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Materials Science and Engineering Overview - The Field - Preparation -
Day In The Life - Earnings - Employment - Industries - Development -
Career Path Forecast - Professional Organizations 


Professional Development
Learning is a life-long endeavor. Advances in technology are perpetually changing the tools of materials engineering, so maintaining your technical competence will be a constant pursuit. It will also be important to continue developing communication skills. Actively pursuing professional development opportunities in and out of the work environment can expand your abilities and career options.

Making Yourself Marketable
Maintaining technical competence is important, but the development of other capacities (i.e., communications skills, networking, mentoring) is just as critical. By honing these crafts you will become more marketable.

Registration
Being a registered professional engineer is important in those areas of the field with direct public impact, such as in consulting firms. Take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam when a senior or immediately following graduation; this exam is a prerequisite for sitting for the PE Exam. After four years of professional experience, contact your State Board. Each board generally has a packet of information which outlines the steps to be taken by engineers to become a registered Professional Engineer. This includes the requirements engineers must fulfill to qualify as a candidate to take the Principles and Practices Examination and rules while taking the examination. For more information, visit the National Society of Professional Engineers or the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Value of Networking
The opportunity to meet and discuss materials successes and challenges with one's peers is invaluable toward not only project success, but also personal success. Sharing information and ideas is generally beneficial to both parties and is a hallmark of a successful engineer. Networking is the single most important cited resource for people to obtain new positions.

Continuing Education
While you will perhaps seldom find yourself in a classroom, you must remain current in your chosen specialty. Possible forms of continuing education include: reading technical journals and publications, attending conferences, workshops or training courses, and obtaining membership in a professional society.

Note: Some resources in this section are provided by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 

 

 


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