I am opposed to the continuing education requirement for Professional Engineers.

I have worked in several different disciplines (Hydroelectric, Dam Safety, and Nuclear) since I was licensed in 1992.  I had to develop my expertise in each of these fields through self study and on-the-job experience.  I attended “continuing education” courses and sessions in each of these disciplines and none of them provided me more than a cursory growth in the knowledge required to be a P.E. in these fields.  My current employer has an on going, targeted "re-qualification" program that provides much more professional education than any generic courses offered by a univeristy or professional society.

Continuing education requirement for Professional Engineers may sound good on paper but will do nothing to ensure the continued or improving competence of the engineers in Virginia.  It will always be the personal integrity of the Professional Engineer that will protect the public.  A bean counting administrative procedure will only result in a reduced number of true PEs and an increase in the number of incompetent idiots who like to take useless courses.  I want professionals, not idiots stamping engineering drawings.