Architectural Engineering

Q: I have a BSET and a B Arch with 20 yrs experience in the A/E area and am also a licensed architect. My reason for wanting a PE in addition to my Architectural license is for job advancement purposes. I work in a facilities engineering group comprised of mostly engineers. To have a registered architect on board is an asset, but feel I need have the PE to "fit into" an advanced position. After applying for an A/E PE to my State Board, I was denied stating that most of my experience is architectural, not engineering. The educational qualifications met their minimum, however, its the specifid engineering experience I was lacking. The board reserves the right to allow waiver of the FE and/or PE in experience alone based applications. Even with a PE however I obtain it, I won't have any real experience as an engineer and don't want to start from scratch. I could take structural courses only to gain more specific knowledge, but don't want to change professions completely for the sake of my job. My options are between waiting for the implentation of the AE exam (within the next few yrs) or go the traditional FE, PE route to a structural or civil PE. The latter step is much more time and money consuming and do not want to pursue this route. I refuse to "start over" What it comes down to is an architect wanting a PE is more difficult than a PE wanting to become an architect.

A: -Your BSET is probably not accredited for the PE license... so they won't even you sit for the EIT exams? Your lack of any "real experience as an engineer" serves to confirm the problem associated with BSET. They can't let just anybody join the club. Your choice is to meet either the educational requirements or the experience standards, and possibly both... -If you are a licenced architect a PE sees a bit redundant. You are probably part of the group spacfically because you are an architect. I work for a large AEC firm and a licenced architect is valued as much as a licenced engineer.If this is not the case where you work you may considder changing employers. A little extra schooling is always a good thing but unless you are a glutton for punishment I wouldn't go for the PE. I can't say I have ever met anyone who is both licenced architect and engineer. Achitects and engineers think and work differently, which is typically why they call it an AE team in the first place. BTW I am an engineer and I think it would be just as hard for me to be a licenced architect as it would be for you to get a PE.

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