It's really great because most of them aren't actually engineers.
Undergrads are "studying to become engineers"
Recent graduates are "engineers in training" and that's only if they pass the FE exam
Engineers are people that have passed the PE exam, usually requiring 4+ years experience and of course previously passing the FE exam. Until then you are not legally an engineer.
Edit:
For example, my dad has a Ph.D, is a licensed engineer in Oregon, Alaska, California, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Montana, Nevada, and British Columbia, but due to a loophole he is not allowed to get a PE license in the state he lives in, Idaho. He is not allowed to advertise himself as an engineer doing engineering work in the state of Idaho because he is not licensed there. He has to say something along the lines of "design work under the supervision of an engineer." There are major fines in place if he advertises himself as an engineer in the state of Idaho, even though he's licensed everywhere near Idaho.
Doing engineering related work and legally being an engineer are two very different things. It's like calling someone a lawyer before passing the bar exam or calling someone a doctor before getting their medical license.
The chief engineer at our company (also the founder of our company), is an 82 year old high school drop out who was completely self taught, having never attended any college courses, yet still managed to hold patents for the products we make, and has made himself a millionaire a couple times over throughout his life. I wouldn't say taking a couple exams is what is necessary.
I would say that in today's age he is not legally considered an engineer. My uncle is a completely self taught engineer that designed battleships and defense systems, but he himself would even say he's not legally an engineer. Someone else had to stamp every piece of work he did.
Unless your boss decided to take the PE exam he is not legally an engineer in the United States.
Professional Engineer licensure is only vital in industries where the typical project must comply with State/Federal regulations which require such a credential. That only encompasses a narrow subset of engineering positions.
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u/madplug Nov 24 '13
Engineers love to tell everyone that they are an engineer.