Preparing for a
Successful
Engineering Career
Dr Sam Man Keong (岑文强)
CEng, FIET, FSIET(F)
Honorary Secretary
Singapore Institute of Engineering Technologists
Email: sammk1951@gmail.com
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“Engineering :
The Career Field That
Improves Our Quality of
Life.”
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Highlights
• About the Speaker – Dr Sam Man Keong
• Reasons for choosing an Engineering
Career.
• What Should You Study Before Going to
College?
• How to choose a College?
• How to Manage Your Engineering Career
while in College?
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Highlights
• Beyond the Undergraduate Degree –
Work or Graduate School?
• Professional Licensing.
– Licensing Requirements
– Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.
• Additional Sources of Information.
• Q & A.
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About the Speaker :
Sam Man Keong (岑文强)
• A Self-directed Lifelong
Learner for more than 40 years.
• Have gone through both nontraditional & traditional
education routes.
• Chartered Engineer
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(UK/Ireland/Australia)
Chartered Builder(UK)
Chartered Environmentalist
(UK)
Chartered Mathematician(UK)
Chartered Scientist(UK).
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Reasons for choosing an
Engineering Career
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1. Change the world.
2. Be creative.
3. Work with great people.
4. Make a difference.
5. Never be bored.
6. Make a big salary.
7. Solve problems.
8. Travel.
9. Enjoy job flexibility.
10. Love your work and love your life, too!
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What does it take to do so
and how can you get there?
Engineering is built on math and
science,
so it is important to take as much math
and science as possible.
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What Should You Study Before
Going to College?
• Mathematics and Science
– Mathematics : Algebra; Geometry;
Trigonometry; Calculus.
– Science : Biology; Chemistry; Physics
• English, social studies, and foreign
languages.
• Computer, economics, history and public
speaking courses.
• Extracurricular activities.
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How to choose a College?
• Websites and catalogs ; OPEN House
• Entrance requirements
• Engineering majors and specialties
offered
• Cost of tuition, fees, and room and
board….books, travel to/from school,
entertainment expenses, and other day-today costs.
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Engineering Education in
Singapore
Level of Training
Universities/
Polytechnics/Colleges
Professional Engineers
[BEng – 4 year full-time]
National University of Singapore
(NUS);
Nanyang Technological
University (NTU)
Engineering Technologists
[Diploma – 3 year full-time]
Polytechnics : SP; NP; TP; NYP;
RP
Engineering Technicians
[Higher Nitec – 2 year Full-time]
ITE Colleges : East; West;
Central
Tradesmen/ Craftsmen
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National University of Singapore
Faculty of Engineering, NUS
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Nanyang Technological University
Administration Building, NTU
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Polytechnics in Singapore
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ITE Colleges in Singapore
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How to Manage Your Engineering
Career while in College?
• Your career in engineering will not start
when you leave college. It will actually
start while you are an undergraduate
student.
• It is not an irreversible step, but it is a
step!.
• Bachelor’s degree programs in
engineering : 4 or 5 years to complete.
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How to Manage Your Engineering
Career while in College?
• First 2 Years : Mathematics and the physical
sciences with introductory engineering courses.
• Last 2 years : Major + ‘technical electives’ +
‘free electives’.
• Engineering Experience : Internships; Summer
Jobs.
• Is it Accredited ?
– Singapore : www.peb.gov.sg ; www.ies.org.sg
– USA : www.abet.org
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Minimum outcomes…(ABET):
students should have the ability to:
• 1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science,
and engineering.
• 2. Design and conduct experiments as well as
analyze and interpret data.
• 3. Design a system, component, or process to
meet desired needs within realistic constraints,
including economic, environmental, social,
political, ethical, health, safety, manufacturability,
and sustainability.
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Minimum outcomes…(ABET):
students should have the ability to:
• 4. Function on a multidisciplinary teams.
• 5. Identify, formulate, and solve
engineering problems.
• 6. Understand and take professional and
ethical responsibility.
• 7. Communicate effectively.
• 8. Comprehend the impact of engineering
solutions in a global, economic,
environmental, and societal context.
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Minimum outcomes…(ABET):
students should have the ability to:
• 9. Recognize the need for lifelong
learning.
• 10. Engage in activities that further
learning.
