Software Engineering

After years of hard work by countless software professionals across the country, the Software Engineering Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is ready for its maiden administration in April 2013.  This will mark the culmination of one phase of the journey and a critical step in the overall philosophy surrounding software engineering and the licensing of software engineers in the United States.

The implementation of the exam creates a path to licensure for practicing software engineers, which helps solidify the profession as a recognized field of engineering. It may take years to thoroughly implement engineering licensure in the culture of software development, but the implementation of this exam is a huge step forward in the recognition that software engineering does directly and significantly impact public safety, health and welfare. 

In anticipation of the implementation of the exam, the Software Engineering Licensure Consortium developed a guidance document to help Licensing Boards throughout the United States understand the unique aspects of the field of software engineering.  That document will be ready for release by the end of 2012.

Additional Information

PE Software Engineering - The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Software Engineering exam will be offered for the first time in April 2013.
The new exam specifications are now available- NCEES Software Engineering Exam Specifications.
IEEE-USA (the sponsoring technical society) will publish study materials later this year.

Closing the License Gap: Register Implementers of Software and Controls for Critical Systems - Refer to the online article at the Engineering News-Record.