Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers

337 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh,  PA 15222   412.391.0615

SB 655 By Senators MADIGAN, STOUT, O'PAKE, M. WHITE, COSTA, RAFFERTY, RHOADES, 
BOSCOLA, D. WHITE, ORIE and WONDERLING.

An Act amending the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), known as the 
Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, providing for the
definition of "geologist-in-training" and for the use of the terms
"engineer" and "engineering"; further providing for general powers of the
board and for procedure for licensing as professional geologist; and
providing for continuing professional engineering competency and education 
requirements.

Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, May 26, 2005
Reported as amended, Nov. 15, 2005
First consideration, Nov. 15, 2005
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, Nov. 21, 2005
Re-reported as amended, June 5, 2006
Second consideration, June 13, 2006
Amended on third consideration, June 21, 2006
Third consideration and final passage, June 26, 2006 (50-0)
                              In the House
    Referred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, June 27, 2006

The Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers State Board voted unanimously, On September 24, 2005, to adopt the Proposed mandatory CPC model as drafted by Professional Development Task Force. The State Board also voted to  authorize Wanner Associates to pursue amending the Registration Act to include the approved CPC Draft.

The full text of the approved CPC model is available to download here

Michel J. Sadaka, P.E.
PSPE Southwest Region Vice President
PDTF Task force chair

Fellow Pittsburgh Chapter members:                                       

We are pleased to announce that during the PSPE State Board meeting, held on January 29, 2005, the Pittsburgh Chapter was successful in presenting and obtaining the approval of the Board on a resolution to adopt the concept of professional development (continuing education) in Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Chapter resolution was presented by Ed Witt, P.E.,  Pittsburgh Chapter past president and current state director, Michel Sadaka, P.E., Pittsburgh Chapter past president and current alternate state director, and Dave Briskey the current Pittsburgh Chapter President.

The text of the adopted resolution is as follows:

“Be it resolved that PSPE take a leadership role in developing appropriate amendments to the Registration Act for Professional Engineers that :

• Require an appropriate number of professional development hours as a condition for license renewal as an Engineer.
• That an appropriate number of those hours be in instruction related to ethics.
• That the Registration Board be empowered to waive all or part of the requirements in cases of illness, emergency, hardship, or inactive / military.
• That PSPE establishes a task force to recommend the appropriate specific details of a professional development model that PSPE can promote.
• That the task force is encouraged to substantially base the model on the NCEES model (guidelines)”.

The resolution passed by a vote of 14 to 6 by the PSPE State Board.

Congratulations to all of the Pittsburgh Chapter members, especially to those who participated and provided input for this important step forward for Professional Engineers in Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Chapter is proud to have taken the lead in this important process, but our work is only starting.

Subsequent to the passing of the resolution, a new task force was formed to develop the specifics of the Professional Development model that PSPE would promote. The task force will be chaired by Michel Sadaka, P.E. from the Pittsburgh Chapter. A full listing of all the main task force members will be posted on the Pittsburgh Chapter web-site as soon as it is finalized.

As far as we are concerned, all PSPE members are members of this task force. The decisions and recommendations of this task force, if adopted, will affect each and every Professional Engineer Licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, so we hope that we hear your comments, recommendations, and concerns.

You can provide us with your input via e-mail to the Pittsburgh Chapter Address PSPE@PittsburghPE.Org

Sincerely,

Ed. Witt, P.E., Michel Sadaka, P.E., & David Briskey, P.E.