05 Feb Secret #2: The Importance of Becoming Licensed
One of the most important things that you can do in your career is to become a licensed engineer, and here is why…
Becoming a licensed engineer is more than just getting a cool stamp with your name on it. It shows drive and devotion to your craft. It is prestigious and it is something that will set you apart in your career and in life. Here are three reasons why you should become a licensed engineer:
Become the Best
I cannot think of a reason that you would ever not want to become the best that you can in your career. By becoming licensed you set yourself apart in a way that the engineering profession recognizes and also a way that clients and the community recognize. You reach a certain status with licensure that not everybody can claim to have. They will respect your authority. Since the licensure process isn’t for the faint of heart, an employer can trust that you know your stuff and you are the best of the best, the ‘creme de la creme’.
Career Growth Opportunities
After the 4 years (or 5 years for us superstars) it takes you to graduate college, the next stepping stone is to become a licensed engineer. There are credentials to licensure that are important both in leadership and management. I have never had a boss that was not a licensed engineer. It adds to their credibility that they know what they are doing, and it shows that they can do hard things. It also sets you apart if you are looking for a new job or if you want to do consulting on your own.
More Money $$$$
By becoming licensed, the company that you work for will give you a raise in salary (if they don’t then you are working at the wrong place). The main reason that they will give you a raise is because they value the accreditation that licensure adds to your work. It also allows them to charge clients more for your services, but it’s not all about the money. If you are brave enough to become a licensed structural engineer then you should expect a raise when you pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam, as well as the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam. So basically, everybody should be a licensed structural engineer… that is what the cool kids are doing at least.
Another secret for another day is the actual process to becoming a licensed engineer. Whether you are in school or working, there is one step that you can take now to get closer to licensure. To wet your appetite, here are some links to flowcharts for the FE, PE and SE exam in California (**your state requirements may vary**):
- FE Exam Flowchart — http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/flowchart_for_fe.pdf
- PE Exam Flowchart — http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/flowchart_for_pe.pdf
- SE Exam Flowchart — http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/flowchart_for_se.pdf
Ultimately, you should become licensed as an engineer because you want to be licensed. I promise that it is something that you will never regret, but you will always regret not becoming licensed. Also, I don’t want to live in, work in, or drive under any building or bridge that you design if you are not licensed… Not that I don’t trust you but I love life.
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Keep on keepin’ on.
Life’s a garden… Dig it!
If you have any additional topics or subtopics that you would like me to cover, please contact me at josh@thehipsterengineer.com
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