Posted by: GP December 24, 2008
PE Exam
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Get WES evaluation or CPEES evaluation. WES evaluation is usually not well regarded by State Boards for PE Exam. So, your evaluation might prove just a waste of 180 dollars if you go for WES evaluation.

The WES evaluation does not tell that your degree is equivalent to ABET accrediation, but it usually says equivalent to a regular American Degree. CPEES charges about 450 USD for evaluation, and it goes step by step, every bit of your courses in Undergraduate Degree. Usually, Nepali Univ, and Indian Univ grads lack Psychology, humanity ... history, like subjects that may range 15-20 credits to satisfy the US equivalency. CPEES charges 60 USD for each copy of evalution you forward to them, while WES charges only 25 USD per copy. Well, WES evaluation is like a SONY brand Made in China, and CPEES is SONY Made in Japan. A dedicated collector will not buy a SONY made in china in a discount store when an authentic store offers Made in Japan at no discount. One has warranty, and the other has guarantee.

Usually, PE Boards don't care much on these social and humanity science subjects because we have more engineering subjects than required, and this is what I was told by the head of a state's PE board's degree review cmte. Our degree will be classified / categorized by CPEES evaluaters as REGIONALLY ACCREDIATED instead of ABET accrediated. So, instead of having a min 4 years of experience for ABET accrediated curriculum based engineers to be qualified for the PE Exam, the DPOR VA and other PE boards might ask you an extended number of years of experience: 6 years? Talk to them directly.

If you have a Masters degree in engineering from ABET Accrediated University. Usually, a university's undergrad course in engineering is accrediated and MS is not in accrediation list. When I was reading ASCE's news bulletine, if I remember correctly, an article gives the reason for not accrediating both Masters and Bachelor's degree was to reduce the burden on Teachers. A few universities have ABET accrediated BS and MS degree, but not all universities.

Some states tell that if you got Masters or PhD degree from a US Univ that has ABET accrediated BS degree, then you don't have to worry about evaluation from CPEES, and WES evaluation might work. It depends on state to state. I tried to file my application for PE Exam in three different states before I got my application approved by VA DPOR. As you know the basic PE Exam is the same nationwide, and California has some additional requirements and also the additional exams (Seismic part).

Before you run for ideas and thoughts from third person like us, it is better to talk to the admins at DPOR VA. There are some counsellors who might be of helpful, rather than relying on phone receptionist. They might ask you to pay 60 USD for application reviews (in VA), and 25 USD in Ohio (Ohio changed the rule and asks for CPEES evaluation). Without CPEES evaluation, it might be very hard to transfer your PE to other states by COMITY if in case you need it in future. So, sooner or later you will need CPEEs evaluation.

Good Luck.

Last edited: 27-Dec-08 08:21 AM
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