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It appears that New Jersey has delegated all Testing, including and Test Application Process, to the NCEES. All States, or nearly all states, use the NCEES exams but some still require test applicants to register through the State.
Things have changed a lot since I took this exam 40 years ago! At that time there was one FE Exam for all disciplines. Now they have multiple specialties each with their own exam. Linked below is info for the Chemistry specialty exam.
Thank you all so muchmuch My daughter has her work cut out for herself but is ambitious and not afraid of hard work.
I would suggest she investigate which field of Civil she wants to go into and try and get an internship working in that field BEFORE she goes and gets any degree whether it be bachelors or masters.
Typically you have to have an engineering degree from an ABET accredited program before they let you sit for the exam, get your PE, yada, yada, at least we did, but that is of less concern.
What is of more concern is that she decides she really wants to do it before committing to getting another degree... and the only you're going to know that is by doing it. Whether it be structural or, construction management.
I might even see if she could get a job in Civil Engineering without the degree. Just go balls out and apply. Unlikely, but if she's a people person, she probably could.
daughter has A bachelors of science degree and wants to go into civil engineering. We live in Jersey and she is currently working in the field of infrastructure which has prompted this decision. Any school programs suggestions or possibly the road to take to attain an engineering degree.
I am a mechanical engineer with licensure so I am very familiar with how to the industry works. The best way to go about this is for her to get her degree in Civil Engineering. It is "possible" to do civil engineering without a civil engineering degree, but it is a pain in the butt with licensure. Just to be clear, licensure for a civil engineer is practically non-negotiable like it is for many of the other engineering disciplines.
The first thing I would do is ask my employer if they would support/pay for her to go back to school to get an MS in Civil Engineering or to get another bachelors. Many don't, but some do.
Second, if she has to pay out of pocket, she will want to spend as little time and money in school as possible. Civil engineering is one of those fields that experience matters much more than education.
Third, getting licensed is VERY important and the goal should be to get an FE and eventually PE. States have different rules and it is worth checking out the rules. Multiple state licensure is also not uncommon. Having a NJ only license should not be the only goal.
Having a NJ only license should not be the only goal.
Especially in NJ!
Civil is a very local discipline, but in a state like NJ, not having a PA, NY or DE license is silly. Like having a license in Rhode Island but not MA or CT.
I think someone with a chemistry degree would have to take an awful lot of courses to be able to qualify for a masters in CE. In other words, I think they would basically have to get a BSCE before they could start masters work.
I think someone with a chemistry degree would have to take an awful lot of courses to be able to qualify for a masters in CE. In other words, I think they would basically have to get a BSCE before they could start masters work.
That's what I was thinking, posting earlier. But even "just" a BA in CE would give her some viable career options that align with her interests, OP.
I'll just throw out the experience of a sibling of mine (from the last 10 years.)
Sibling got a bachelor's degree in a building-related field (just trying to protect anonymity) but from a world-renowned technical institution with rigorous math/science requirements for all majors.
Sibling worked for a bit in that field, then a bit in an unrelated field, then applied to and was accepted into some doctoral programs in a sub-specialty of Civil Engineering. Sibling did have some of the prereqs, but not all, and was allowed to complete them within the program.
Sibling ended up leaving with masters since that is all that is needed to practice. Got a lower-level engineering position, took FE exam, worked some more, took PE exam, and is now a fully-licensed engineer overseeing other engineers.
I do not know how much of this sibling's success in being accepted into doctoral programs had to do with being a graduate of a very impressive undergraduate institution which is in itself extremely difficult to get into - probably much more difficult than admission to the doctoral programs.
Oh, to add, the doctoral program was fully-funded, as doctoral programs usually are, so the masters ended up being basically "free." This might be kind of a hard route to go to get a fully-funded masters, and is probably an unethical route if your intention from the start is to leave after obtaining the masters.
Last edited by cowbell76; 04-18-2019 at 12:53 PM..
Reason: typo
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