EIT Ethics and Professional Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A licensed engineer in State A wishes to practice engineering in State B without obtaining licensure there. Which mechanism allows this in many states?
- Reciprocity or comity agreements between states (Correct answer)
- Federal preemption of state licensing requirements
- A temporary NSPE practice permit
- Grandfather clauses for engineers with over 10 years of experience
Correct answer: Reciprocity or comity agreements between states
Reciprocity (comity) agreements allow a PE licensed in one state to obtain licensure in another state without retaking examinations, based on equivalent standards.
Question 2: According to engineering ethics principles, when an engineer is uncertain whether a design meets safety requirements, they should:
- Proceed with the design and flag it for post-construction inspection
- Apply a conservative approach and resolve the uncertainty before finalizing the design (Correct answer)
- Rely on the contractor to identify and correct safety issues during construction
- Proceed if the probability of failure is below 5%
Correct answer: Apply a conservative approach and resolve the uncertainty before finalizing the design
When safety requirements are uncertain, engineers must resolve the uncertainty through analysis, testing, or consultation before finalizing the design.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of an engineer acting as a 'faithful agent' of their client?
- Recommending a more expensive solution that earns the engineer a higher fee
- Keeping the client's confidential project information private from competitors (Correct answer)
- Approving a design the engineer believes is unsafe because the client insists
- Disclosing client information to regulators to win favor for future contracts
Correct answer: Keeping the client's confidential project information private from competitors
Acting as a faithful agent includes protecting client confidentiality, provided doing so does not conflict with the public safety obligation.
Question 4: The Fundamental Canon that engineers 'shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession' most directly prohibits:
- Charging fees below market rate to win a contract
- Making false or misleading statements about professional qualifications (Correct answer)
- Working for more than one client simultaneously
- Accepting projects outside one's primary geographic region
Correct answer: Making false or misleading statements about professional qualifications
Misrepresenting qualifications directly violates the obligation to uphold the integrity and dignity of the profession.
Question 5: An engineer submits a proposal that intentionally understates the true project cost to win a contract, planning to recover costs through change orders. This practice is known as:
- Value engineering
- Low-ball bidding (Correct answer)
- Cost-plus contracting
- Competitive pricing
Correct answer: Low-ball bidding
Low-ball bidding with intent to recover costs through change orders is an unethical practice that deceives clients and undermines fair competition.
Question 6: An engineer who holds a PE license is offered a position managing a non-engineering department (e.g., marketing). Which statement is most accurate?
- The PE license is automatically suspended when not practicing engineering
- The PE license remains valid but the engineer may not use the PE title in a non-engineering capacity
- The PE license requires annual renewal regardless of professional role (Correct answer)
- The PE license is valid only in the state where the engineer is currently employed
Correct answer: The PE license requires annual renewal regardless of professional role
PE licenses require periodic renewal (typically every two years) regardless of whether the holder is actively practicing engineering.
Question 7: A client requests that an engineer certify a product as compliant with a standard the engineer has not fully reviewed. The engineer should:
- Issue the certification to maintain the client relationship and review the standard afterward
- Decline to certify until a thorough review of the applicable standard is completed (Correct answer)
- Issue a conditional certification subject to later verification
- Certify if a colleague with knowledge of the standard verbally confirms compliance
Correct answer: Decline to certify until a thorough review of the applicable standard is completed
Engineers must not certify compliance with standards they have not personally and thoroughly reviewed; verbal assurances from others are insufficient.
EIT Ethics and Professional Practice 5
A licensed engineer in State A wishes to practice engineering in State B without obtaining licensure there.
Which mechanism allows this in many states?