We know you’re here because you are about to build your dream career. We were on the same path, that’s why we have decided to help you to sort out the whole process of becoming a professional engineer in Maryland. Let’s start from the very beginning – how to become a professional engineer, why get licensed, and does it worth it?
Becoming a professional engineer in Maryland means not only earning your clients’ trust but also having a greater income – licensed specialists earn significantly more than unlicensed specialists. Because of some special requirements for getting licensed in the State of Maryland, one can be sure that a professional engineer can be considered a trusted specialist.
The licensure process of engineers is regulated by the Maryland Board of Professional Engineers. There are several paths you can choose to become a licensed specialist. We will describe all of them so you can know which one fits you best.
If you have been graduated from a university or college by completing a four-year program in engineering or equivalent, which is acceptable by the Board of PEs, you will need to gain work experience for at least four years of practicing engineering in Maryland. Once you have the necessary experience, you can apply to sit for exams: first the fundamentals of engineering (FE) and then the principles and practice of engineering (PE). When you pass these exams with a high score, you can apply to get qualified.
If you have completed an engineering studies program in a college or university that is not approved by the Board of Professional Engineers, then you will need to show that you have experience of 8 years of practicing engineering which indicates that you can be considered a trusted engineer. After this, you complete the fundamentals of engineering exam with a passing score, you take the second one – the principles and practice of engineering. After passing both, you apply to the board to get your license.
If you have 12 years of experience in engineering which can be approved by the Board of PEs, you will need to pass the principles and practice of engineering exam and get a good score so the Board will approve your application to get licensed.
You can practice engineering without becoming a licensed professional in Maryland. But passing the long and hard process of getting licensure in Maryland is worth it. An engineer without a license will not be able to sign and seal drawings and engineering plans, he or she can’t own an engineering firm. Moreover, one can’t act as an expert consultant in engineering without a license. An engineering license allows you to earn more: your employer knows you’re a leading specialist and you can lead a team too.
In the upper part of this page, you can find a search engine tool that will help you to find detailed data about the engineer you hire. You can find his contact, history, and license status to know if it is up to date. If you are already a professional engineer then you can check your license status too, to know what others will see when they search for your credentials online.