[BC] radio engineering not a profession

[Peter]

On Apr 30, 2008, at 10:34 AM, RichardBJohnson at comcast.net wrote:

> The RPE is just another protectionism mechanism.


No, not at all.

In California, and in many other states, PEs are recognized as a  
profession, much as MDs are.

Just as you wouldn't go to a non-MD, nor to an MD who was not  
licensed to practice medicine, for your medical issues, you wouldn't  
go to a non-engineer, nor to an EE (or SE, or whatever subspecialty)  
who was not licensed to practice engineering, for your engineering  
issues.

The purpose of licensure is protection of public safety, whether  
medical, dental, law, or, yes, engineering.


It is quite true that "radio engineering" is not a profession. Never  
has been. Electrical engineering is, however, a profession, and is  
recognized as such in all states.

"Radio engineering" is "properly included" within the classification  
"electrical engineer".

But, just because an individual has a PE-Electrical "stamp" does not  
mean they are qualified to design, say, an AM DA.

They are, however, qualified ... in general terms ... to design  
anything of an electrical nature which can affect public safety. DAs  
do not affect public safety.

I personally know of DAs which were designed by non-PEs, but which  
were subsequently checked by, and "stamped" by a PE, and which were  
accepted by the FCC.