The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) recently launched a new coalition to protect professional licensing, the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL). ARPL was formed to address the threats surrounding the PE license across the country.
ARPL focuses on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards. Member groups will inform lawmakers of the need to maintain standards for highly complex, technical professions like engineering that impact public health, safety, and welfare.
"When civil engineers design and build critical infrastructure projects like roads, airports, bridges, and dams, the public must have confidence in their safety and structural integrity," said ASCE president Robin A. Kemper, PE. "The best way to ensure the public's confidence is to continue to require civil engineers to demonstrate rigorous education, examination, and experience as part of their licensing. Recent state-by-state attempts to weaken professional licensing requirements pose a real danger to the public's health, safety, and welfare."
To find out more about ARPL and its initiatives, visit responsiblelicensing.org.