Professional Registration and the Petroleum Engineer
Authors: Horn Clifford R. 
Published: December 2007

It has become increasingly necessary for engineers to possess that proof of competence which is professional registration. Investigation reveals that the petroleum engineer is, in general, poorly provided for throughout the fifty states. There are ways, however, that members of SPE can help to rectify this situation.

Introduction

An effort is being made by the Society of Petroleum Engineers to facilitate the registration of its members as professional engineers. It may help if we examine the background of registration, the make-up of state boards, the qualifications for registration, examination requirements, and what the SPE membership might do to improve the situation. Any engineer who makes his services available to the public is required to be registered in the state or states in which he offers his services. The reason for requiring registration is given in the General Provisions of the Model Law, prepared by the National Provisions of the Model Law, prepared by the National Council of Engineering Examiners and generally followed by most states. The Model Law states: "In order to safeguard life, health, and property, and to promote the public welfare, the practice of promote the public welfare, the practice of engineering and land surveying in this State is hereby declared to be subject to regulation in the public interest." Each state legislature, in passing or revising the professional engineer's license act for its state usually has made some changes from the Model Law reflecting its own make-up and thinking. Other reasons for the licensing of engineers may include the protection of the active profession and the assurance of a sounder future for the new engineer.

The Model Law

The determination of those who are required to register is based on the definition of the practice of engineering contained in the respective state laws. The Model Law defines the practice of engineering in Section 2, Definitions, as follows: (d) Practice of Engineering - The term, "Practice of engineering", within the intent of this Act, shall mean any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering performance of which requires engineering education, training, and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences to such services or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning and design of engineering works and systems, engineering teaching of advanced engineering subjects or courses related thereto, engineering surveys, and the inspection of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with drawings and specifications; any of which embraces such service or work either public or private, in connection with any utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, work systems, or projects and including such architectural work as projects and including such architectural work as is incidental to the practice of engineering. A person shall be construed to practice or offer to practice engineering, within the meaning and intent of this Act, who practices any branch of the profession of engineering; or who, by verbal claim, profession of engineering; or who, by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or in any other way represents himself to be an engineer, or through the use of some other title implies that he is an engineer or that he is registered under this Act; or who holds himself out as able to perform, or who does perform any engineering service or work or any other service designated by the practitioner which is recognized as engineering. practitioner which is recognized as engineering. In the Model Law, exemptions are provided for in Section 23, Exemption Clause, as follows: (a) The practice of any other legally recognized profession. profession.

JPT

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