The Nuclear Engineering PE Exam and Professional Engineering

The Nuclear Engineering PE Exam and Professional Engineering Licensure

What is Professional Licensure? Authority granted by the state to practice a particular profession that affects public safety, health and welfare Recognized professions include medicine, law, accounting, nursing, engineering, and others… Professions subject to licensure share common elements: • • Professional practice impacts public health, safety and welfare Code of Ethics Rules for professional conduct Minimum standards of professional competency Strong desire to be worthy of the public’s trust Continuing professional competency Protect public interests by enforcing standards and imposing disciplinary action when necessary

Why is it Important? A PE License is required to • • • Offer engineering services to the public Perform consulting services for pay Sign/seal engineering designs, plans and documents Bid for government contracts Use the title Professional Engineer A PE License may be required to • • Act as a qualified expert witness Teach engineering design courses Be considered for promotion or salary increases Use ‘Engineer’ or ‘Engineering’ in a company name

Benefits of Licensure • • • It opens career doors. In a stack of resumes, yours stands out. You belong to a licensed profession. You serve the public– not just your employer. You could earn more than non-PE peers.

How is Professional Licensure Obtained? There are three high-level requirements: 1. Education • A bachelor’s degree in engineering from an EAC/ABET-accredited program 2. Experience • progressive engineering experience that indicates the applicant may be competent to practice engineering 3. Examination • • The FE examination may be taken by a college senior or graduate of an engineering accredited by EAC/ABET The PE examination may be taken by an engineer intern

Examination The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is generally your first step in the process to becoming a professional licensed • • • The FE exam is a computer-based exam administered year-round in testing windows at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. 110 -question test and is 6 hours long Cost is $225 The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is the second (and final) required examination for licensure • • • Usually taken after acquiring four years of progressive engineering experience Eight-hour open-book exam 80 or 100 questions (Nuclear PE Exam is 80 questions) Two sessions: AM (40 questions) and PM (40 questions) for Nuclear PE exam Cost of the Nuclear PE Exam is $375

When? Take the FE exam as soon as possible • Pass rates decrease with time after graduation • The FE exam is computer-based and administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. Take the Nuclear PE exam as soon as possible • Pass rates decrease with time after graduation • Pay attention to NCEES, state board deadlines for applications • The PE Nuclear exam is now computer-based and administered one day per year (October 19, 2018) at NCEESapproved Pearson VUE test centers. Registration opened on February 1, 2018.

Where? Nearby Pearson VUE Testing Centers are located in • {nearest} • {next closest} Not So Nearby Centers include • {farther}

Key Takeaways • Know your jurisdiction’s requirements! • NCEES/state licensing boards are there to help you untangle the mess • Obtain meaningful, progressive engineering experience • Study hard, prepare in advance, pass the exams • Additional Questions? • Contact {your local ANS PE representative}