The 'Real' Engineer

The 'Real' Engineer

Professional Engineer is the term for registered or licensed engineers in some countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Nigeria. The term Professional Engineer is a legally protected title; the practice of professional engineering is protected in many countries—by state or provincial or federal law—only registered Professional Engineers are permitted to use the title or carry out the work of Professional Engineering. The earmark that distinguishes a licensed/registered Professional Engineer is the authority to sign and seal or "stamp" engineering documents (drawings and calculations) for a design or analysis, thus taking legal responsibility for it.

Post-nominal letters used vary by location:

• P.E. or PE is used in the U.S.
• P.Eng. or P.Eng (UK). used in the UK for Professional Engineers belonging to the Society of Professional Engineers UK (SPE)
• P.Eng. is used in Canada, except the province of Quebec.
• Eng. (French:ing.) is used in Quebec.
• CEng (Chartered Engineer) and IEng (Incorporated Engineer) in the UK & Republic of Ireland.
• CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer) in Australia and New Zealand
• Dott.Ing. in Italy(5 years) (pre-nominal letters)
• Ing.junior in Italy(3 years)
• Ing. in Germany (pre-nominal letters)
• Inz. in Poland (pre-nominal letters)
• Ir. in Holland (pre-nominal letters)
• C.Eng in India Institution of Engineering under Royal Charter
• EurIng (European Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof).
• Ing.P.Eur (European Professional Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal
• Engineer or Engr (similar to Dr. or Prof). in Pakistan
• Engr. is used as a pre-nominal in Nigeria

Each country or state/province has specific procedures and requirements for the license or registration.