4 ms·

You think the PE test stops corruption? Lol no. If anything it limits the pool of people that can speak up. I passed the PE, but that has nothing to do with

You think the PE test stops corruption? Lol no. If anything it limits the pool of people that can speak up. I passed the PE, but that has nothing to do with ethics and responsibility. In the end, it's up to the human. Edit, passed the FE, but that's the hard one.

jldugger 7y ago
No, but PE's have to sign off on designs. They have to speak in _favor_ of a project and design, and that's presumed to be a mildly higher bar for the marginal ethical dilemma.
vonmoltke 7y ago
> Edit, passed the FE, but that's the hard one. Unless something has changed since I got my Bachelor's, the FE is the easy one (at least if you take it near graduation).
the_jeremy 7y ago
Also took the FE, very much disagree that it's the hard one.
coupdejarnac 7y ago
In my state, each year we're required to take a 1 hour ethics class. Sure, that doesn't stop you from doing something unethical. If you get caught, you're either going to have to pay a large fine or change careers. Or go to jail. Edit: Also, around half the people who take the PE exam fail it. I took the computer engineering exam and breezed through it. If someone failed the same exam I took, I would have serious doubts about their ability to do engineering.
ocschwar 7y ago
Not the test. When you're a PE and you stamp a design, you're affirming the following: 1. I am qualified and able to judge the fitness for purpose and safety of this design. 2. In my estimation it is safe and fit for purpose. 3. I can explain my decision to any of my peers. 4. I am holding myself legally liable for that decision. I passed the FE too. And I found the civil engineering questions to be pretty easy. But I was only filling up a scantron sheet, not taking charge of human lives.
- bigger_cheese 7y ago
  >I am holding myself legally liable for that decision Yes that's one of the key things I was taught during my engineering degree here is Australia. If you certify something as fit for purpose while acting in the role of a professional engineer you can be held legally liable if you were found to be negligent in performing your duties. In short we were taught if you are going to sign off on something as being safe and fit for purpose you had better make damn sure of it. Ethics in general was a big part of my degree (I was at uni in the mid 2000's) there were mandatory course on social responsibility and ethics every year from second year through to fourth year. These included topics on subjects like liability, whistle-blowing and disclosure. In general I think the large focus engineers have on ethics is a big reason the public has a lot of trust in engineers and engineers regularly rank highly in list of most trusted professions (For example here: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/ranked-australias-20-most-trusted-professions-2015-5 https://www.businessinsider.com.au/ranked-australias-20-most...)

jldugger 7y ago

No, but PE's have to sign off on designs. They have to speak in _favor_ of a project and design, and that's presumed to be a mildly higher bar for the marginal ethical dilemma.

vonmoltke 7y ago

> Edit, passed the FE, but that's the hard one. Unless something has changed since I got my Bachelor's, the FE is the easy one (at least if you take it near graduation).

the_jeremy 7y ago

Also took the FE, very much disagree that it's the hard one.

coupdejarnac 7y ago

In my state, each year we're required to take a 1 hour ethics class. Sure, that doesn't stop you from doing something unethical. If you get caught, you're either going to have to pay a large fine or change careers. Or go to jail. Edit: Also, around half the people who take the PE exam fail it. I took the computer engineering exam and breezed through it. If someone failed the same exam I took, I would have serious doubts about their ability to do engineering.

ocschwar 7y ago

Not the test. When you're a PE and you stamp a design, you're affirming the following: 1. I am qualified and able to judge the fitness for purpose and safety of this design. 2. In my estimation it is safe and fit for purpose. 3. I can explain my decision to any of my peers. 4. I am holding myself legally liable for that decision. I passed the FE too. And I found the civil engineering questions to be pretty easy. But I was only filling up a scantron sheet, not taking charge of human lives.

bigger_cheese 7y ago
>I am holding myself legally liable for that decision Yes that's one of the key things I was taught during my engineering degree here is Australia. If you certify something as fit for purpose while acting in the role of a professional engineer you can be held legally liable if you were found to be negligent in performing your duties. In short we were taught if you are going to sign off on something as being safe and fit for purpose you had better make damn sure of it. Ethics in general was a big part of my degree (I was at uni in the mid 2000's) there were mandatory course on social responsibility and ethics every year from second year through to fourth year. These included topics on subjects like liability, whistle-blowing and disclosure. In general I think the large focus engineers have on ethics is a big reason the public has a lot of trust in engineers and engineers regularly rank highly in list of most trusted professions (For example here: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/ranked-australias-20-most-trusted-professions-2015-5 https://www.businessinsider.com.au/ranked-australias-20-most...)