Materials Engineers

Certification or Licensing

Licensing is not generally required for most materials engineering professions. However, licensing is recommended to enhance your credentials and make yourself open to more job opportunities.

In general, the licensing process for all branches of engineering results in the formal designation of Professional Engineer (PE). Requirements vary from state to state but generally it takes about four to five years to become a licensed PE. Many engineers begin the process by taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam after college graduation. It is a test that covers everything from electronics, chemistry, mathematics, and physics to the more advanced engineering issues.

A candidate who has successfully passed the FE exam is commonly known as an engineer in training (EIT) or engineer intern (EI). The next requirement to fulfill is to acquire four years of progressive engineering experience. Once a candidate has four years of on-the-job experience, he or she then takes another exam specific to their engineering area (each branch of engineering has its own specialized, upper-level test). Candidates who successfully complete this examination are officially referred to as Professional Engineers.