As an NEC 3385 am I an engineer?

[lewi0027]

Does my training and service in the Navy as a Machinist's Mate qualify me to call myself a nuclear engineer?


Thanks!

[hamsamich]

No unless trying to impress chicks.

[lewi0027]

No unless trying to impress chicks.

Just out of curiosity why would you say that I am not an engineer? I am just trying to understand what qualifies somebody as an engineer.

[GLW]

Does my training and service in the Navy as a Machinist's Mate qualify me to call myself a nuclear engineer?


Thanks!

No.

Just out of curiosity why would you say that I am not an engineer? I am just trying to understand what qualifies somebody as an engineer.

IF you are still in the USN, THEN,...


there are likely to be real live people really close to your physical location who can answer that question for you and to you in the first person, ask them, they're known as officers:


https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Majors-and-Courses/Majors/Nuclear-Engineering.php


IF NOT (still in the USN), well, you should still be able to nuke it out with that easy reference plus these:


http://ncees.org/engineering/pe/nuclear/


http://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PE-Nuc-Oct-2012.pdf


http://www.ans.org/

[hamsamich]

I am an ex navy nuc MM.  I wish it qualified me engineer.  I guess the term engineer can be applied loosely.  But normally the meaning implies you have a degree in engineering at least.  Like a nuclear engineering degree from penn state, for instance.  If you think you can do all the things an engineer can do, and you can convince an emplyer you are qualified as such, AND they don't require a degree in an engineering discipline, then maybe you could convince an employer to give you a job as an engineer.  Good luck with that.

[GLW]

You can get licensed as an "operating engineer" without the college and the other route:

more akin to this:

http://com.ohio.gov/documents/dico_PSI.pdf

I would not go so far as to say that the 3385 NEC makes a person any more or less capable to gain said license,...

the skillset the USN developed may be a help, then again, other people have self developed a similar skillset,....

[hamsamich]

Yeah the word engineer has many meanings....I just ran with the one I thought the OP was talking about.  You can call yourself an engineer all day and probably find something somewhere to support it.  Most of the engineer postings I've seen require a 4 year engineering degree but not all.

[GLW]

......Most of the engineer postings I've seen require a 4 year engineering degree but not all.

they should, you can call other "talented" folks anything you wish and pay them anything you want,...

but "engineer" should mean something,...

ah well,...c'est la vie, comme ci comme ça,...

[Marlin]

but "engineer" should mean something,...

Custodial Engineer
Train Engineer
Operating Engineer
Radiological Engineer

YMMV 


 

[GLW]

Custodial Engineer
Train Engineer
Operating Engineer
Radiological Engineer

YMMV 


 

yeah, yeah I know, I live in it too,...

operator, specialist, technician, technologist etc. should be enough dontcha think?!?!?1

as I typed earlier:

....you can call other "talented" folks anything you wish and pay them anything you want,...

[SloGlo]

avery thyme aye here the engineer qual discussion eye remember this discussion...

Three engineers were gathered at the bar, discussing the possible designers of the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." The last said, "Actually it was a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?

[Marlin]

yeah, yeah I know, I live in it too,...

operator, specialist, technician, technologist etc. should be enough dontcha think?!?!?1

   Titles are just that titles; responsibility, acumen, and payscale matter more to the capable. Titles are more important to the political. Before I got my degree I worked at the same job as those around me but I could not be called an engineer. I have had titles that did not really match what I did and had more to do with payscale. But then there is merit and validity to an accredited degree in a field such as nuclear engineer and licensed operators which is where we started on this thread.

Just sayin'  but I think we are close to the same page.

[ComradeRed1308]

Despite the fact that the Navy likes to use the term engineering and engineer a lot, I wouldn't say anyone onboard a submarine would qualify as an "engineer", even the Engineer Officer.  The only people who are "Nuclear Engineers" are the guys working at Naval Reactors or shipyards that do design work, testing, or other analysis.  The officers onboard ship/submarine aren't engineers, they're technical managers/operators.  Even the NRRO representatives aren't really engineers.  If you want a professional title as an engineer, you'll most likely need at least a 4 year degree. 

[retired nuke]

You can call yourself anything - hell, even gender is now fluid. However, a true engineer (I am not one, but have known many) is licensed. Much like a lawyer, doctor, cpa, etc - there is more than the name.
https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/what-pe
As an enlisted person, without a degree, you are asking if you can wear a cape and call yourself Batman.
You are NOT Batman. 

[MMM]

You are, at best, an engineering technician. Even that is debatable without an actual degree.

[SloGlo]

.....a true engineer ....  is licensed.

a professional engineer, i.e. a p.e. is licensed, and has sat for the professional engineer board exam in a specific state of these united states. udder engineer school graduates may bee certified inn there discipline beyond that of they're degree, butt that is knot necessarily a license ala a medical doctor, lawyer, cpa.

[ipregen]

If you had gone to the Naval Academy to become an Engineer you would have spent 4+ years getting an engineering degree, then on to Nuclear Power School and Prototype. As an enlisted person you spend a few weeks in "A" School, then onto NPS and NPTU. So try doing the math, do you think it's the same. It would be hard to believe you're a nuke to even ask that question.

And to get a P.E designation requires 5 years experience after getting an Engineering Degree to be able to apply to take the exam.
Operating Engineers is a broad term that may include non-degreed heavy equipment but may also "Power Engineers" who operate boilers.

[hamsamich]

I get all the stuff about true engineers being board/test certified, but there are plenty of jobs for "engineers" that don't require that in our field.  I think that is probably the OPs meaning behind all this...to get a job.

[Chimera]

In the engineering world, only the PEs call themselves "engineers".  Everyone else is an EiT - Engineer in Training.  However, having said that, one may adopt any title one chooses as long as they can substantiate it when applying for the job.

[SloGlo]

In the engineering world, only the PEs call themselves "engineers".  Everyone else is an EiT - Engineer in Training.  However, having said that, one may adopt any title one chooses as long as they can substantiate it when applying for the job.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineer_in_Training

[Chimera]

Agreed.  I should have stated I was referring to individuals working for engineering companies.  Traditionally, they are very picky about who can use the title of "Engineer" after their name.  I have filled the position of engineer but not the title.