Keeping up with the latest advances in one’s field simply makes excellent common sense, especially in fields packing a potentially huge impact on public health, safety and peace of mind.
State Rep. Derek Stanford maintains that licensed engineers should continue learning just like other professionals who are licensed by the state, such as architects and land surveyors.
“Continuing professional development is a basic and very important requirement for many professions,” Stanford emphasized.
The Bothell legislator is prime-sponsoring House Bill 1231, a measure that would bring licensed engineers in Washington up to the same level as 40 other states by requiring 15 hours per year of continuing professional development.
Currently, a professional engineer’s license in Washington can be renewed forever simply by paying the renewal fee.
For a timely example of why the continuing-education requirements in the bill are so very needed, one need look no further than the recently reported leaking-pontoon problems with the under-construction new Interstate 520 bridge.
“This is a straightforward proposal to bring engineers under the same requirements as land surveyors and architects,” Stanford explained. “Engineers and land surveyors have the same regulator, and the state Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors has informed me they won’t have any problem implementing this upgrade within existing means.”
“It’s important for the public’s safety and welfare that all design professionals employ best practices and follow uniform standards when it comes to constructing and maintaining public works, such as floating bridges,” said Larry Costich, PE, Legislative Committee Chair with the Seattle section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Costich added that Stanford’s legislation “is also very important because we need to ensure that engineers remain current in evolving disciplines of structure and facility design, including seismic requirements.”
Stanford added that “the safety and reliability of most of our infrastructure – including not just buildings but also bridges, sewers, and power lines – depends on these licensed engineers staying up-to-date with their profession.”
The bill is scheduled for a hearing later today, Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the House Business & Financial Services Committee. The 1:30 p.m. committee meeting will be held in House Hearing Room B of the John L. O’Brien Building here on the Capitol Campus in the state capital. The measure will likely come up for a vote in the committee next week.