How do you become an engineer?

Question

I am planning on majoring in bio/biomedical or environmental engineering in college and I was wondering what courses you take throughout your 4 years.

I read somewhere that to become an engineer in the US you need to pass a state test to become an Engineering intern and then you need to pass another test after several years of experience to become an professional engineer. Is this true and if it is how many years of experience do you need? Also, if you move to a different state do you have to retake the test?

I was also wondering what the life of an engineer is? Do you work constantly or is it a normal 40-50 hour work week? I know that bioengineers and environmental engineers are in high demand according to the Department of Labor but is it easy to find a job?

Answer 1

I have never had to get a license to be an electronics engineer.  Generally you just need the degree and maybe a membership in the professional organization for your specialty.

But to be a good engineer you have to have a passion for the field of engineering you are going into. An engineer who does not have a passion for what they do will never get to do the really cool stuff.

As an engineer, I spend 40-50 hours a week in an air-conditioned office with a lab across the hall. Then I go home and do my own projects at night, maybe 10 hours a week or so. And on Saturdays, I help out a struggling small company designing products for them in return for shares in the company. Sundays, when I need to, I work on my cars.

If you have a passion for your field, you never actually work. I go to these places and I do stuff I love to do and money gets deposited into my bank account. Then they take what I have designed, make tons more of them and ship them around the world to people who think what I did for fun is worth paying for.

And you never lack for people who want to pay you to do what you love to do.

If it ever became just a job, I would quit.

Answer 2

You don't have to take the tests to become an engineer-in-training, or to become a Registered Professional Engineer in any state, but it is in your best interest to take the tests and to get registered.

As long as you are working for another Professional Engineer, or are working in a company that has many Registered Professional Engineers you do not have to be registered yourself, however if you ever want to do any engineering design work on your own you will have to become registered.

If you become registered in one state, most other states will let you become registered there by just submitting an application. Some States such as Alaska and California have additional tests that must be passed in addition to being registered elsewhere.

Answer 3

Yeah, there's some sort of test you have to take. My dad is an electrical engineer and after some years you take a professional engineering test. He took the test in West Virginia, and then we moved to Ohio and he didn't have to retake it, so no. He works late maybe once a month. He's working on his PhD right now though, so he's putting in extra hours, doing research. He works 8-5 most days, though. Some people tell me that it's hard to find a job, but it just depends on where you are and what kind of engineer you are. I live near Ohio University and there are a lot of jobs for engineers.

Answer 4

Study hard.

Yes you have to take tests to become a Licensed

Professional Engineer.

Some States recognize the licenses of others,

some do not, and require you pass their test before

practicing there.