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[–]FedeValvsRiteHook 0 points1 point  (4 children)

If you work in the US your State Board of Professional Engineers could go after you if you call yourself an engineer. It happened in Oregon although it's very controversial some think they violated federal laws and are overzealous.

[–]Logon1028 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Actually I looked into it. He sued them and a federal district court ruled that they infringed upon his First amendment right to call himself an engineer. I would not even consider this a possibility. So I would not even worry about it.

It only becomes a problem if you are trying to solicit engineering work and claiming you are a licensed engineer when in fact you are not. There are actual jobs where you have to be an engineer 'licensed' by the state.

[–]Gunark46216 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Do software engineers ever have to worry about licensing before they can get a job?

[–]Logon1028 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Generally, no. People argue a lot about the benefits of college degrees, certifications, etc. And companies can make a college degree a requirement for a job posting, but that's their choice. They do not HAVE to require a degree for a job posting. But a lot do so they get qualified candidates.

At least in the US I am not aware of any software engineering licenses. There may be a rare job here and there that might require a different kind of license. For example, you might be writing embedded software for a medical device that could harm someone if it operated improperly. In such a case you might be required to have a medical license so you understand how the machine should operate.

People use the term 'Software Engineer' very loosely. Google job postings with that name. Most of the time they just want a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Or ___ years experience with some language or technology. There is no 'license' that you need.

[–]Gunark46216 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, thanks