The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) regulates the practice of engineering in the state of Illinois. In most cases, you need to be licensed as either a Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) to describe yourself as an engineer professionally and to offer engineering and design services in Illinois.

• Professional Engineer (PE): We will focus on the PE licensing process in this mechanical engineering topic. The PE title represents a high level of training, testing and experience and can be associated with civil, electrical, mechanical and other engineering fields. Being a PE offers you a very wide range of professional practice. However, it does not allow you to design structures
• Structural Engineer (SE): the structural engineering licensing process is regulated separately from the Professional Engineer process in Illinois. You can read more about regulation of structural engineering on the IDFPR website
• Exemptions: There are some specific work environments where you can work in the field without being licensed as an engineer. There are exemptions under certain conditions for manufacturing, government, or military work. These are listed in more detail in the Professional Engineering Practice Act, Section 3. These are the only work environments where you can legally work as an engineer without a license. Otherwise, IDFPR can fine you for calling yourself an engineer without a license

The PE licensing process is complex and takes years, even for graduates of accredited US engineering schools. However, if your US or foreign engineering school is not accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the requirements are even more demanding. You will need to show an extra 4 years of experience just to get started. Almost all foreign-educated engineering graduates fall into this category. You may, however, be able to use education and work experience outside the United States toward this requirement.

Many immigrant professionals licensed in another country choose not to become licensed in Illinois. There are many challenging and well-paid careers in mechanical engineering that do not require it, particularly through the manufacturing exemption. The design and manufacture of consumer products is a very large area of autonomous and legal engineering practice that does not require licensing. This is because consumer products fall under product liability and consumer protection laws and not IDFPR responsibility.

Whatever you decide about future licensing for your career, non-licensed positions are a way to first re-enter the field in the United States. If you want to become licensed in the future, a non-licensed position can support you and your career goals during this long-term process. Some employers even support qualifying candidates with training or pay their licensing fees.

The decline of the manufacturing industry in the Midwest affects overall job prospects in mechanical engineering since many mechanical engineers are employed in manufacturing. Jobseekers who have skills and experience in Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and other software and communication technologies have better job prospects. Mechanical engineering opportunities in high-tech fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and materials science will continue to create new jobs. Nationally, average starting salaries in mechanical engineering for 2007 were $54,128 for Bachelor's Degree holders and $62,798 for Master's degree holders.

Finding a first job in your field is a priority. The job search can be especially competitive for immigrant professionals in a difficult economy.

• Consider your qualifications for non-licensed jobs and specify target job titles to broaden your search
• Increase your competitiveness by updating technical skills and improving your professional communication and marketing skills
• Also consider expanding your job search beyond direct hiring positions. You may want to consider temporary placement through employment agencies that specialize in engineering-related hiring. They can provide you with contract opportunities in different workplaces, benefiting both you and the employer who has a chance to see your work without making a permanent commitment
• Research small and medium-sized firms who often don't advertise openings
• Join networking and professional development groups in your areas of interest to make professional contacts and update your skills
• If you plan to become licensed in the long term, it is very important that you look for a position in a workplace where there is a professional engineer available to supervise you. This is required to build qualifying experience necessary for licensing.

Non-licensed positions include supporting licensed engineering practices or working in the design and manufacture of consumer products. Common job titles for entry-level positions in mechanical engineering include Tool and Dye Technician, Junior Detailer and CADD Operator (Computer Aided Design and Drafting).Because of the manufacturing exemption you will fild "engineer" used in job titles that do not require licensing. It is common to rank positions numerically according to experience, for example Mechanical or Product Engineer I, II, etc. up to Lead Engineer

A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) working in mechanical engineering has no restrictions on work environment and can offer design services to the public

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If your university degree was in an engineering discipline, you must work with the Center for Professional Engineering Education Services (CPEES) to have it evaluated. The cost is approximately $375.

First, CPEES compiles information on your degree, including transcripts that must be sent directly from your university. If your materials are in a language other than English, you should check if your university will translate them and provide copies in English to CPEES. If this is not possible, you will need to have your own copy of your transcript translated and provide this to CPEES from another source. Verify with CPEES before to make sure what types of translation sources they will accept (e.g., university offices, consular offices, American Translator Association members).

