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4Square > Engineers
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| Real vs "Marketing" Engineers |
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There has been some issue of late about who is and who isn't an engineer..
Marketing companies have been running around granting engineering credentials based on their own standards.
But the issue isn't that simple.. Like Doctors and Lawyers and many other professions, there already are defined standards for the title of Engineer. Those that have it earned it..
The title, Engineer, can't simply be redefined to meet some company's marketing objectives..
It's not just the engineering professionals that are under the marketing attack. Lately, the "marketeers" are issuing "Architect" credentials.
The reason that marketing companies need to usurp an existing title is to steal the prestige.
All that the marketing companies are selling is a statement that someone has tested satisfactorily to be a technician for their commercial product. There is no ethical standard, no formal education, and certainly no review board or accountability to the public. Their title can not even be revoked for consistent poor performance!
In Massachusetts and in all U.S. states, to be an engineer you have to satisfy
several state requirements and pass two national exams as well as a profession board of your peers.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Laws
First you have to complete a four year program in an accredited engineering college.
Then you have to pass an 8 hour nationwide Engineering in Training Exam covering all aspects of the discipline.
Then you must work supervised by a State Certified, Professional Engineer (PE) for not less than 4 years.
When the four years are up, you must them pass a highly technical 8 hour national exam in your engineering discipline, including aspects of engineering finance.
With that exam, and 5 endorsements of state registered PEs, familiar with your work, you can submit your application to the State board of Engineers for evaluation. If the board agrees that your experience in your discipline is sufficient, you are granted a Professional Engineer's License to practice in that state.
Transfer of License:
The license is not transferable to any other state. I maintain mine in Massachusetts and it is not valid in my home state of New Hampshire.
Revocation:
Unlike the "marketing" engineer, a PE license can be revoked for any one of a series of violations and must be renewed periodically. The state can always review both caliber and nature of a PEs work to insure they are still working within their discipline and performing to state standards.
Advertising:
In New Hampshire and all other states except where my license is on file I can not advertise myself as an engineer or solicit engineering work. This is by state law and it is enforced. I was denied the company name Foursquare Engineering in New Hampshire because my license not in this state.
Legal Stuff:
It is also illegal, but unenforceable, for a company to do engineering design without a supervising PE signing off on their work. It is illegal to work on federal projects as an engineer without a license in some state. Consequently when Microsoft, Novell and every other marketing company started granting "engineering credentials" to anybody based solely on their discretion, they were in violation of all state laws. It also pissed off the real engineers who must obey the law or lose their licenses.
Summary:
I did complain to Microsoft about this issue and they would address it.. But they
did not and why should they? Microsoft is not accountable to any elected officials.
Proving P. T. Barnum's adage, Novell in 1997, successfully convinced an Illinois circuit court judge to side with their marketing scheme. They really need to grab somebody else's professional reputation.
BECAUSE there is no industry quality standard for these marketing
technicians!
I'd like to suggest that Microsoft, Novell and the other marketing companies actually build a respected professional title around their own goals. There certainly are computer professionals. Maybe they should have a their own standard that marks their profession too.
Microsoft, Novell and the others want to set standards for excellence in their technical areas and they wouldn't allow somebody to claim Microsoft or Novell certification without it.. Professional Engineers have exactly the same requirements.
Pat Tormey PE
Registered Professional Engineer | |
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