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Forensic Engineers


Requirements

Education and Training Requirements

High School

High school students interested in forensic engineering should take a great deal of mathematics, including geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and two years of algebra. They should develop a strong background in physics, chemistry, biology, and computer programming or applications. Because forensic engineers must communicate constantly with other engineers, scientists, clients, and consumers, four years of language arts are essential.

Postsecondary Education

Only a few colleges and universities offer courses in forensic engineering. Forensic engineers typically earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in engineering or an allied science and develop their own credentials via on-the-job experience and by taking continuing education classes, seminars, and workshops that are applicable to their specialty in the field, such as vehicle accident investigation. Most forensic engineers have a master’s degree or doctorate in their chosen discipline, such as mechanical, environmental, or aerospace engineering. ABET offers a list of accredited postsecondary engineering programs at its Web site, http://www.abet.org.

Typical forensic engineering classes include Introduction to Forensic Engineering, Product Liability, Advanced Forensic Engineering Techniques, Computer Applications in Forensic Engineering, Engineering Ethics, Human Factors in Engineering, and Human Error and Human Reliability Assessment.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer certificates in forensic engineering. For example, Texas Tech University offers a graduate certificate in forensic engineering. Classes include Advanced Concepts in Failure Analysis & Forensic Engineering, Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering: Legal Aspects of Forensic Science & Engineering, and a capstone project. 

Other Education or Training

Many associations offer continuing education opportunities. The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute provides online classes such as Forensic Engineering Evaluation of Premises Maintenance and Causes of Failure: What a Forensic Engineer Looks For. The National Academy of Forensic Engineers, Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists, and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences offer continuing education opportunities at their professional conferences and meetings. The American Society for Engineering Education offers continuing education opportunities for engineers via its annual conference and other events. The National Society of Professional Engineers provides webinars and other resources for student members. The Society of Women Engineers offers conference sessions, webinars, and other education resources on topics such as leadership, career development, and special issues for women in engineering. Other organizations that provide professional development opportunities include the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, ASME International, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Institute of Transportation Engineers, National Association of Environmental Professionals, and SAE International. Contact these organizations for more information. 

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Many engineers become certified. Certification is a status granted by a technical or professional organization for the purpose of recognizing and documenting an individual’s abilities in a specific engineering field. Information on certification is available from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists and the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute.

Licensure as a professional engineer is recommended since an increasing number of employers require it. Even those employers who do not require licensing will view it favorably when considering new hires or when reviewing workers for promotion. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. In general, however, they involve having graduated from an accredited school, having four years of work experience, and having passed the six hour Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the eight-hour Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Depending on your state, you can take the Fundamentals exam shortly before your graduation from college or after you have received your bachelor’s degree. At that point you will be an engineer-in-training (EIT). Once you have fulfilled all the licensure requirements, you receive the designation professional engineer (PE). Visit the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying’s Web site, http://www.ncees.org, for more information on licensure.

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Those who wish to enter the field of forensic engineering must have several years of experience in civil, mechanical, or other engineering disciplines.  

In addition to the math and science background necessary for any career in engineering, forensic engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, detail oriented, and possess good "detective" skills. Especially in accident cases, they need to be aware that factors other than mechanical failure may be involved. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union in 1986, for example, is often cited as an example of the dangers of nuclear power, when in fact the accident was caused by human error. Forensic engineers should also enjoy solving problems and developing logical plans. They often work on projects in multidisciplinary teams, so prospective engineers should be able to work well both alone and with others. Finally, forensic engineers must be able to describe their work and their findings in a clear manner in courts of law and be prepared to withstand attacks on their methods and credentials by attorneys on the other side of the aisle.