Qualifications Needed to be a Licensed Structural Engineer in California
Structural engineers are responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of safe and sound structures. In order to become a licensed structural engineer in California, you must meet the following qualifications:
Education: You must have a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited program.
Experience: You must have four years of full-time structural engineering experience, under the responsible charge of a licensed structural engineer.
Examination: You must pass the Structural Engineering Exam, administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Application: You must submit an application to the California Board of Professional Engineers (BPE).
Once you have met all of the qualifications, you will be granted a license to practice structural engineering in California.
Here are some additional details about each of the qualifications:
Education: The bachelor's degree in engineering must be in a program that is accredited by ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ABET is a non-profit organization that accredits programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
Experience: The four years of experience must be in structural engineering. The experience must be obtained under the responsible charge of a licensed structural engineer. Responsible charge means that the licensed structural engineer has direct supervision over the work and is ultimately responsible for the quality of the work.
Examination: The Structural Engineering Exam is a six-hour exam that covers a wide range of topics in structural engineering. The exam is divided into two parts: Part I covers general structural engineering principles, and Part II covers specific structural engineering topics such as steel, concrete, and wood structures.
Application: The application to the BPE must include the following information: your name, address, education, experience, and examination results. You must also pay a filing fee.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed structural engineer in California, I encourage you to visit the Board of Professional Engineers (BPE) website for more information. The BPE website has a wealth of information about the licensing process, including the qualifications, application process, and exam information.
