At Waterloo, we are required to read the book titled Introdutction to Professional Engineering in Canada (Andrews, Aplevich, et al., 2003). Some of the facts about engineering are:
-The term engineer derives from the latin word ingenium, meaning talent, genius cleverness, or native ability.
-the term engineer was first used to describe persons who had the ability to invent and operate weapons of war.
-later the term was associated with the design and construction of works, such as ships, roads, canals, and bridges. The people skilled in these fields were non-miltary, and hence civil engineers.
-In Canada,the title Professional Engineer, is restricted by law to mean those persons who have demonstrated their competence and have been licensed by a provincial licensing body. Exceptions are made to stationary and sometimes MILITARY engineers, who are subject to other regulations.
-the terms, engineer, engineering, P.Eng, professional engineer, consulting engineer are official marks held by the Canadian Council of Engineers, but do not necessarily mean the same thing.
-The engineer typically provides the key link between theory and practical applications. The engineer must have a combinations of extensive theoretical knowledge, the ability to think creatively, the knack of obtaining practical results, and the ability to lead a team toward a common goal (sounds like BOTC). The bachelor‘s degree is the basic education requirement, although the master‘s or doctorate degree is useful and preferred by employers. In Canada, a person taing responsibility for engineering work affecting public safety is required, by provincial law, to be a member or license of the provincial Association of engineers. membership confers the right to use the title Professional engineer, P.Eng.
-Engineering skills. mathematical skil and scientific knowledge, analytical ability, Manufacturing and construction knowledge, open-mindedness, decision-making ability, communication skills, Inventiveness
-" A profession is a self-selected, self-disciplined group of individuals who hold themselves out to the public as possessing a special skill derived from training and education and who are prepare to exercise that skill in the interests of others." Think of (engineering, accounting, medicine, law, and others)
-legal definition of engineering:
"... any act of designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting, directing, or supervising wherein the afeguarding of life, health, property, or the public welfare is concerned, and that requires the application of engineering principles, but does not include practicing as a natural scientist."
-admission to the engineering profession
-be a Canadian citizen, or have permanent
resisdent status
-have a minumu age of 18 years
-satisfy the academic requirements(an
accredited degree)
-pass the professional practice examination, can
only write after at least one year of graduation
-satisfy experience requirements 2-4 yrs
depending on province(there requirements are a
little sketchy and vague, however outside
general engineering practice, equivalent
experience worth up to one year of expereince
includes, post-grad work,teaching upper class
university courses, work-term (ie. co-op
experience), military experience
-be of good character, as confirmed by referees
The above statements are compiled from Introdutction of Professional Engineering in Canada (Andrews, Aplevich, et al., 2003). They seem a little wishy-washy, engineers aren‘t english lit majors afterall. It leaves a lot for interpretation, but you get some feeling of what engineering is. I good book to read about the engineering profession is Petroski‘s, To Engineer is Human.
In regards to Profesional Engineers in Ontario, I am lead to presume that you must graduate with a degree from an university with an accredited engineering program, there are 13 accredited universities in Ontario. However you can obtain a Certified Engineering Technologist or a Certified Engineering Technician with a rellevent College diploma. Either you need a university degree to obtain your P.Eng. or the school neglected to tell us otherwise in hopes to eliminate attrition which could be just as likely. In regards to combat engineers coming out of the military and opening up shop so to speak, if they have P. Eng. designation, even if required experience came through the mltary as long as the experience fits the PEO guidlines. then certainly they can perform engineering duties in the civilian world. however claiming to be a consulting engineer when you are not can fnd you in the blue section of the Engineering Dimensions magazine in Ontario, if you are familiar with that publication.
