Why Raise The Education Bar For Civil Engineers?

In October of 2001, the Board of Direction of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) unanimously voted to revise and move forward with Policy Statement 465, entitled “Academic Prerequisites for Licensure and Professional Practice.” This policy “supports the concept of the Master’s degree or Equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and the practice of civil engineering at a professional level.” The revised policy, a version of which was first accepted by the Board in 1998, is expected to enhance the prestige, image, compensation, and qualifications of the profession, as well as public health, safety, and welfare. To accomplish this, the policy identifies stakeholders and their responsibilities: