On 9/9/06, Levi Pearson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I read through that when you last pointed it out. You probably noticed, but the IT-related section was very Canada-specific. Apparently you can get in trouble calling yourself a software engineer in Canada. In the US, however, everyone realizes that a 'Software Engineer' is not the same thing as a 'Professional Engineer' and we all just deal with it without making too much of a fuss, except sometimes when it comes to naming degree programs at colleges.
I agree - I think it is very Canada Specific, and refers to a "Professional Engineer". I am unsure of what is meant as to whether Software Engineers meet the same standards as a "Professional Engineer". I think several Engineering fields wouldn't meet the qualifications based on that page, yet they are still considered Engineers by many businesses. I got the following from my old College TextBook, "Software Engineering", by Ian Sommerville (6th Edition): http://www.acm.org/serving/se/code.htm Also from the book, page 14: "Software Engineering is obviously bounded by local, national and international laws. Software engineers must behave in an ethical and morally responsible way if they are to be respected as professionals". Regarding certification, the ACM produced one in the 1980s but discontinued it due to lack of interest. The IEEE has one as well, but only about 500 individuals have passed it (also from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineering#Certification). Looks like Canada even regulates the use of the title (as with "Professional Engineer" as in your article) with a certification, so, yes, by that definition, Software Engineers are "Professional Engineers". I am unaware one way or the other whether other Engineers even need certification in the US to be considered accepted as so. I think in the end, as with Software Engineers, it's up to the businesses hiring the individuals to do their research in the schooling of the individual, any certifications, if necessary, as to whether they consider them as "Software Engineers". Does that answer your question? Jesse -- #!/usr/bin/perl $^=q;@!>~|{>krw>yn{u<$$<Sn||n<|}j=<$$<Yn{u<Qjltn{ > 0gFzD gD, 00Fz, 0,,( 0hF 0g)F/=, 0> "L$/GEIFewe{,$/ 0C$~> "@=,m,|,(e 0.), 01,pnn,y{ rw} >;,$0=q,$,,($_=$^)=~y,$/ C-~><@=\n\r,-~$:-u/ #y,d,s,(\$.),$1,gee,print /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
