I finally qualify to sit for the Professional Engineering Exam!
One of the steps to becoming a structural engineer, is getting your Professional Engineering License. Each state has their own requirements, but generally speaking, you need about 4 years of work experience to qualify to sit for the exam. Since the exam is given twice a year, once in April and again in October, you might end up a bit below or above the required experienced for either exam based on your work start date or graduation date.
For me, I was a few weeks shy of qualifying for the October exam, but I did qualify for the April exam!
Taking the Next Step
I'm really excited finally becoming a licensed professional, but there is a huge downside in the short term. Passing the exam doesn't necessarily mean I make more money or become a better engineer. In fact, it simply means that I posses the knowledge of a practicing engineer. The judgement however, or what is called Engineering Judgement (EJ for short) is still a skill that needs to be developed over time with the proper mentorship.
Why I'm sharing this
As a career choice, civil engineering doesn't pay well, but it promotes critical thinking and it allows you to take your own career into your own hands. Let's face the facts, being an engineer is not an easy career choice, but if you want to be technically able, and have one of the best critical thinking skills, you should work as an engineer early in your life to develop those skills. You are far more likely to be able to work in other career paths as a civil engineer.
I am committed to posting my engineering career choices and what it's like to work in the industry for the next several months EXCLUSIVELY on Steemit.com and dtube.video!
I've taken a bit of a back seat at work and cutting out OT. Part of this is to spend more time on myself to study and prepare myself for the PE exam, and the other part is to produce more exclusive content for the blockchain.
There aren't many working professionals here who post about their work lives, which for some is pretty interesting. I hope you enjoy!
Viewer questions!
Are you a professional? If so what do you do? How did becoming a licensed professional help your career?
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Congrats to you @motoengineer. It must be a good feeling to see your hard work progressing.
You were like the 2nd or 3rd person I read here. Been enjoying your posts so far. :)
Thanks @inalittlewhile!
You know, I'm a bit short sighted and every few months I look back and feel like I haven't accomplished enough. Sort of asian guilt that my parents beat into me. But when I got that letter, I suddenly saw the next milestone in investing in a useable degree. When I pass the exam, that milestone is going to solidify itself and hopefully STEEM will be $20 and I might have a better working situation then!!! Thanks for your support man!
I have the Catholic guilt. Can't see past the end of my nose at times. I'm rooting for you and for that price of Steem you mentioned. :)
whoa! not even your nose! that's some serious guilt you got there, we need to fix that! I do hope we see $12 STEEM. That would be absolutely batshit crazy.
Lol.
Hey man congrats! I have been debating myself whether to go the civil engineering route. I'm currently a comp sci major but over the summer I received my Real Estate license to get to know that industry as it's an interest of mine.
Because of the time spent learning about Real Estate I've been enticed into the Civil Engineering side of things. Ultimately I am more passionate about learning programming than about structural engineering. Good luck to you! Maybe one day we can refer each some valuable contracts!
thanks!!!
I would say, stick with computer science and learning about programming. You will earn much more money in that field of work and you will also be able to work for yourself. The downside is that, I get to see a bunch of cool things while you're likely to sit in a chair all day. But right now, you would get paid almost 1.25-1.5x what I make.
There's always pros and cons, and its better to work in a field where you arent tearing your own face off every minute!
Congratulations to youu
thanks!
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STOPFrom a licensed Engineer, congratulations and stick with it! After you pass the exam, consider looking into the NCEES Records program - it makes it a lot easier to get a license in other states after you get the first, and I think it is free now to apply (costs money to apply to another state). If you stick with the career you will see that it is not only cyclical by industry but sometimes by region/state as well. Best of luck and keep everyone updated!
Thanks! @ai125 l. I have ncees record already. I think it's something we have my default now. I was fortunate enough to start my career in the middle of a boom for construction. I don't know how long it will last but it's going to slow down and end eventually.