Advanced Manufacturing Engineers

Certification or Licensing

Any engineer whose work may affect public life, health, or safety must be registered and licensed. Licensed engineers are known as professional engineers (PE). To qualify for a license, one must have a bachelor's degree from a school accredited by ABET, the accrediting board for engineering and technology; four years' relevant work experience; and pass a state examination. New engineers may qualify for licensing in two stages. First, they may take the Fundamentals in Engineering examination after graduation from college. They are considered engineers in training (EIT) or engineer interns (EI). Once they achieve the work experience requirement, an EIT or EI takes the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. There are more than 15 specialty exams, including those in control systems, industrial and systems, and mechanical. The National Council of Examiners offers the exams for Engineering and Surveying (https://ncees.org/engineering).

Engineers can earn voluntary certification from a variety of associations. For example, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers offers certified manufacturing engineers, certified additive manufacturing fundamentals, and Lean certification credentials. Most certification programs require candidates to meet experience and education requirements and pass examinations. Visit https://www.sme.org/certification for more information. Some employers prefer to hire engineers with certification, and holding professional certification may be the deciding factor when hiring managers must choose between otherwise equally qualified candidates.