Next, CPEES compares your educational materials course-by-course to standards used by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to evaluate engineering programs. It is common for CPEES to identify foreign degrees as deficient in comparison to ABET standards. This is often because of international differences regarding when subjects are taught and the degree of specialization students are expected to have in university. For example:

• You may have finished advanced math courses in high school such as Differential Equations or Calculus I. Most US students only take these courses at the university level
• You may have taken very few humanities and social sciences courses once you began your engineering program. ABET accreditation requires 12 credit hours in such subjects to give students a well-rounded education

It is common for your CPEES degree evaluation to have several important differences from ABET standards. This can mean you will have to go back to school and take the types of classes your evaluation describes before you can move to other steps in the licensing process. You may even have to go back and take a full year of courses! This requirement is strict and there are very few exceptions. However, you may have a few other options that can help:

• If your country has a recognized college-preparatory system such as the US Advanced Placement courses, U.K.'s A-levels, or France's Baccalaureate, you should consult with CPEES before submitting your transcripts. If you received college-level credit for them, you may be able to have them recorded in your university transcript
• If you completed a master's degree, the Professional Engineering Board can look at your courses to see if any can satisfy deficiencies in your degree

Unfortunately, many of you will need to take additional classes before you can continue licensing. Here are a few strategies to consider:

• Community colleges are often a good option. They are usually more affordable than universities, closer to home, and offer evening and weekend classes
• If you need math courses because your college transcripts only show advanced math such as Calculus II, keep things simple and save study time: take lower-level courses such as Trigonometry, Calculus I, or Differential Equations
• If you need to take social sciences or humanities courses, it may help your mindset to consider this a chance to get to know US culture and society better. You can pick courses and subjects that interest you, or ones you already feel familiar with, depending on the time you have to invest
• If you are studying and working at the same time, you may be able to do steps 2 and 3 together

The Illinois regulations require any graduate of a non-ABET accredited school to have 4 years of experience under a legally practicing engineer in order to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE). This applies to all foreign graduates and also affects US graduates of non-accredited schools and graduates of related sciences.

As an immigrant professional who has worked in engineering in your home country, you will need to find out whether your professional experience counts as "qualifying experience" or whether you need to start again in the US workplace.

Does your prior experience count?

• You must be able to get documentation that shows the number of years you worked under the direct supervision of a legally practicing engineer and actually had certain engineering responsibilities. Do not stop at documenting four years if you have more; there are two four-year periods of experience that need proof throughout the licensing process. You may be able to get a full eight years of credit and actually be found eligible to take the PE exam immediately!
• You must be able to prove that you reported to a person who was legally practicing engineering at the time. This could include someone licensed in your country, or working in exempt positions; it could even include working under a US military engineer
• You cannot certify your own experience - someone has to state he or she was the engineer in charge
• Important: you can also get different amounts of experience credit for activities such as graduate study, participation in a co-op, or for teaching professional engineering courses. More details can be found through IDFPR

If you believe that you have some qualifying foreign experience, you will need to document this information using the VE-PNG (Verification of Employment/Experience) form that is a part of the application you will put together in Step 4. Copy as many forms as you need (if you changed jobs over the years) and send them to the supervising engineer(s). The forms ask the supervisor opinions about your performance. Be careful: a negative review can hurt your case. Use other copies of the VE-PNG for other types of experience activities and provide documents to support the information.

How do I earn qualifying experience in the US?

If you do not have a full four years of qualifying experience, then you will need to earn the rest of the four years in a US workplace or through other activities like studying or teaching. Again, you will need to work under a legally practicing engineer (either a licensed or exempt engineer) and your work will have to include supervised engineering activities.

• Look for employment in a firm or other workplace with a professional engineer on staff and get permission for the engineer's participation in your program
• You will have to document your work for the PE and receive his or her recommendation to meet IDFPR qualifying experience standards
• Your exact job title is not relevant; you just need to work under a legally practicing engineer with increasing responsibility
• If you change employers and/or supervising PEs over this four-year period, you must have all PEs submit documentation (VE-PNG forms) to account for the full amount of qualifying experience
• Once you have gathered all documentation, submit it together with the application in Step 4 to the IDFPR for approval

This is a 2-step process involving application to IDFPR as well as test registration with Continental Testing Service (CTS).

I. Application:

Your application package should include:

• Four-page IDFPR application for Examination for Enrollment as an Engineer Intern
• CPEES course-by-course evaluation
• Proof that you have passed English language competency exams if your engineering program was not conducted in English and you are not a native speaker of English. (minimum accepted scores: a TOEFL-iBT with 26 on speaking and total score of 88 OR the TOEFL paper-based 550 or computer-based 213 plus a Test of Spoken English score of 50)
• VE-PNG forms (Verification of Employment/Experience). Supervisors will put forms in sealed envelopes. You can also use VE-PNG forms for other experience credit such as graduate study, participation in a coop, or for teaching professional engineering courses
• The IDFPR filing deadline for an April test is November 15 and the filing deadline for an October test is May 15. The application fee is $20.

This application is valid for 3 years; if you have not passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam by that time, you will have to submit a new application and pay the processing fee again. If all of your documents are in order, you will be given a notice of permission to register for the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.

