2009 Issue

30 T HISPROBLEMHASBEENRECOGNIZED by theNa- tional Academy of Engineering (NAE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). To address this problem, the minimum standard for licensure as a professional engineer must be raised. The Coalition to Advance the Profession of Engineering (CAPE) was formed last year to begin advocating for the implementation of the NCEES model law and supports the position that the appropriate qualifications for licensure in the future should include: (1) a bachelor’s degree; (2) a master’s degree or an additional 30 credits of coordinated graduate or upper level undergradu- ate courses in engineering, science, mathematics andprofessional practice topics; (3) approximately four years of progressive engineering experience; and (4) successful completion of the appropriate NCEES sponsored written examinations. CAPE encourages states to raise the bar for admission to the professional practice of engineering ant the Coalition represents the commitment of the engi- neering community to advance the profession. To protect the public, professional engineers are licensed by the states. The professional engineer (PE) license grants an individual the authority to perform engineering services and direct engineering projects which affect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. Admission to the professional practice of engineering requires the fulfillment of a specialized body of knowledge (BOK) attained through appropriate engineer- ing education and experience. The engineering profession is undergoing significant, rapid and revolutionary changes that have increased this BOK required for entry into the profession. As a result, the baccalaureate degree can no longer be considered the professional engineering de- gree. Admission to the professional practice of engineering requires formal education beyond the baccalaureate degree. At the beginning of the 1900’s, a four year baccalaureate degree was required to enter the engineering profession—more than most of the other learned professions. Other professions (e.g., medicine, law, pharmacy, architecture, and accountancy) responded to changes in society by expanding their formal education requirements beyond a baccalaureate degree. The engineering profession has been stagnant. In addition, the number of credits required to earn the traditional Preparing Tomorrow’s Engineers MICHAEL MCKAMEY, EIMCO WATER TECHNOLOGIES In our increasingly complex world, the challenges engineers face and the problems they must solve are requiring a greater breadth and specialization. The exploding body of science and engineering knowledge cannot be accommodated within the context of the traditional four-year degree. four-year baccalaureate degree in engineering has decreased dramatically. Academic programs have been trying to squeeze an expanded Body of Knowledge into fewer hours of instruction. CAPE is currently seeking changes to the li- censure law in the 56 United States jurisdictions. For more information contact CAPE at: Coali- tion to Advance the Profession of Engineering, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191, 703.295.6354, info@AdvancingEngineering.org , or www.AdvancingEngineering.org. REFERENCES • National Academy of Engineering Report: Educating the Engineer of 2020 • NCEES Model Law for Licensure of Engineers and Surveyors • NCEES Report of the Engineering Licensure Qualifications Task Force • NSPE Position Statement 168: Licensure and Qualifications for Practice • ASCE Policy Statement 465: Academic Prerequisites for Licensure & Professional Practice • CAPE Issue Brief Mr. McKamey, a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, is a registered professional engineer in Alaska and Utah. He worked in the consulting field prior to joining EIMCO Water Technologies. This article has been edited from a publication that was presented at the 2008 ASCE Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 2008. Figure 1: Years of formal education to enter the profession.