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  • 1.  NCEES Education Tracking, Mississippi

    Posted 10-03-2019 02:01 PM
    I'm using the NCEES Cont.-Education Tracking System.
    Mississippi mandates to use the state system for the same purpose with quite similar input.
    If these double bureaucracy is necessary at all, it would be nice to have at least import and export functions.
    E.g. I could imagine on the Mississippi Website something like: Your data is at NCEES, please input your login information here and the system will import your information.

    Are others facing similar issues, also in other states?
    Who knew the people to speak to? 

    (Tracy Snyder from NCEES and J. Phillips from the State Board of Mississippi are on my E-Mail trail regarding this topic.)

    Thank you!

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    Tino Bretschneider Ph.D., P.E., S.E., M.ASCE
    Senior Engineer
    Elmwood Park IL
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  • 2.  RE: NCEES Education Tracking, Mississippi

    Posted 10-07-2019 10:04 AM
    I think the biggest issue is the variation between states.  For example Michigan has no such requirement, so an audit can be particularly difficult for someone that hasn't been keeping accurate records.  When I talk to younger engineer friends and family about getting their PE and they ask me what they need to do, I always have to subvert it with, "it depends".  My default is usually to get their PE to the strictest standards.  That way any future reciprocity won't be an issue, just paperwork.

    While it would be nice for the requirements for getting/maintaining a PE to be a national standard, I appreciate the various needs of different states will ensure that never happens.  What ought to happen is for NCEES to work more closely with states so that at least once you are a PE, they can be the sole platform for tracking your experience.  In the mean time, as far as I know, your best just updating both places at once, unfortunately.

    Hopefully others have better suggestions for streamlining the process!

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    James Smith P.E., M.ASCE
    Design Engineer
    Grand Rapids MI
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  • 3.  RE: NCEES Education Tracking, Mississippi

    Posted 10-11-2019 11:38 AM
    The use of system is brand new this year.  I've had conversations with people on the MS Board about this and here's basically what they said:

    The database at NCEES doesn't have a user interface that Mississippi can connect to at this time (per MS's IT people setting the system up).  IT will be working on this to see if there's a way they can interface with NCEES over the coming six months or so (so no resolution for this year's renewal).  Apparently, the Board is concerned about the quality of the data that goes into NCEES's system vs. MS's system - especially given that NCEES accepts credits from organizations MS isn't particularly fond of (even though MS has no requirements on where or who you receive credits from).  The "good news" is that MS can check the NCEES repository to check the data they receive against what is input into NCEES.  I was also told that only about 10% of MS licensees have national records (so, in my mind, integrating with NCEES isn't a high priority).

    So there's your answer...no MS will not accept NCEES (even though other states - like Florida) this renewal cycle.  They're going to try to find a way for the MS and NCEES renewal systems to be integrated in the future.

    I'm currently licensed in 8 states (all require PDHs) and most accept NCEES tracking systems which makes it easier for me.  Inputting that many hours in multiple times is a real pain and can take hours.  I keep my hours updated in NCEES and then update them in the state tracking system when it comes time for renewal due to some weird renewal dates (March 31, Feb 28, Dec 31, June 30, etc) and varying renewal lengths (1 yr vs 2 yrs).

    Hope that helps answer your question!

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    Jennifer Sloan Ziegler Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
    Ridgeland MS
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