Straight up, the Engineer In Training Certification in itself does nothing for you as you make your way towards becoming a licensed Professional Engineer…a PE.
It’s just a number, and if you choose, a piece of paper.
Now…I get it, I may have just confused many of you reading this, so let me explain.
To become a Professional Engineer, you must prepare for and pass two exams: The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (also referred to as the Engineer In Training Exam – FE Exam) and the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (also referred to as the Professional Engineering Exam – PE Exam).
Taking and passing the FE Exam is the important milestone – this is what will be noted in your NCEES records – what you do with it following that is completely up to you.
Some states will give you the option of obtaining an actual Engineer In Training Certification (a piece of paper) showing that you took and passed the FE Exam and with that, what your EIT Certification number is.
But let me reiterate, this is optional.
The process of obtaining this piece of paper is different depending on the state you live, so check out the FE Exam Requirements relevant to you, but at the end of the day, you are at most going through a simple application and fee payment process where you are telling your state board:
Yo, I have passed the FE Exam and met all the other requirements, hook me up with an Engineer In Training Certification and number.
An Engineer In Training Certification is a metaphorical badge, a gold star, allowing you to show proof that you are an EIT, or EI.
It doesn’t grant you a license or any legal responsible to practice as a true Engineer serving the public, but it provides you a validating mark that you are well on your way to doing just that.
This can go a long way in setting yourself apart from other aspiring engineers as you go through the job seeking process and/or internal company promotions. When corporate brass identifies ripening talent they tend to grab hold and acquire or retain that talent because of what it is potentially turning in to.
The Engineer In Training Certification is distributed by State Licensing Boards, but it’s nationally recognized, meaning that if you submit your application to the California State Board but then relocate to Tennessee, you’re not expected to seek another certificate.
So to recap how this whole Engineer in Training certification works is this.
Once you take and pass the FE Exam you automatically become an Engineer in Training (or Engineering Intern). You are able at this point to go through your specific state’s board application process to obtain an actual Engineer in Training certification and associated EIT number.
Whether you do or don’t doesn’t really matter, you will still be moving forward towards becoming a Professional Engineer by acquiring the progressive work experience required to apply for the PE Exam.
The experience required to apply for your PE Exam is typically a minimum of 4 years but differs by state and in some cases dependent on the accreditation of the program you graduated from.
So that’s it…and here you are, did you pass the FE Exam?
If not, let us help you prepare with our FE Exam Prep program Prepineer.
If you have, then flex that Engineer In Training Certification if you choose, you have earned it!
Have more questions? You can get to know more about the Engineer in Training exam here
