huangyhg

pe signature
for all the liscensed pe's, it is my understanding that using p.e. following your signature is typical. if a letter that will be sent to a state outside of your liscense, is it still acceptable to sign your name with the p.e. following? these are letters to clients, builders, etc. that are not to be sealed.
thanks in advance.
i'm sure it varies state to state but i have seen disciplinary action taken against someone licenced in several states who used pe after their name in a state they werent licenced in. i remember it because i thought it was a bit harsh. i dont re
i would use, say, john smith, p.e. (me).
this was a big issue in our firm. our firm is also quite large and consequently we do work out of our home state.
so a memo ensued naturally and noted that we were to be sensitive to this issue. i asked one company lawyer who indicated that if i've been signing my letters with the p.e., s.e. for so long that i shouldn't worry about it. so i don't.
others in our firm have taken to including pertinent states in thier signatory blocks. for example: p.e. (me, ca, wa), s.e. (ca, il, nv). i for one don't have the temperment nor the paper space for all such nonsense.
i feel as though, the intent is being misunderstood. if you are vying for work in a certain state and wish the client know you're licensed/registered that's one thing. if, however, your intent to let your reader know that you possess the minimum level requirements for licensure/registration that's quite another matter and shouldn't be a legal issue.
so long as pes aren't misrepresenting themselves as ses, architects (ra), rls, rg, or other i don't think it should matter. i doubt seriously that the requirements vary such that a pe in ok would have trouble obtaining a pe in ri.
and yes, i'm well aware that ca requires a special pe session on surveying/seismic.
regards,
qshake
eng-tips forums:real solutions for real problems really quick.
the problem is this: my home state, where i'm registered, requires me to use "p.e." after my name (it's not just typical or custom, requirement of the engineering laws). but if i'm writing a letter to someone in a state where i'm not registered, that usage would be misleading to them. so i'll sign my name there as:
john doe
texas pe #xxxxx
i've not heard of this being an issue with anyone, just one of those inconsistencies of varying state laws.
but then again, i never have figured out how you could practice engineering in a state without ever being there.
thank you all for your responses.
i also have been asked by a supervisor to list the state of my license when writing to clients.
jstephen, i know texas is a big state but... not being able to practice engineering in another state??

in my homestate, pennsylvania, you cannot call yourself a pe unless you're registered here. the other 49 states don't count.
almost all states have a clause in their statutes that considers any term denoting "engineer" or "professional engineer" as protected (including "p.e."). they further preclude the use of the terminology unless you are licensed in the state and you might be subject to disciplinary action.
if you are not licensed in a state that wants to stop you, typically the most they can do is write you a nasty-gram.
like qshake, most of us routinely use our titles anyway.
what i meant was, that i can "practice engineering" in north dakota without ever having set foot in north dakota. which just seems a bizarre concept to me. kind of like saying that if a texas doctor operates on an okie patient in texas, he needs a license from oklahoma to do it. or that i need a new jersey driver's license to drive a new jersey car in texas.
jstephen...that part of it is a bit strange and that's why there has been a push for more uniformity in the laws and even a national registration. national registration has been resisted by state boards for obvious loss of revenue and control reasons. the structure is already in place to provide national registration (ncees)and could be done.
one main reason for not doing it is the preponderance of local codes and conditions that each engineer who designs under them is responsible for compliance. couple that with the litigious nature of design and construction, and you have plenty of work for the lawyers.
right licenced where i guess ??, you'd have to look at your seal and see if it has a geographic descriptor, if your not licenced in a jurisdiction then your plainly not licenced and if you use p.eng/p.e. where you have no licence or authority to practice well you've plainly mislead the 'public'.

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