Skills vs education (was: Senior technical writer?)

[eric.dunn at ca.transport.bombardier.com]

"Poshedly, Ken" <PoshedlyK at polysius.com> wrote on 10/02/2006 03:02:23 PM:
> My wife, a transportation engineer with a graduate degree from a major
> university does not have her P.E., but IS and HAS BEEN a transportation
> engineer for the past 22 years, working both in private industry as well
> in the public sector (governmental), AND is recognized and -- from what
> I've seen -- highly regarded as a top-notch transportation engineer by
> her peers and the professional society to which she belongs.

Regardless of what experience your wife has, her job is lower case 
"engineering" if it doesn't require membership in the legal Professional 
Order. And as far as the discussion goes really has no place being 
mentioned in the same thread as Doctors (M.D.), Lawyers(??), Engineers 
(P.Eng), or other legally recognised and controlled professions. There's a 
very weighty legal difference between Professional Orders and professional 
societies. That does not however necessarily diminish the knowledge or 
experience required to accomplish her work.

The post from Kevin to which I responded was clearly addressing 
Professional Orders. If we're going to discuss Doctors and Lawyers, then 
the equivalent in the Engineering field is P.Eng. And thus my post and 
position is entirely justified.

And yes, as Gene wondered/reminisced, in the past OTJ experience could 
have been used to gain membership and recognition in various Professional 
Orders. However it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a permit as 
an Engineer without a recognised degree. 
http://www.oiq.qc.ca/practice/permits/junior-permits/degree-unrecognized.html

Now if membership in the professional society for transportation engineers 
(quite honestly that title covers a wide swath of possible functions, so 
I'm not sure what it is) then that's another story. But even if membership 
in a society doesn't bring legal recognition, nothing stops it from 
bringing significant recognition/respect.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

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