Editing Electrical engineering (section)

==Professional practice==
[[File:Belgium. Belgian electrical engineers Georges Jean L. Van Antro, left, Georges H. Marchal, center, and Jacques de... - NARA - 541661.tif|thumb|left|Belgian electrical engineers inspecting the rotor of a 40,000 kilowatt [[turbine]] of the [[General Electric Company]] in New York City]]
In most countries, a bachelor's degree in engineering represents the first step towards [[professional certification]] and the degree program itself is certified by a [[professional body]].<ref name="Labor2008">{{cite book|title=Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008–2009|url=https://archive.org/details/occupationaloutl00usde_2|url-access=registration|date=1 March 2008|publisher=U S Department of Labor, Jist Works|isbn=978-1-59357-513-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/occupationaloutl00usde_2/page/148 148]}}</ref> After completing a certified degree program the engineer must satisfy a range of requirements (including work experience requirements) before being certified. Once certified the engineer is designated the title of [[Professional Engineer]] (in the United States, Canada and South Africa), [[Chartered engineer]] or [[Incorporated Engineer]] (in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Ireland and [[Zimbabwe]]), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or [[European Engineer]] (in much of the [[European Union]]).

[[File:3 Park Avenue.JPG|thumb|right|The [[IEEE]] corporate office is on the 17th floor of [[3 Park Avenue]] in New York City.]]
The advantages of licensure vary depending upon location. For example, in the United States and Canada "only a licensed engineer may seal engineering work for public and private clients".<ref>{{cite web | title = Why Should You Get Licensed? | work = National Society of Professional Engineers | url = http://www.nspe.org/lc1-why.asp | access-date =11 July 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050604085233/http://www.nspe.org/lc1-why.asp| archive-date = 4 June 2005}}</ref> This requirement is enforced by state and provincial legislation such as [[Quebec]]'s Engineers Act.<ref>{{cite web | title = Engineers Act | work = Quebec Statutes and Regulations (CanLII) | url = http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=//I_9/I9_A.htm | access-date =24 July 2005 }}</ref> In other countries, no such legislation exists. Practically all certifying bodies maintain a [[ethical code|code of ethic]]s that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.<ref>{{cite web | title = Codes of Ethics and Conduct | work = Online Ethics Center | url = http://onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice/ethcodes.aspx | access-date = 24 July 2005 | archive-date = 2 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160202155943/http://www.onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice/ethcodes.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref> In this way these organizations play an important role in maintaining ethical standards for the profession. Even in jurisdictions where certification has little or no legal bearing on work, engineers are subject to [[contract law]]. In cases where an engineer's work fails he or she may be subject to the [[tort of negligence]] and, in extreme cases, the charge of [[criminal negligence]]. An engineer's work must also comply with numerous other rules and regulations, such as [[building code]]s and legislation pertaining to [[environmental law]].

Professional bodies of note for electrical engineers include the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] (IEEE) and the [[Institution of Engineering and Technology]] (IET).  The IEEE claims to produce 30% of the world's literature in electrical engineering, has over 360,000 members worldwide and holds over 3,000 conferences annually.<ref>{{cite web | title = About the IEEE | work = IEEE | url = https://www.ieee.org/about/index.html | access-date =11 July 2005 }}</ref> The IET publishes 21 journals, has a worldwide membership of over 150,000, and claims to be the largest professional engineering society in Europe.<ref>{{cite web | title = About the IET | work = The IET | url = http://www.theiet.org/about/ | access-date =11 July 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Journal and Magazines | work = The IET | url = http://www.theiet.org/publishing/journals/ | access-date = 11 July 2005 | archive-date = 24 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070824124603/http://www.theiet.org/publishing/journals/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> Obsolescence of technical skills is a serious concern for electrical engineers. Membership and participation in technical societies, regular reviews of periodicals in the field and a habit of continued learning are therefore essential to maintaining proficiency. An MIET(Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology) is recognised in Europe as an Electrical and computer (technology) engineer.<ref>{{cite web | title = Electrical and Electronics Engineers, except Computer | work = Occupational Outlook Handbook | url = http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos031.htm | access-date =16 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050713014728/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos031.htm|archive-date=13 July 2005}} (see [[work of the United States Government|here]] regarding copyright)</ref>

In Australia, Canada, and the United States, electrical engineers make up around 0.25% of the labor force.{{efn|In May 2014 there were around 175,000 people working as electrical engineers in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Electrical Engineers|url = http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172071.htm|website = www.bls.gov|access-date = 30 November 2015}}</ref> In 2012, Australia had around 19,000<ref>{{Cite web|title = Electrical Engineer Career Information for Migrants {{!}} Victoria, Australia|url = http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/working-and-employment/occupations/electrical-engineer|website = www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au|access-date = 30 November 2015|archive-date = 8 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141251/http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/working-and-employment/occupations/electrical-engineer|url-status = dead}}</ref> while in Canada, there were around 37,000 ({{As of|2007|lc=on}}), constituting about 0.2% of the labour force in each of the three countries. Australia and Canada reported that 96% and 88% of their electrical engineers respectively are male.<ref>{{cite web | title=Electrical Engineers | publisher=[[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] | url=http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm | access-date=13 March 2009 | archive-date=19 February 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219092732/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm | url-status=dead }} See also: {{cite web | title=Work Experience of the Population in 2006 | publisher=[[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] | url=http://www.bls.gov/news.release/History/work_12192007.txt | access-date=20 June 2008 }} and {{cite web | title = Electrical and Electronics Engineers | work = Australian Careers | url = http://joboutlook.gov.au/Pages/occupation.aspx?search=alpha&tab=prospects&cluster=&code=2333 | access-date = 13 March 2009 | archive-date = 23 October 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091023023049/http://joboutlook.gov.au/pages/occupation.aspx?search=alpha&tab=prospects&cluster=&code=2333 | url-status = dead }} and {{cite web| title = Electrical and Electronics Engineers| publisher = Canadian jobs service| url = http://www.jobfutures.ca/noc/2133p1.shtml| access-date = 13 March 2009| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090306165318/http://www.jobfutures.ca/noc/2133p1.shtml| archive-date = 6 March 2009}}</ref>}}