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This article is from the PE and EIT Exams FAQ, by Ron Graham ecaxron@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov with numerous contributions by others.

11 The way the law reads today [Gross, Black] (LONG) (PE and EIT Exams)

The current law makes distinctions between registered and nonregistered
engineers as follows:

O Registered engineers
1) May use the titles "registered engineer", "professional
engineer", "consulting engineer" or combinations of those
titles.
2) May use one of the titles in Section 6732 as appropriate
for the branch in which they are registered.
3) May practice civil engineering if registered as a civil
engineer and similarly for mechanical or electrical
engineering.

O Unregistered engineers
1) May NOT use the titles "registered engineer", "professional
engineer", "consulting engineer" or combinations of those
titles.
2) May NOT use one of the titles in Section 6732.
3) MAY practice engineering in any branch other than civil,
mechanical or electrical engineering (so long as they do
not use one of the titles in Section 6732)

Note that exemptions to registration may be found in:

        Section 6737     Architectural exemption
        Section 6737.1   Structure exemption
        Section 6737.4   Contractor exemption - electrical, mechanical design 
        Section 6739     exemption of federal officers and employees
        Section 6740     exemption of subordinates
        Section 6741     exemption of nonresidents
        Section 6742     exemption for real estate broker or salesman
        Section 6744     exemption for land owner
        Section 6745     exemption for building alterations
        Section 6746     exemption for communications industry
        Section 6747     exemption for industries

6701. "Professional engineer," within the meaning and intent of
this act, refers to a person engaged in the professional practice of
rendering service or creative work requiring education, training and
experience in engineering sciences and the application of special
knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences in
such professional or creative work as consultation, investigation,
evaluation, planning or design of public or private utilities,
structures, machines, processes, circuits, buildings, equipment or
projects, and supervision of construction for the purpose of securing
compliance with specifications and design for any such work.

6702.1. "Electrical engineer" as used in this chapter means a
professional engineer in the branch of electrical engineering and
refers to one who practices or offers to practice electrical
engineering in any of its phases.

404 (l) "Electrical engineering" is that branch of professional
engineering described in Section 6734.1 of the code, which embraces
studies or activities relating to the generation, transmission, and
utilization of electrical energy, including the design of electrical,
electronic and magnetic circuits and the technical control of their
operation and of the design of electrical gear. It is concerned with
research, organizational, and the economic aspects of the above.

6703. The phrase "responsible charge of work" means the independent
control and direction, by the use of initiative, skill, and
independent judgment, of the investigation or design of professional
engineering work or the direct engineering control of such projects.
The phrase does not refer to the concept of financial liability.

(The definition of "responsible charge" is greatly expanded upon
in Section 404.1)

6704. In order to safeguard life, health, property, and public
welfare, no person shall practice civil, electrical, or mechanical
engineering unless appropriately registered or specifically exempted
from registration under this chapter, and only persons registered
under this chapter shall be entitled to take and use the titles
"consulting engineer," "professional engineer," or "registered
engineer," or any combination of those titles, and according to
registration with the board the engineering branch titles specified
in Section 6732, or the authority titles specified in Section 6763,
or "engineer-in-training."
The provisions of this act pertaining to registration of
professional engineers other than civil engineers, do not apply to
employees in the communication industry; nor to the employees of
contractors while engaged in work on communication equipment;
however, those employees may not use any of the titles listed in
Section 6732 unless registered.
The provisions of this section shall not prevent the use of the
title "consulting engineer" by a person who has qualified for and
maintained exemption for using that title under the provisions of
Section 6732.1, or by a person licensed as a photogrammetric
surveyor.

6732. It is unlawful for anyone other than a professional engineer
registered under this chapter, to stamp or seal any plans,
specifications, plats, reports, or other documents with the seal or
stamp of a professional engineer, or to in any manner use the title
"professional engineer," "registered engineer," or "consulting
engineer," or any of the following branch titles: "agricultural
engineer," "chemical engineer," "civil engineer," "control system
engineer," "corrosion engineer," "electrical engineer," "fire
protection engineer," "industrial engineer," "manufacturing engineer,"
"mechanical engineer," "metallurgical engineer," "nuclear engineer,"
"petroleum engineer," "quality engineer," "safety engineer,"
"traffic engineer," or any combination of such words and phrases or
abbreviations thereof unless registered hereunder.

6732.1. Any person who has been granted permission to use the title
"consulting engineer" pursuant to legislation enacted at the 1963,
1965, or 1968 Regular Session is exempt from the provisions of
Section 6732 as it restricts the use of the title "consulting
engineer", and such exemption shall apply so long as the applicant
remains in practice and advises the board of any change of address
within 30 days of such change. The board may adopt such rules under
provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to
implement this section.
The provisions of Articles 5 (commencing with Section 6775), 6
(commencing with Section 6785), and 7 (commencing with Section 6795)
of this chapter shall apply to all persons who are granted permission
to use the title "consulting engineer" pursuant to legislation
enacted in 1963 and 1965 and the amendments to this section enacted
at the 1968 Regular Session.

6734.1. Any person practices electrical engineering when he
professes to be an electrical engineer or is in responsible charge of
electrical engineering work.

6763. Application for authority to use the title "structural
engineer," "soil engineer," "soils engineer," or "geotechnical
engineer" shall be made to the board on forms prescribed by it and
shall be accompanied by the application fee fixed by this chapter.
An applicant for authority to use the title "structural engineer,"
"soil engineer," "soils engineer," or "geotechnical engineer" who
has passed the examination prescribed by the board, or an applicant
for authority to use the title "soil engineer," "soils engineer," or
"geotechnical engineer" whose application is submitted prior to July
1, 1986, and who has otherwise demonstrated that he or she is
qualified, shall have a certificate of authority issued to him or
her.
For purposes of this chapter, an authority to use the title
"structural engineer," "soil engineer," "soils engineer," or
"geotechnical engineer" is an identification of competence and
specialization in a subspecialty of civil engineering and
necessitates education or experience in addition to that required for
registration as a civil engineer.

 

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