Editor: There has been much discussion about the Professional Engineering examination. Not long ago finding a registered mining or metallurgical engineer was a real anomaly. But the growing emphasis during the past few years in professional registration, largely due to increased interaction with governmental agencies, has increased interest in registration and, naturally, increased interest in the exam. As a past member and chairman of the Professional Registration Committee, I have watched the exam evolve. Most of the changes I have seen are changes that I believe have weakened the exam and forced us into doing a poorer job of testing engineering skills. First some background. To become a professional engineer, a person must first pass the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam. This is usually done while in school. Once the EIT is passed, the person must usually work for four years in a position that qualifies as "responsible charge." Each state has its own definition of "responsible charge" and it can mandate how much experience is required. Some states require five years.
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