II. Register for FE Exam:

Once IDFPR has approved you to take the FE exam, you must register online with Continental Testing Service (CTS) for an exam site (there are typically 4 sites in Illinois available at each offering of the FE). The CTS registration deadline for the April test is March 15 and the deadline for the October test is September 15. FE exam enrollment costs $159.35

The fundamentals of engineering exam (FE) is a national test that most US engineering students from accredited programs take in their senior year or shortly after graduation. This test will be discussed in detail in the section Tests Required for Licensing. After passing the test you are designated an Engineering Intern (EI) by the state of Illinois.

At last, you have achieved your first legal designation in engineering in the state of Illinois: Engineering Intern (EI). At this point there is a second four-year experience requirement that applies to all EIs. The goal is to help you continue to develop your skills under the supervision of a legally licensed engineer. If you have additional qualifying experience that was not counted in Step 3, it will be used here towards the four year requirement. You will finish this step by collecting VE-PNG forms for any qualifying activity. These will be included in the application in Step 7.

This is another 2-step process, involving application to IDFPR and test registration with CTS.

I. Application:

If you need assistance with your application, contact the IDFPR at (217) 782-8556. When you have compiled all materials, mail them to the IDFPR.

Your application package should include:

• 4 page IDFPR application for Examination for Licensure as a Professional Engineer. Be sure to show that you are licensed as an Engineer Intern in Illinois in Part IV of the application or it will not be counted towards your licensure as a PE
• Official transcript from your university engineering program (not a degree evaluation, simply an official transcript)
• VE-PNG forms verifying 8 years of Employment/Experience

Notes:

• The IDFPR filing deadline for an April test is November 15 and the filing deadline for an October test is May 15. There is a $100 application fee
• This application is valid for 3 years; if you have not passed the PE exam by that time, you will have to submit a new application and pay the processing fee again

If all of your documents are in order, you will be given a notice of permission to register for the PE exam.

II. Registration for PE Exam:

Once IDFPR has approved you to take the PE exam, you must register online with CTS for an exam site. The CTS registration deadline for the April test is March 15 and the deadline for the October test is September 15. PE exam enrollment costs $272.65

The PE exam will be discussed in detail in the next section. Once you have passed the exam, you will be granted licensure as a Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois. Your PE license must be renewed every 2 years. Please refer to the section Beyond Licensing for basic information on requirements to maintain licensure.

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The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) is still sometimes referred to by its former name, the Engineer in Training exam (EIT). The FE tests the knowledge expected of recent university graduates for general engineering and, optionally, other specific engineering disciplines.

The examination is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

• It is offered two times a year, in April and October
• Registration opens several months in advance, but you must first apply to IDFPR for approval to take the test
• The FE exam consists of a full day of testing in one morning and one afternoon session of 4 hours each
• The total cost of the exam is $159.35

The morning session is standard for all test-takers. It has 120 questions in 12 topic areas. These are: math, engineering probability and statistics, chemistry, computers, ethics and business practices, engineering economics, engineering mechanics - statics and dynamics, strength of materials, material properties, fluid mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and thermodynamics.

The afternoon session consists of one 60-question Module. You choose just 1of the 7 available Modules. They are:

• Mechanical engineering: This module has 8 topics: mechanical design and analysis; kinematics, dynamics, and vibrations; materials and processing; measurements, instrumentation, and controls; thermodynamics and energy conversion processes; fluid mechanics and fluid machinery; heat transfer; refrigeration and HVAC
• Other/general engineering: This module has 9 topics: advanced engineering mathematics; engineering probability and statistics; biology; engineering economics; application of engineering mechanics; engineering of materials; fluids; electricity and magnetism; thermodynamics and heat transfer
• Civil engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Environmental engineering
• Industrial engineering

Your background in mechanical engineering may make choosing its module for the afternoon session appear to be an easy decision. However, you may also wish to consider general engineering, especially if your test preparation time is limited. Its topics are an extension of the topics covered in the morning session.

All reference materials for both morning and afternoon sessions, such as formula sheets, are provided by NCEES. Test takers must provide their own calculators, chosen from an NCEES-approved list.

The Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE) is a discipline-specific exam for Engineering Interns (EIs). It tests the theoretical and practical engineering knowledge you have gained through a minimum of 4 years of qualifying employment experience under the guidance of a legally practicing engineer.

NCEES offers 17 distinct PE exams. Here we assume that you will take the PE - Mechanical exam. Information on other exam types can be found in the Important Links section.

The PE - Mechanical Exam

• The PE - Mechanical Exam consists of a full day of testing broken into one morning and one afternoon session of 4 hours each.
• It is offered two times a year, in April and October.
• Registration opens several months in advance, but you must first apply to IDFPR for approval to take the test.
• The total cost of the exam is $272.65.

