As someone from the AEC industry (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) I've always maintained that there exists a scope of software engineering that meet

As someone from the AEC industry (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) I've always maintained that there exists a scope of software engineering that meets the same criteria for the protection of life and property that 'Professional Engineers' are held to. If writing software which carries the potential to harm the public required both a baseline assurance of competency (documented testing, experience, or education), as well as provisional restitution (insurance, licensing bond, or civil liability) administered by a neutral third party, than many less practitioners would take on the personal liability of representing themselves as such. It's always amusing to go around the table on a call when it is attended by both the 'Digital Signage Sales Engineer' and the 'Structural Engineer of Record'. Although in reality, I doubt either of them actually care..