Here's Why You Should Consider Getting Your PE Civil License

If you're like me, you may be wondering if all the extra work it takes to get an engineering license is worth it. The short answer is "yes." An engineering license has the power to change your career, your opportunities, and your life.

Getting a license in civil engineering most certainly altered my career by increasing my engineering knowledge and challenging me to push my skill set as an engineer. Though it is a rigorous process to get there, the rewards and benefits of earning a license are very much worth it in my opinion. Here are just a few of the main reasons why I think obtaining a civil engineering license is well worth the effort.

Table of Contents

1. Do it for the career!

2. Become part of a unique group of people!

3. Make a difference!

1. Do it for the career!

This first reason is probably the most obvious and tangible. Having a license has a 100% chance of positively impacting your career as an engineer. For civil engineering, a license is actually a job requirement once you become eligible for many project management and lead design positions. Many employers are willing to pay considerably more in salary for individuals with a license compared to those with equal experience but without a license. This is because licensed engineers are the only ones who can legally sign and seal engineering documents for various projects. A license instills a trust with the client that the project was designed properly with respect to applicable codes, with safety as a priority, and with expectations in mind. Without licensed engineers to design and sign off on projects, nothing would ever get built in civil engineering!

Obtaining a PE license, like many other certifications out there, not only sets you apart from your peers but also sets you up to better advance your career. Whether you wish to one day have your own civil engineering firm or you just want added job flexibility, having a license makes you a valuable asset not commonly found in today's demanding job market. Being able to sign and seal documents allows you to control your own career-you become fully responsible for the designs and projects as opposed to relying on someone else's expertise.

Job security is also a fantastic reason for getting a license in civil engineering. Licensed engineering professionals are typically difficult to outsource given certain requirements for local design as well as state laws requiring that engineers have licensure in the states where they practice. While some elements of design, such as drafting or technical writing, could be outsourced in certain cases, there is virtually no chance of this happening for a licensed profession engineer. Additionally, with recent legislation and outdated infrastructure, the need for licensed civil engineers has grown dramatically. The demand for civil engineering has been on a consistent increase and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future as long as people improve, modify, and use public infrastructure. Behind every single infrastructure project is an engineer who had to sign off on the design. That person is always in high demand-and even better, that person could be YOU!

2. Become part of a unique group of people!

Obtaining an engineering license will certainly set you apart. You will join a unique and limited number of professionals who are at the top of their professional game. While not the main reason to pursue licensure, there is most definitely a prestige that is associated with obtaining your PE. Having a license, much like a diploma, is a symbol of the work and dedication you have poured into improving yourself. A license is not something you can just buy, instead, it is something you must earn. This is a reward in itself because you will have earned it. And you should be proud of having done so. For me, getting a license was definitely the most challenging professional obstacle I have faced to date, and I fondly remember the moment when I received my license in the mail as well as the first time I used my seal. These were unforgettable experiences.

So, while you should certainly be proud of all your accomplishments to date, obtaining an engineering license is a significant one that you will want to celebrate.

3. Make a difference!

Lastly, one of my favorite things about civil engineering is that our projects almost always have impacts on the public at large. While this means we also must deal with public input more often, it also means that we get to help hundreds of thousands-even millions-of people with something we already love to do.

Take me for example: I thoroughly enjoy what I do as an airfield civil engineer. I enjoy solving complex problems and creating solutions to address them. I enjoy learning about unique projects and getting a chance to work on them. But something I often forget is just how many people I actually affect, whether implicitly or explicitly. In my job, a recent project involved improving a taxiway and updating it to current standards, which are primarily safety related. This taxiway receives millions of passengers every year. Every single one of those passengers will use new features that I helped design. That, to me, is an incredible feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. A roadway engineer who designs improvements to an interchange may impact millions of people each year and save thousands of hours of cumulative commuting time. An engineer who designs improvements to a local broadband system can bring high speed internet to multiple homes who will gain improved access to the world through the internet. An engineer designing a gas line extension may help multiple families have access to more affordable natural gas to heat their homes instead of propane or electric heat.

Almost every civil engineering project is conducted to promote the wellbeing of its users, which in this case, is the public. The fact that civil engineers consistently take on public works projects sets civil engineering apart, as a lot of civil engineering projects benefit everyone and not just consumers with purchasing power. Civil engineering projects can shape communities, change city skylines, and increase the overall happiness of millions of people even without these individuals realizing the projects are taking place. To me, having a license to lead, manage, and sign off on these sorts of projects is well worth its weight in gold.

In conclusion, an engineering license in civil engineering is a worthwhile investment. While it will take a lot of hard work to get there, it will open a world of possibilities for you as an aspiring engineer and set you apart from your peers. While having the letters after your name is noteworthy itself, the impacts you can make to your community and the world become limitless with a license.

About the Author: John Holmes

John Holmes is a professional civil engineer who works on airport infrastructure including runways, taxiways, aprons, and terminals. He was born and raised in North Carolina and still lives there where he obtained both his BSCE and MCE from North Carolina State University. In his spare times, John loves spending time with his wife and son. He also enjoys tending to his growing farm and garden, including chickens, turkeys, and goats.