Is Satish Mohan a Professional Engineer?

[Gandalf]

Satish Mohan, at the 9/18/06 Amherst Town Board meeting, referred to himself as a "Professional Engineer". He does not possess a state license (from ANY state). Can anyone here answer the question? What is the difference between someone who holds a degree in Engineering & one who holds a state license & a degree? Thanks for your help.

[Smiley]

Satish Mohan, at the 9/18/06 Amherst Town Board meeting, referred to himself as a "Professional Engineer". He does not possess a state license (from ANY state). Can anyone here answer the question? What is the difference between someone who holds a degree in Engineering & one who holds a state license & a degree? Thanks for your help.

I guess another question is: how high of a degree would one need. he is an "Associate Professor," not a "Professor" Actually I don't know the difference there. Is there a difference in what degree has or does not have?

[smooth]

http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm

to check on a NYS license...

http://www.op.nysed.gov/pelic.htm

see "Education and Experience Requirements"

(basically your college engineering program counts as credit toward taking the Fundamentals of Engineering test)

[Smiley]

http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm

to check on a NYS license...

http://www.op.nysed.gov/pelic.htm

see "Education and Experience Requirements"

(basically your college engineering program counts as credit toward taking the Fundamentals of Engineering test)

Thank you smooth :D

[colossus27]

Satish Mohan, at the 9/18/06 Amherst Town Board meeting, referred to himself as a "Professional Engineer". He does not possess a state license (from ANY state). Can anyone here answer the question? What is the difference between someone who holds a degree in Engineering & one who holds a state license & a degree? Thanks for your help.

To my knowledge, Satish is not a PE.

'Professional Engineer' (PE) is a certification granted by state governments. This is done via two examinations- the FE (fundamentals of engineering) exam, which, upon passing, leads to the EIT (engineer in training) title. 4 years later, the PE exam is taken. Once passed, the license is granted.

This is a rather unfortunate title; me, and every single engineer I work with, is professional, as they are compensated for their work. They certainly fit the common use of the words professional engineer.

IMO, it oughta be called 'Certified Engineer' (CE) a la CPA. This stupidity is worse in Texas; you cannot have the word 'engineer' on your business card if you're not a PE. Instead you describe your job and use the word engineering.

The reason for this is because a vast number of engineers cannot get a PE license (or need one) in their field. It is primarily used for civil projects, in which incompetency will lead to personal risks- bridges, roads, buildings, etc. You'd have a civil engineer with a PE doing designs, an electrical engineer doing the wiring, etc.

Very rarely do you find PE's in chemistry, petroleum, or ceramics, for example. My field is microelectronics; the only PE's I meet at work are doing building/facility work. While I wouldn't object to getting a PE license, it doesn't mean anything to my career. And in addition, no state offers a PE certification in microelectronic engineering.

So to sum this up, the lack of a PE title has no bearing whatsoever on professional competency, knowledge, or capability.

[colossus27]

I guess another question is: how high of a degree would one need. he is an "Associate Professor," not a "Professor" Actually I don't know the difference there. Is there a difference in what degree has or does not have?

Associate professor vs 'full' depends on two things- tenure and education. UB, to my knowledge, requires the PhD for any professorship.

Satish has a PhD....my guess is his department either buried him or he's never pushed for tenure. This happens a lot, especially with professors that own businesses outside of teaching...and that's not uncommon.

Sometimes it's not granted until somebody serves as department head. RIT has two incredibly talented professors that were the bottom of the barrel, tenure-wise, because they taught as adjunct faculty. If they were lucky they'd get an associate professorship, despite outperforming everybody else in the department. What these guys forgot, most people could make a career from.

[bjfan82]

^ I'm not a PE but I have the title "Traffic Engineer" on my business cards.

[colossus27]

^ I'm not a PE but I have the title "Traffic Engineer" on my business cards.

Do you live in Texas?

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Associate professor vs 'full' depends on two things- tenure and education. UB, to my knowledge, requires the PhD for any professorship.

Satish has a PhD....my guess is his department either buried him or he's never pushed for tenure. This happens a lot, especially with professors that own businesses outside of teaching...and that's not uncommon.

Sometimes it's not granted until somebody serves as department head. RIT has two incredibly talented professors that were the bottom of the barrel, tenure-wise, because they taught as adjunct faculty. If they were lucky they'd get an associate professorship, despite outperforming everybody else in the department. What these guys forgot, most people could make a career from.

FYI: You can be granted tenure at the associate professor level. You don't need to be a full professor.

Is there some reason to think Mohan doesn't have tenure? He's sure lasted a long time in a very competitive field for someone without tenure.

Although, I'm not sure why any of this actually matters. Grelick had a whole bunch of degrees, but I don't think she ever practiced in those various fields -- and yet, no one thought less of her for it.

[Smiley]

FYI: You can be granted tenure at the associate professor level. You don't need to be a full professor.

Is there some reason to think Mohan doesn't have tenure? He's sure lasted a long time in a very competitive field for someone without tenure.

Although, I'm not sure why any of this actually matters. Grelick had a whole bunch of degrees, but I don't think she ever practiced in those various fields -- and yet, no one thought less of her for it.

He started at UB in 1987 and he recieved tenure in 1993.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

He started at UB in 1987 and he recieved tenure in 1993.

Thank you.

[Smiley]

Thank you.

Just the facts Mam! :D