The morning session, called the Breadth Exam, is standard for all PE - Mechanical test-takers. It has 40 multiple choice questions covering the 3 areas that constitute mechanical engineering: HVAC and Refrigeration; Mechanical Systems and Materials; and Thermal and Fluids Systems.

The afternoon session, called the Depth Exam, is a 40-question exam in which you choose one of the 3 practice areas covered in the morning session.

Results of both tests are combined to create your total score.

All reference materials for both morning and afternoon sessions, such as formula sheets, are provided by NCEES. Test takers must provide their own calculators, chosen from an NCEES-approved list.

NCEES and several private organizations offer study materials and courses to help you prepare for these tests. The Important Links section has more information on official NCEES materials.

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Mechanical Detailer/Drafter - Computer-Aided Design and Drafting

• Typically, knowledge of CADD software is a prerequisite for this position, which involves the preparation of detailed drawings for machinery and devices
• 2 years of college typical
• 2006 median earnings nationally: $43,700.

Mechanical Engineering Technician

• This position applies engineering principles narrowly, usually to solve specific problems in RD
• 2 years of college typical
• 2006 median earnings nationally: $45,850.

Project Management Professional Certification

• If your prior experience was in project management and you have particularly strong communication and organizational skills, you may want to consider qualifying for Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute
• The PMP is a widely-recognized credential that can complement an engineering background very well, as many large engineering projects require both project skills and mastery of technical specialties. Again, if your soft skills prepare you for this kind of work, it is a way to work actively in the engineering field without having to hold a professional license

LEEDS Certification Professional

• Green building and LEEDS certification depend in part on systems that fall to mechanical engineers, such as heating and cooling
• Considering trends towards large-scale investment in environmentally-friendly building and rehabilitation, getting certified to assess projects for LEEDS can be an interesting credential for an engineer with the right transferable skills.

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If you plan to have your own engineering business, it is important to know that you may have to register as a Professional Design Firm. This is not required if you plan to do business under "Your Name, PE" and work alone (in what is called a sole proprietorship). However, if you plan to do business by another name or to include others in your practice you will need to license. Information is available on the IDFPR Professional Engineer web site.

Once you are licensed as a Professional Engineer you must maintain your Illinois licensure, which expires November 30 of every odd year. You will be notified in the mail and can renew on the IDFPR website using online payment or via mail. You must state that you have taken 30 hours of continuing education or professional development courses in order to renew. For PEs these hours are called PDH (Professional Development Hours). You must meet specific criteria for subjects studied and approved providers.

Be careful to observe your renewal notices and keep your address updated, or your licensing may be moved from "renewal" status into "restoration" status. Restoring your expired license requires more documentation, fees and, sometimes, coursework. To keep informed of regulation requirements and update your skills, consider joining a professional association (see below).

State and national associations for Professional Engineers provide opportunities for networking and professional development (including courses to help you meet continuing professional education requirements if you are licensed as a PE). They also help set acceptable working conditions for the industry and give information and opinions on policy in Illinois and across the U.S. Their websites may offer useful orientation to the licensing and examination process, including test preparation. Their employment networks, however, are typically restricted to licensed professionals. Once you have progressed in the licensing process you may want to join a Professional Engineer association.

State:

• Illinois Society of Professional Engineers
  

National:

• National Society of Professional Engineers
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers: has several regional chapters in Illinois
• SAE International:  aerospace, off-highway/heavy duty vehicles, trucks, buses, or passenger cars
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

Even if you are not seeking licensing, you can find a large variety of professional associations with membership based not on licensed status but on specialty discipline, job type, sector, ethnicity, gender, or religion.

Working as a PE in additional engineering disciplines

If you have become licensed as a PE having taken the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam in the mechanical engineering discipline, you may still have the opportunity to develop and legally offer new engineering practice areas with your current license. For example, if your mechanical engineering projects also bring you electrical engineering expertise, over time it can be reasonable for you to expand your practice into electrical engineering. However, it is important to document these new skills and training because you can be investigated if complaints about your work are made to IDFPR.

Some people with PE licenses from one state would like to practice engineering in another state. However, states have different professional regulation systems which complicate licensing mobility.The state of Illinois does not participate in any agreements with other states and its approach to licensing mobility for newcomers is conservative: licensing by endorsement.

If you are a recognized PE from another state and are seeking to practice mechanical engineering in Illinois, you must:

• Show that your education and experience meet all Illinois eligibility criteria for licensing as a PE (making up courses, testing, or experience if gaps are found)
• Apply for and receive an Illinois license in addition to your existing license

Conversely, when Illinois PEs want to work in other states, they must research and meet the licensing guidelines of their destination state, which can sometimes be less stringent than Illinois regulations. In either case, some employers see the value in helping their engineers with licensing mobility when their business crosses state boundaries.

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