NCEES Model Rules of Professional Conduct
The FE exam tests knowledge of professional and ethical standards for engineers. Key principles include:
- Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public
- Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence
- Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
- Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees
- Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts
Professional Licensure
The path to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE):
- Step 1: Graduate from an ABET-accredited engineering program
- Step 2: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to become an Engineer Intern (EI)
- Step 3: Gain qualifying engineering experience (typically 4 years under a licensed PE)
- Step 4: Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam
- Licensure is governed by individual state boards
- Comity (reciprocity): allows PEs to obtain licensure in other states
Public Safety Obligations
- Engineers must consider the impact of their work on public safety above all else
- If an engineer's judgment is overruled and public safety is at risk, they must notify the appropriate authority
- Engineers should report violations of the code of ethics
- Whistleblower protections exist for engineers who report safety concerns
- Engineers must stay current with technical developments in their field
Conflicts of Interest
- Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest
- Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for the same services without disclosure
- Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial considerations from contractors or suppliers on projects they oversee
- Gift policies: engineers should avoid gifts that could influence their judgment
Ethical Decision-Making Framework
- Identify the ethical issue and the stakeholders involved
- Gather relevant facts and technical information
- Identify applicable codes, laws, and guidelines
- Consider alternative courses of action
- Evaluate consequences of each alternative
- Make a decision and take action
- Document the decision and reasoning
Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
- Trade secrets: proprietary information that gives a competitive advantage
- Patents: protect inventions for a limited time (20 years from filing)
- Copyright: protects original works of authorship (design documents, software)
- Engineers shall not disclose confidential information without consent
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) formalize confidentiality obligations