Q: How do you gain the experience for Taking the PE Exam?
Welcome to Episode #5 of Engineering Career TV. The topic for this episode is Gaining Experience for Taking the PE Exam.
I will spend most of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world on how to rapidly advance their careers and live the lives they want to live.
You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.
Let’s jump into today’s topic, Gaining Experience for Taking the PE Exam, which is based on a couple of questions that are going to be answered over two episodes from Tessa who’s a recent graduate, where she asks the following:
Q: Since graduation through multiple companies I’ve been struggling to get opportunities in my career that actually qualifies as engineering experience. It is extremely frustrating, especially because my male counterparts are constantly given design work while I am given what I would consider administrative tasks. I have expressed this frustration to multiple bosses and others in my office that influence the work that is given to me and the situation still has not changed.
I had even emphasized my need to do more design work because of my need for experience to apply to sit for the PE exam, which I know is a mutually beneficial milestone for the company and myself. How else do I approach this situation so that I am heard and taken seriously? Do I need to accept that the core values of the company do not reflect my own and find a job elsewhere. How do I make sure that the other young female engineers are not going to receive the same treatment?”
A: The full answer can be seen in the video, but here are a few of the main points:
- When a company is hiring you, you must make it blatantly clear that you want to get experience towards the PE exam.
- Check the guidelines of your state regarding the experience you’ll need to sit for the PE exam.
- Talk to a couple of engineers that had their application for the PE exam approved and find out what worked for them.
I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.
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What questions do you have about gaining experience for taking the PE Exam?
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
