I have been a Registered Professional Engineer since the early 1980's. I obtained my P.E. license even though I worked in industry, partly to help prove my competency to my employer as a new engineer, and partly as a matter of personal satisfaction.

Having worked in the electronics industry for my entire 32 year career, I have had no real need for my PE license; But the requirements I face in designing systems that keep aircraft flying safely have taught me daily. My experience in designing Communication and Navigation equipment for commercial aircraft has taught  me more about technology, quality, reliability, costs, ethics, and integrity than any continuing education course could provide. If there was a new technology or new industry requirement, I taught myself or consulted a mentor who could assist me. I am currently in a position where I lead other engineers in performing the same duties to which I formerly subscribed. I am also a resource for other engineers in my company as they daily come to me for guidance.

I fear that this Continuing Education effort is a well-intentioned plan to keep "old guys" like me "up to speed". I suspect it will, in fact, turn into a poorly-monitored, costly, and mostly useless exercise in showing the public that engineers have been made smarter, and therefore somehow safer for the public.

I obtained a Master's Degree while working full-time, and I am now finished with formal education programs. With my current heavy working schedule,  I am totally against giving up any of my little free time to take mandated education, when I could spend that time furthering my abilities in my job or assisting other engineers in theirs.

If I have to spend money and time to take what amounts to little more than a superficial review of a topic, then I will, reluctantly, allow my license to lapse.

Please carefully consider what the intended outcome should be of any CE requirement and what impact there will be to the public and the Engineering community.