Completed a minimum of three years of post-secondary school at an ABET-accredited engineering program, or related science curriculum approved by the Board – Many states allow for the substitution of several years of engineering experience in place of the engineering degree requirement.
Once an individual has passed the exam the state board awards that person an Engineer-in-Training or an Engineer Intern designation. EIT and EI are equivalent variations in nomenclature that vary from state to state.
Clarification of the term
"Engineer Intern" term could be possibly misleading term as it may imply that the engineer is still in college and is working merely in an intern position. An Engineer-in-Training does engineering work, such as design, under the supervision and direction of a Professional Engineer, who are exclusively able to perform certain tasks, such as stamp and seal designs and offer services to the public. In Canada, an E.I.T. designation means that the person has completed the educational requirement of their P.Eng but has yet to accrue enough work experience. An EIT can perform engineering work under the supervision of a professional engineer. With the exception of New Brunswick, PEO and OIQ, EITs are allowed to use the title "Engineer" as long as they also include the EIT designation in either their name or their title.
Each state's statutes delineate the requirements for the experience and education needed to become a PE once EIT or EI certification has been earned. The requirements vary depending on the State and the licensing board, but for most engineers the process typically includes the following steps:
Graduate from an ABET-accredited four-year university engineering program.
Pass the 6-Hour Fundamentals of Engineering Examination to receive an Engineer Intern enrollment or Engineer-in-Training certification. The FE exam was an 8-hour exam prior to 2014. Some states such as Kansas and New York use the designation of IE, but is essentially the same as EI or EIT. Some states such as Iowa have no EIT or EI designation or certification available through their engineering boards. One just states s passed the FE. An EI/EIT is not a requirement to take the PE exam; passing the FE is a requirement.
Accumulate a set amount of engineering experience, typically under the direction of a PE. In most states the requirement is four years, but in others the requirement is lower.
In California, passing two additional exams is required to gain PE licensure. A seismic exam and a surveying exam, are in addition to the FE and PE exams for civil engineers.
