I've held my PE since 1989.  I've worked for a number of large defence contractors since I got my degree from Virginia Tech in 1984.  While my certification has been useful on occasion, it has in no way been indispensible.  The costs of obtaining and maintaining my certification are not born by my employer but fall exclusively on me.  The added cost in both money and time to maintain this marginally useful, one might say 'vanity' certification, cannot be justified.  I will likely not be renewing if this additional 'education' requirement becomes mandatory before my next renewal on June 30, 2009.  I simply cannot justify the effort and expense if I'm not working exclusively on a project that requires certification (the vast majority of them do not).  Is it your intention to reduce the number of certified individuals ?