Any reason to get my Professional Engineer license?

[peanutsss]

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[ThoracicGuy]

First, a little background on me. I have a degree in mechanical engineering, however always intended to go to medical school. I took some time off to work, primarily to save for the application process, pay off my student loans and get some valuable life experience. After a successful application cycle, I'll be headed back to school in the fall.

About 6-8 months ago I submitted my application to the state board to sit for the license exam. Recently I was informed that my application was approved for the spring exam. I originally applied for the exam partially due to employer pressure (they dont know I'm leaving yet) and partially to increase my earning potential if I did not get accepted and needed to work another year and apply again. I can pass the exam, however I think it will take a 150-300 hours of study and prep. Seeing as I will be exiting the industry soon, I'm not sure if its worth the time invested. Alternatively I can work more and do some saving before I head off school, I'm paid hourly plus overtime.

I have 2 days left to register for the exam and am slightly unsure on what to do. Going forward as a medical student, resident and physician is this going to help me in any abstract way I'm not seeing right now?

Potential Positives:
-I could possibly do some consulting work on the side to generate some extra income (not sure if I will have time to do this).
-Someone, somewhere along the line might find it useful or impressive. Maybe somewhere in the gap between orthopaedics, or biomechanics, and medicine (long shot, I guess).
-I'm currently looking at HPSP and possibly it might count for something in terms of military pay.(Ive heard of strange, almost irrelavent certifications or prior experience being factored into Federal pay tables)

Potential Downsides:
-It simply sits on my wall in a frame looking shiny (its good for life, sans nominal renewal fees).
-I miss out a little extra income before I leave for school.

Thoughts?

Take it.

 

[NonTrad16]

I'd take it. Ignoring for a moment if it would help once you make it through medical school, it certainly would help if you later "opt out". I'll have to keep (and never use) my lowly EIT. (I think they said it was good for 99 years?)

 

[Mad Jack]

Take it damn it.

 

[DocWinter]

It's a big deal to be a licensed PE...if you have the ability to do it, by all means go for it. Maybe it won't help you in medicine, but odds are it will help your career, if you know what I mean.

 

[Dullhead]

It's a big deal to be a licensed PE...

Curious to know why you say that, especially if (s)he is never going to use it.

I'd take it. Ignoring for a moment if it would help once you make it through medical school, it certainly would help if you later "opt out". I'll have to keep (and never use) my lowly EIT. (I think they said it was good for 99 years?)

If OP opts out of medicine, they can always take the test then. I don't know about all 50 states, but in CA, there's no requirement to take it within X years of graduating college. There was a person in my office who took the exam when he was in his late 50s.

 

[peanutsss]

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[ThoracicGuy]

Interesting, I didn't expect the largely affirmative responses. Thanks for the feedback.

I have a meeting later today which will largely determine what my work load looks like for the next few months. If its light, I'll have plenty of time to study. If its a fast paced project I likely won't.

Dullhead is correct, in my state once my application is approved to sit for the exam I can take it whenever I want. One of my coworkers has been approved by the state board but has been putting off studying and taking the exam for years. The downside of waiting is the academic matter that makes up the test becomes more and more of distant memory with time. I looked at some sample questions for measurements and instrumentation and was surprised at how foggy some of the material was lol.

That's exactly why you should take it sooner rather than later. It's the same thing with taking Step 3. I took it about 4 years after Step 2. I was pretty rusty on stuff, though well within the pass range. The amount of time you'd put it now vs putting in later is significant.

 

[DocWinter]

Curious to know why you say that, especially if (s)he is never going to use it.



If OP opts out of medicine, they can always take the test then. I don't know about all 50 states, but in CA, there's no requirement to take it within X years of graduating college. There was a person in my office who took the exam when he was in his late 50s.

Are you familiar with PE license? It's a huge deal, quite an accomplishment to attain.

As I said, it may not be useful for medicine. It may be a really great thing in regards to a career - networking, resume, etc. I didn't say it would be useful, I said the thing itself is pretty awesome.

 

[Dullhead]

Just want to clarify that I wasn't trying to argue. I was just curious as to your thoughts - thanks for answering. Yes, I'm familiar with the license, and I'm a licensed ChemE in CA. Took the exam more than 10 years ago when the afternoon part still consisted of essay-type questions. It is definitely an accomplishment but to me it's not a huge deal. That's just my feeling and I understand others feel differently. In my line of work, engineers have to be licensed if they hope to have any career progress at all. I seldom run into unlicensed engineers so perhaps I value it less. Again, I understand others feel differently (or perhaps I should say I'm the one who feels differently.)

 

[DocWinter]

Yeah, maybe it's perspective. I'm not in the field but a couple of my friends are in the process/just took it...I hear it blows the MCAT out of the water. Perhaps my outside perspective lends it too much respect. I always found your field fascinating, but never had the math aptitude. Love the fragile X pic btw

 

[Geekman55]

I'm an EE and in my Industry only a few engineers even have the PE. A couple EE and a few ME. I did get my FE because most people did that out of college and the Exam wasn't really that hard. From my understanding the PE is only really "required" if you are a Civil Engineer. I don't really think it will help you with your medical career and infact it might just get in the way. At least in my state, the PE requires continuous learning to maintain it and if you want to practice in a different state there is another process for that. I seriously doubt many people will come to you for consulting after several years of being in the medical field unless you stay current in technology.

Unless you have a bunch of free time and want to hang it on your wall and add it to your business card I would say to pass on it. That's only if you are super serious about medicine and definitely won't be doing engineering again. If you can see yourself possibly getting back into engineering, then you should probably do it because taking the test later is going to be a nightmare once your coursework knowledge fades.

 

[Geekman55]

Yeah, maybe it's perspective. I'm not in the field but a couple of my friends are in the process/just took it...I hear it blows the MCAT out of the water. Perhaps my outside perspective lends it too much respect. I always found your field fascinating, but never had the math aptitude. Love the fragile X pic btw

The technical depth of the PE/FE definitely puts other tests to shame. However, you get this huge book with a bunch of helpful equations and only need like a 50% to pass (at least the FE).