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  • 1.  PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-20-2019 09:14 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-20-2019 09:13 AM
    Hi,

    I was wondering if anyone knows which US boards accept a PE application where the applicant has taken their PE exam outside of the US?
    There are various test centers in Egypt, UAE, etc. and it would be easier for me to take the exam there since I work in the Middle East at the moment.

    I'm currently an EIT with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (one of the few boards accepting international applicants), but they've informed me that I'd have to take the PE exam in Texas if I wish to become licensed there.

    Thanks.

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    Dina Wagdy EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Graduate Civil Engineer
    Abu Dhabi
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-21-2019 03:39 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-21-2019 03:38 AM
    Not sure. Texas is considered pretty progressive.  Oregon gave the PE exam in Japan and Korea for a while. Check out the following article:

    https://www.nspe.org/resources/pe-magazine/april-2014/going-global


    ------------------------------
    William Kirkham Ph.D. P.E., S.E., M.ASCE
    Director MCE Program
    The University of Kansas
    Overland Park KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-21-2019 09:56 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-21-2019 09:56 AM
    I would check with NCEES.  They regulate the testing for most of the states, and allow application for some.  They may have out of the United States testing centers, and they could help you figure out which states allow application directly to NCEES.

    The forms are a pain to get finished, but once they are finished, they are good for 6 months.

    Many of the states require at least one year in the US experience because the system of measurement is not metric.  NCEES should be able to help with that too.  I agree with William, in that Texas is one of the more liberal states when it comes to testing rules for PEs.

    ------------------------------
    Dwayne Culp, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng, M.ASCE
    Culp Engineering, LLC
    Rosenberg TX
    (713)898-1977
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-22-2019 09:48 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-22-2019 09:47 AM
    Delaware accepts applications from people who have taken the exams outside the US.  We also will accept experience acquired internationally as long as it can be verified by supervisors.

    ------------------------------
    Carmine Balascio Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
    President, Delaware Association of Professional Engineers
    Associate Professor
    Univ of Delaware
    Newark DE
    (302) 831-8872
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-23-2019 08:06 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-23-2019 08:05 AM
    Thank you all for your help. I have contacted NCEES and they've confirmed that I can take the exam anywhere and it will be applicable towards my application. 

    In terms of the work experience, TBPE requires that the applicant is familiar and has worked with the American code in order to be eligible for the PE license, which is luckily the case in the Middle East as many of the countries follow the American codes in their designs.

    Hopefully, with that I'll be able to complete my application once I hit the 4 years of experience requirement.​

    I'll also look into the requirements for the state of Delaware in further detail and weigh my options.

    ------------------------------
    Dina Wagdy EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Graduate Civil Engineer
    WS Atkins, Dubai
    Abu Dhabi
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 02-02-2019 11:46 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 02-02-2019 11:46 PM
    Dina:

    I recommend first to take the Fundamental Engineering (FE) exam of the NCEES. If you pass that exam you can initiate to get an "Engineering in Practice" (EIT) license. With the EIT license you may work in engineering for two years in USA under the supervision of a licensed PE. Here, you are gaining two years experience in USA, this experience will be useful to get the PE license. But the state in where you will get the experience is crucial. It is not the same to work in the state of Florida (for example) rather than to work in the state of California. For the PE license, in the western coast states you should get special tests to show your experience in seismic engineering (for example). Each state has their own path to get PE licensed. Also, define the specialization (e.g. geotechnics, transportation, structural) is important in this phase. It is recommended to gain EIT experience in one specific field you feel strong.

    After you get the EIT, you will consider to take the Professional Engineering (PE) exam, with the specific field you choose previously. The PE exam is much more difficult to pass, you may study. Remember that PE is an USA license concept. It allows you to sign engineering projects among other engineering attributes in the state you get the license; therefore you should study the standards, terms, methods, concepts, and inclusively the geology of the state (in the case of geotechnics).

    The experience you got in your two year condition as a licensed EIT will help you to think as an American engineer, and will help you to adress what particularly you should learn.

    If you pass the PE exam plus the two year experience in USA, in most of the states of the east coast you are done. If you apply to California for example, you should pass other exams.

    PE license is a strong engineering attribute. Many foreign engineers work in USA as EIT and many firms accept EIT engineers. You should consider why you want to get a PE license? Would you like to start your own LLC company in the USA? or you only want to work for some years in USA?


    ------------------------------
    Ludger Suarez-Burgoa C.Eng, Ing., EIT, M.ASCE
    Assistant Professor
    Universidad Nacional de Colombia
    Medellin
    5731281 60559
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 01-23-2019 02:31 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 01-23-2019 02:30 PM
    If you are taking the P.E. exam outside the US, I would check to make sure that the P.E. test that you are taking has been developed, administered, and scored by the NCEES. Each State has there own licensing laws and you need to make sure that the PE test is accepted by all states through comity. Most if not all States utilize the NCEES EI and P.E. exams to my knowledge.

    I would recommend contacting NCESS at their website, https://ncees.org, to learn more.  If you plan on establishing a NCEES record, then it simplifies licensing in other states.

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    Richard Lawrence M.ASCE
    Project Manager
    Dunwoody GA
    (770)315-5240
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: PE licensure for international engineers

    Posted 02-14-2019 01:57 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 02-14-2019 01:56 PM
    Hi Dina,

    Another small comment - some states only count years of experience after EIT, while others are ok with work experience before EIT. At least it was the case when I was applying. If it matters to you, you may consider getting PE from a different state. I did mine in Maryland for this reason.

    ------------------------------
    Natalya Sokolovskaya PE,MASCE
    Wynnewood PA
    (323)382-6176
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    Original Message


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