Every time wrongdoing by an 'engineer' comes up on HN, there's a chorus of voices excusing it. IMO, the primary difference between the licensed engineer and th

Every time wrongdoing by an 'engineer' comes up on HN, there's a chorus of voices excusing it. IMO, the primary difference between the licensed engineer and the unlicensed engineer is responsibility. The person who signs off on the safety of a project does not get to pass the buck. They have to be willing to say 'no' to their client or their employer, even if it comes at a personal financial cost. The rewards for taking on that additional responsibility are fairly minor. You have a little more job security than those without it and you might enjoy a small pay bump. I guess in Oregon you also used to get a somewhat exclusive job title. You're right that if you have the license but don't have the responsibility, it's a little pointless.