Any mechanical engineers out there?

Question

What is the purpose of taking the E.I.T./F.E.? What if I pass them/fail them? Why do I have to take the P.E. after passing the E.I.T./F.E.? Will I ever be an engineer even if I fail the E.I.T/F.E.?

Answer 1

1) So you can eventually become a P.E. Also, it shows a potential employer that you are more serious about advancement and long-term careers goals. And it shows that employer that you had a minimum understanding of basic engineering principles.

2) If you fail the EIT/FE, you can take it again. As many times as you like (and pay for). Like laywers, and unlike physicians you can fail as much as you like. If you pass, once, in any state, you are done. Every state accepts and requires the same national EIT/FE 8-hour exam. Their requirements for P.E.s vary a little, but they all require EIT/FE BEFORE you sit for the PE exam.

3) The P.E. tests knowledge and skills in a specific area of engineering. The Mech test is completely different from the Civil or the Chemical, etc. The multiple choice questions are more in-depth and the "essay questions" (the long problems you solve and show your work for) have no parallel in the EIT/FE.

4) You can be an engineer, do engineering work, and a company can bill out your time as an engineer once you have an engineering degree (or pass your PE w/o degree). They can't bill you out as a "PE", "professional engineer", or "registered engineer". You can't call yourself those things either nor go into business as an independent engineer nor be the final approval for plans/specifications/costs on anything that needs to be "stamped" by a PE. A majority of engineering graduates never get their PEs. The ones who end up in charge or on their own do, however.

Short answer: If you fail the EIT/FE but eventually pass it? No problem. If you never pass it, you'll never be a PE. That would limit to working under a PE "in responsible charge" of your work.

Answer 2

I agree with the answers so far, but would like to add this: I've found that a P.E. is only useful if you want to do the type of work that needs one. For instance, the government requires a P.E. to sign off on designs and drawings dealing with the construction of structures (generally buildings). This is why most P.E.'s are civil engineers. Since I work with rocket engines, a P.E. is not particularly useful and the extra cost and education credits required to maintain it are not a good return on investment. I have noticed, as a side note, that the big contractors will not pay any extra for engineers with a P.E.

The advantage, however, is that you may testify in a court of law as a state recognized expert and are honor bound to do so.

The disadvantage, as reported by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is that some states may have an "occupational tax" or "professional privilege tax" where P.E.'s have to pay and non-P.E.'s do not. Of course, there is also the yearly fee and CE credits to pay for as I mentioned above.

Boiled down version: Get a P.E. if you absolutely need it, else only get one for the ego-boost!

Answer 3

The EIT exam is a preliminary test for eventually becoming a PE. The PE is a certification that qualifies you to sign off on certain types of engineering plans. I believe that both can be retaken if you fail them.

Most times you will already be an engineer before you take said tests. You will just not be able to sign off on important documents. Your position may require you to be a PE though and flunking these tests could be reasons for losing jobs.