• 11. Stay attuned to contemporary issues.
• 12. Use the techniques, skills, and modern
engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
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Beyond the Undergraduate Degree
– Work or Graduate School?
• Career Options after the Bachelor’s degree in
engineering:
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Industry
Business
Consulting
Marketing
Management
Government
Research
University Teaching
Military
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Beyond the Undergraduate Degree
– Work or Graduate School?
• Graduate School
– Master’s and doctorate degrees in
engineering
– Graduate degrees in business or
management
– Law school
– Medical school
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Professional Licensing
• Engineers who become registered or
licensed are known as “professional
engineers.”
• P.E.
– A level of commitment to the profession
– Highly valued in a number of industries and
engineering disciplines
– Provides credibility to clients and to
customers
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Benefits of becoming a P.E.
(USA- NCEES)
• 1. Promotability.
• 2. High Salaries.
• 3. The P.E. Title. : Professional engineers can
sign and seal documents submitted to a client or
public authority and legally represent
themselves to the public as “professional
engineers.”
• 4. Career Advantages : Only P.E.s are eligible
to work legally as engineering consultants.
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Professional Licensing - Licensing
Requirements (USA)
• Stage 1 : Graduation from an ABET-EAC
engineering program. (EAC =
Engineering Accreditation Commission.)
• Stage 2 : Passage of the Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) exam. This is an
engineering and science fundamentals
test.
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Professional Licensing - Licensing
Requirements (USA)
• Stage 3 : Passage of the Principles and
Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This is
a test of knowledge in a specific branch
of engineering (i.e., Civil Engineering,
Electrical Engineering, etc). The PE exam
tests the engineer’s ability to apply
engineering principles and judgment to
professional problems.
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PE in Singapore - Requirements
• 1. Appropriate qualifications – Section 15(1);
• 2. Appropriate experience – Section 15(2)(a);
• 3. Sat and passed prescribed examinations – Section
15(2)(b);
• 4. Good character and reputation – Section
15(4)(a); and
• 5. Able to carry out the duties of a professional
engineer effectively – Section 15(4)(b).
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Pathways to become Professional
Engineer in Singapore
Approved Qualifications,
e.g. BEng from NUS/NTU
PEB – PE Exam
PEB – FE Exam
. Report on
Postgraduate
Engineering Experience
Experience
. Professional
Interview (PI)
. Summary of
Postgraduate
Professional Experience
Professional
Engineer (PE)
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Pathways to become a PE in Malaysia
Working adults in
Engineering with at least 2
STPM/GCE(A) passes in
Mathematics and/or
Science subjects
IEM/BEM –
Graduate
Examination
An Approved Qualification,
e.g. BE from University of
Malaya
BEM – Graduate Engineer
Report on Training & Experience
BEM - PAE
Professional Engineer
(PE)
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Professional Licensing (USA)Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.
• 1. Attend a college or university with programs
approved by the Engineering Accreditation
Commission (EAC) of ABET. [websites: www.abet.org ;
www.peb.gov.sg ]
• 2. Took the FE exam before graduation.
– Open-book test
– Two 4-hour periods.
– Morning : comprehension and knowledge as well as evaluation,
analysis, and application.
– Afternoon: composed of problems sets from seven subject
areas (statics; dynamics; mechanics of materials; fluid
mechanics; electrical theory; economic analysis.)
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Professional Licensing (USA)Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.
• 3. Fulfilling your state’s requirements for
years of professional experience. [Most
states require four years of acceptable
progressive experience.]
• 4. To pass the PE Exam.
– Test your in-depth knowledge of a specific
field of engineering.
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Additional Sources of Information
• USA:
– www.abet.org
– www.ncees.org
– www.nspe.org
• United Kingdom:
– www.engc.org.uk
– www.professionalengineers-uk.org
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Additional Sources of Information
• Singapore:
– www.peb.gov.sg
– www.ies.org.sg
– www.siet.org.sg
• Malaysia:
– www.bem.org.my
– www.iem.org.my
– www.tam.com.my
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Questions & Answers
Thank You
The CPD to Success:
C:
Courage 勇气 ; 胆量
P:
Patience 忍耐 ; 耐性 ; Perseverance 毅力 ; 恒心
D:
Determination 决心 ; 意志
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