PA House passes engineering education bill

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 975 recently, legislation penned by state Rep. Bill Adolph, R-165, of Springfield, that would require professional engineers, land surveyors and geologists to complete 24 hours of continuing professional development education every two years.

The updated requirements are based on model language from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, according to a release form Adolph’s office.

The proposed legislation would also provide “geologist-in-training” certification for recent geology graduates to help improve their marketability.

Geologists are currently required to wait until they have completed five years of work experience before they can take their licensure exam, while engineering and land surveying students can take a fundamentals exam certifying them as “in training” as a tool in job hunting.

“Today’s graduates compete in every sector of the job market,” said Adolph in the release. “By providing certification to recent graduates who successfully complete their fundamentals of geology exam, we are giving our students the opportunity to work in their chosen field until they obtain their necessary years of work experience and take their licensure exam.”

HB 975 now goes to the state Senate for consideration.