Ethics and Professional Practice

Responsible Charge

Direct control and personal supervision of engineering work, which a licensee must hold before sealing it.

An engineer is in responsible charge of work when they direct it and personally supervise it closely enough to make the engineering decisions and stand behind them. Licensing laws allow a licensee to seal only documents prepared by them or under their responsible charge.

Reviewing finished drawings prepared by someone the engineer did not supervise does not create responsible charge. Sealing such work — "plan stamping" — is a violation in every jurisdiction, whatever fee, deadline or friendship prompted it, and exam questions offer it in many disguises.

How much of the FE Civil exam is Ethics and Professional Practice?