board Certification (https://aawre.org/certification/benefits-board-certification).

Presently, benefits are most noticeable in increased credibility for board certified engineers. They are more likely to be hired/contracted for top level roles. That will eventually show up in ASCE's salary surveys.

Bill

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

Thanks for the information. Board Certification does require passing an advanced exam plus additional, years of experience beyond the PE.

I am sure several raised this question. What about engineers certified in California? In California we do have Geotechnical Engineer (GE) and Structural Engineer (SE) which I think is way more valuable than Board Certified because of the additional requirements and additional exams prior to obtaining these licenses. How is this benefiting GEs and SEs in CA? I strongly suggest that Board Certification should follow same requirements as GE or SE, as they are more stringent, and having exams as well prior to providing certification. 

Data are limited so far but the information we have so far suggests about a 10% income boost for engineers with Board Certification (https://aawre.org/certification/benefits-board-certification).

Presently, benefits are most noticeable in increased credibility for board certified engineers. They are more likely to be hired/contracted for top level roles. That will eventually show up in ASCE's salary surveys.

Bill

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I think this post misses the point entirely.  The purpose for board certification is to enhance the value of engineering to society. Certification has nothing, whatsoever, at all, to do with being entitled to more money.

Plenty of practicing engineers make more money than I do and they're not board-certified like I am.  If renumeration is the goal, which is fine, go into management and sales, not actual engineering.  Top-level roles should be filled by people good at managing people, not at engineering.

For water-resources engineering, here are the stated goals:  

• Recognizes leaders in water resources engineering.
• Widely respected by clients, employers, peers, and the public.
• Demonstrates expertise in specific areas of water resources engineering and a commitment to staying up to date with new technology.
• Reflects a strong dedication to professionalism, ethics, and continuous professional development.

Similarly, for coastal, ocean, port and navigation:

• Recognizes leaders in the coastal, ocean, port and navigation engineering profession.
• Widely respected by clients, employers, peers, and the public.
• Demonstrates expertise in specific coastal, ocean, port, and navigation engineering areas and a commitment to staying up to date with new technology.
• Reflects a strong dedication to professionalism, ethics, and continuous professional development.

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Dudley McFadden P.E., BC.WRE, M.ASCE
Principal Civil Engineer
Roseville CA

Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2023 12:30 PM
From: Mitchell Winkler
Subject: Board Certification - Do We Really Know What We are Getting Into?

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

I think this post misses the point entirely.  The purpose for board certification is to enhance the value of engineering to society. Certification has nothing, whatsoever, at all, to do with being entitled to more money.

Plenty of practicing engineers make more money than I do and they're not board-certified like I am.  If renumeration is the goal, which is fine, go into management and sales, not actual engineering.  Top-level roles should be filled by people good at managing people, not at engineering.

For water-resources engineering, here are the stated goals:  

• Recognizes leaders in water resources engineering.
• Widely respected by clients, employers, peers, and the public.
• Demonstrates expertise in specific areas of water resources engineering and a commitment to staying up to date with new technology.
• Reflects a strong dedication to professionalism, ethics, and continuous professional development.

Similarly, for coastal, ocean, port and navigation:

• Recognizes leaders in the coastal, ocean, port and navigation engineering profession.
• Widely respected by clients, employers, peers, and the public.
• Demonstrates expertise in specific coastal, ocean, port, and navigation engineering areas and a commitment to staying up to date with new technology.
• Reflects a strong dedication to professionalism, ethics, and continuous professional development.

I'm curious about this community's views on board certification for CE specializations. Board certification was the topic of a recent Source article. I'm open to certification but question if the initiative has been fully thought through. My online response is below for interest. 

I think there also needs to be an element of financial remuneration for additional certification to be truly compelling. One might argue that certification equates to more responsibility and therefore higher pay but it is also a case of show me the money. A complementary effort needs to be by the civil engineering profession to provide a financial reward for the increased complexity of the challenges facing the profession. This reward may also come at the expense of higher mobility. This might happen as those achieving certification use their new credential to market themselves and job hop to a new employer willing to pay for the cache they bring. By way of conclusion, this push for certification could benefit from some systems thinking to ensure it delivers the aspired results.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------