TECC 222: Celebrating National Engineers Week and Thoughts on the Professional Engineering License

In this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, we celebrate National Engineers Week by telling you what National Engineers Week is, and why it is important. We also highlight some interesting news stories about the engineering license and share some of the responses we received from our listeners about a question we asked on social media, “What is one thing about becoming an engineer that surprised you or that you didn’t expect?” In the United States, National Engineers Week is always the week in February that encompasses George Washington's actual birthday, February 22. It is observed by more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50 corporations and government agencies. The purpose of National Engineers Week is to call attention to the contributions to society that engineers make. It is also a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science, and technical skills. ~ Wikipedia Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the News Updates in the Engineering World from NSPE's PE Magazine: Not having a licensed professional engineer (PE) working on involved projects, such as natural gas pipeline projects, is very concerning, and some states are starting to take action around this specific issue. The National Transportation Safety Board has identified 31 states that do not require a licensed professional engineer on natural gas pipeline projects.  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed “Tyler’s Law” (HB 189), which strengthens inspection standards for amusement rides and places a licensed PE on the Ohio Advisory council on amusement ride safety. Following recent building collapses in Philadelphia, the city approved a new PE inspection requirement for excavation projects to ensure public safety. If one position in one county in Florida doesn’t require a PE but another county in Florida does, the governor is trying to allow the lesser requirement to stand statewide. The Florida Engineering Society is working against this. The government in Idaho wants to make it easy for people to come and work in Idaho — which is okay — but not if they are lowering the standards of the position just because another jurisdiction has lower standards. Here Are Some of the Things That Engineers Did Not Expect When Becoming a Licensed Engineer: Joseph Simhon, PE, CGC — Professional Engineer & Certified General Contractor “How undervalued we are — I am a licensed contractor and did construction for almost 10 years before obtaining my PE. In construction, clients paid on time and respected my work (most of the time). But as an engineer doing plans, some clients are slow to pay and fight the fees, and we don't have the right of lien like a contractor does.” Eric Christensen, P.E., LMP, CST — Design Principal | Civil (People Problems) Engineering & Planning “How expensive insurance is and how to limit liability.” Modeste Muhire, P.E.  — Project Engineer at Bergmann “I was surprised by the level of trust and responsibility that came with the qualifications. It really registered that I have a direct impact on the public through my professional skills. This understanding inspires me to stay competent in the performance of my duty as a qualified professional engineer.” Resources and Links Mentioned in This Session Include: Engineering Management Accelerator – People Skills Course (Online) | 5 PDHs Project Management Accelerator – PM Skills Course National Society of Professional Engineers Magazine Federal Safety Agency Challenges Licensed Exceptions OSPE Advocacy Makes a Difference, Pes Gain a Voice in Amusement Ride Safety After Excavation Incidents, Philadelphia Puts PEs in Charge Florida Society Opposes Licensing Board Sunset Bill