united-states
Can I legally call myself a software engineer without a professional engineering license?
<p>I recognize that certain types of engineering disciplines are very heavily regulated. As I understand, these types of engineering have a legal definition that requires licensure, without which one cannot claim to be an engineer in that discipline. For example, someone with training in civil engineering can't call themselves a mechanical engineer without obtaining a license to practice civil engineering. This licensure requirement is intended to promote the health, safety, and well-being of the general public.</p>
<p>Do software engineers need a license, or can I call myself a software engineer right after graduation?</p>

<p>There is no general answer: it's a state-by-state question. <a href="https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._occ._code_section_1001.301" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Texas Occupations Code 1001.301(b)</a> says that</p>
<blockquote>
<p>a person may not, unless the person holds a license issued under this
chapter, directly or indirectly use or cause to be used as a
professional, business, or commercial identification, title, name,
representation, claim, asset, or means of advantage or benefit any of,
or a variation or abbreviation of, the following terms:</p>
<p>(1) “engineer”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>etc. You cannot call yourself that, in Texas. Subsection (f) provides for an exemption:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter, a regular
employee of a business entity who is engaged in engineering activities
but is exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter under
Sections <a href="https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._occ._code_section_1001.057" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1001.057</a> (Employee of Private Corporation or Business Entity)
or 1001.058 (Employee of Certain Utilities or Affiliates) is not
prohibited from using the term “engineer” on a business card, cover
letter, or other form of correspondence that is made available to the
public if the person does not:</p>
<p>(1) offer to the public to perform engineering services; or</p>
<p>(2) use the title in any context outside the scope of the exemption in
a manner that represents an ability or willingness to perform
engineering services or make an engineering judgment requiring a
licensed professional engineer.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>1001.057 does allow an exception for &quot;products manufactured by the entity&quot;, which under the law includes computer software. Whether or not (1) and (2) apply to a given employee / business depends on what they do: you can't open up a code-writing shop for the public and use the term &quot;engineer&quot;, but you can be a software engineer for Shell Oil.</p>
<p>In Washington, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.43.010" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RCW 18.43.010</a> says that</p>
<blockquote>
<p>it shall be unlawful for any person to practice or to offer to
practice in this state, engineering or land surveying, as defined in
the provisions of this chapter, or to use in connection with his or
her name or otherwise assume, use, or advertise any title or
description tending to convey the impression that he or she is a
professional engineer or a land surveyor, unless such a person has
been duly registered under the provisions of this chapter.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>which is not as clear as Texas law (I would not have thought that a &quot;software engineer&quot; is a &quot;professional engineer&quot;. The term &quot;professional engineer&quot; is defined in <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.43.020" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RCW 18.43.020</a> as</p>
<blockquote>
<p>a person who, by reason of his or her special knowledge of the
mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of
engineering analysis and design, acquired by professional education
and practical experience, is qualified to practice engineering as
defined in this section, as attested by his or her legal registration
as a professional engineer.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Having kicked the can down the road a bit, &quot;professional engineering&quot; is defined as</p>
<blockquote>
<p>any professional service or creative work requiring engineering
education, training, and experience and the application of special
knowledge of the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences to
such professional services or creative work as consultation,
investigation, evaluation, planning, design, and supervision of
construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with
specifications and design, in connection with any public or private
utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes,
works, or projects.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>If &quot;software engineering&quot; is a kind of &quot;professional engineering&quot;, you must register, and <a href="https://brpels.wa.gov/engineers/get-your-engineer-license/get-your-professional-engineer-license-exam-or-comity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here are the requirements</a>, which ultimately refers you to the <a href="https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/electrical-computer/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PE Electrical and Computer exam</a>, which includes <a href="https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Power-April-2018_1.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">EE-type stuff</a> that probably few software engineers know, and some <a href="https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Computer-April-2018.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">software-related stuff</a> including general computer architecture that is also not general knowledge among computer programmers.</p>
<p>Judging from advertisements for &quot;software engineer&quot; position in Washington, jobs state qualifications as as having a degree and knowledge of software, but not possession of a license or being registered as a &quot;professional engineer&quot; (and the exams only happen twice a year so it's not a trivially satisfiable formality). Either there is a massive conspiracy to mislead applicant or scoff at the law or, more likely, software engineers in Washington are not considered to be &quot;professional engineers&quot;. This includes huge numbers of jobs with Microsoft, which are open to students who are years from being able to satisfy the 8-year experience requirement.</p>
