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July Fine Grind: A license to operate

By Amy Jacobsen posted 07-19-2017 06:15 PM

  

Every month, we put out a Fine Grind article in Mining Engineering to keep members in touch with the latest happenings, technical updates and other interesting news from the MPD division. This is the Fine Grind that appeared in the July 2017 issue. We invite you to comment, discuss or ask questions!

Amy Jacobsen, Secretary-Treasurer
2017-2018 Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division Executive Committee

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July Fine Grind

A license to operate

by Amy Jacobsen, Secretary-Treasurer, MPD Executive Committee

In banking terms, a license to operate is the granting of permission to undertake a trade or carry out a business activity, subject to regulation or supervision by the licensing authority. As modern-day metallurgists and engineers, we are subject to a number of licenses to operate, including Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, in the United States and Canada, and the Competent Person or Qualified Person recognition needed for resource and reserve consulting and reporting in the global arena.
  More than a century ago, an engineer could practice as an engineer without proof of competency. But in 1907, Wyoming enacted the first engineering licensure law in the United States, and this was followed by similar legislation in the rest of the states. Today, every state regulates the practice of engineering.
  So, what is the purpose of professional licensure? In a nutshell, professional licensure exists in order to have minimum competency to safeguard life, health and property and to promote public welfare. This is the same idea behind the Competent Person or Qualified Person designation. These designations are directly tied to international reporting codes and standards for reporting resources and reserves. The concept is to provide transparency, materiality and competency to protect investors as well as the public as a whole. In both cases, the licenses are dependent on professional codes of ethics and the demonstration of a minimum level of competency and adherence to minimum levels of standards.
  Why become a Professional Engineer or a Competent/Qualified Person? In both cases, the simple answer is regulatory
necessity.

In the United States —
  Generally, only a licensed engineer can prepare, sign and seal, and submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval or seal engineering work for public and private clients. And licensure is a legal requirement for those who are in responsible charge of work, whether they are principals or employees. This is key for consultants. In the United States, certain government positions, especially those in higher level and responsible positions, must be filled by licensed professional engineers.

On a global scale —
  Public documents addressing resources and reserves that are filed or published in a number of global jurisdictions must be prepared and signed-off by a Competent Person or Persons (or Qualified Person depending on the specific definition in a particular jurisdiction) in accordance to a set of internationally recognized standards.
  But the answer is even greater than regulatory necessity.

• Licensed professionals are generally held in higher esteem by their peers and the public.
• Licensure can help in career development and can help an engineer earn higher pay. Those letters after a name can really pay off in the long run.
• Continuing professional development requirements keeps you relevant, current and increases your knowledge and skills.
• Becoming a licensed engineer or a Competent/Qualified Person increases your flexibility and ability to
explore new career opportunities.

  As an MPD member, how can you get a license to operate? The good news is that SME offers opportunities and assistance for both professional registration and registration as a recognized Competent/Qualified Person.
  To become a professional engineer, there are four steps that must be completed.

• Earn a four-year degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program.
• Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
• Complete four years of progressive engineering experience under a PE.
• Pass a Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.

  The Mining and Mineral Processing exam is given in October of every year. The Mining and Mineral Processing exam is administered and scored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, but the exam questions are developed by the SME members who are on SME’s Professional Engineers Exam Committee. Since the exam questions are prepared by our peers, the exam is specialized and germane specifically to the mining and mineral processing industry. The exam contains a substantial portion of environmental engineering as well. In addition to preparing the exam questions, SME offers a PE review course that is taught by professors
from some of the leading mining and mineral schools in the United States and Canada. SME has made a long-term commitment to the continuation and support of the Mining and Mineral Processing PE exam, and this program is financially supported by the SME Foundation, which is another great reason to donate to the SME Foundation.
  There are some changes on the horizon to the PE exam process. The exam will be moving to a computer-based testing format by 2021. Additionally, only one reference book will be allowed during the exam. This book will be the upcoming, second edition of the SME Mining Reference Handbook, originally edited by Raymond L. Lowrie. The Professional Engineers Exam Committee has been preparing modifications to the book for the publication of this second edition. This book will be available not only as the one allowable reference book for the PE exam, but also as the reference book used in the preparation of the exam questions by the Professional Engineers Exam Committee. There will be a searchable, electronic version available for the examinees to use. Andrew Schissler, SME’s PE Exam Coordinator, notes that “The second edition will be keeping with the objective of the first edition — if you had room in your suitcase for only one book, and if you were a mining engineer going to the farthest place on earth, you would take the SME Mining Reference Handbook.”

SME Registered Members
  The SME Registered Member Program meets the requirements for the Competent/Qualified Person designation through the Recognized Overseas Professional Organization (ROPO). The ROPO system facilitates the international reciprocity of Competent Persons across a number of international organizations in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Chile and Russia. An SME Registered Member is a scientist, engineer or technologist who is involved in various ways with the discovery, extraction and utilization of minerals, metals and energy sources. Areas of competency include, but are not limited to, geology, resource modeling, geotechnical evaluation, mine design, infrastructure, metallurgy and processing, environmental, and market and financial analysis. To become an SME Registered Member, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• A university degree from a U.S.-accredited university or recognized overseas university.
• A minimum of seven years of professional experience, of which at least three must have been in a position of responsibility and must be relevant to their area of competency.
• Satisfy and demonstrate one of the following:
• Licensed or certified in a state of the United States that is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Geology.
• Certified by the American Institute of Professional Geologists as a Certified Professional Geologist.
• Licensed or certified as a Professional Engineer in the United States. Licensed or certified in a province of Canada. (Another reason to get your PE).
• Professional Geologist in a province of Canada.
• Three endorsements from three current SME Registered Members.
• Compliance and acceptance of the terms of the SME Code of Ethics.

  Getting an engineering degree is only the first step in a lifetime career in engineering. In many cases, obtaining the appropriate license to operate is as important as that diploma. 

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