[sidlls]

No, this industry is far from being like the other engineering disciplines. It should be like them, but it is still far too immature to be put at that level.

[intrasight]

For starters, we are not licensed. And I suspect that a non-citizen couldn't get an engineering license.

[sidlls]

Licensing would require settling on actually understanding that software development is an engineering activity and not an extended CS 401/501 project. The industry isn't even mature enough to consider licensing either.

[cyphar]

In Australia, non-citizens can get engineering licenses. The process is basically the same as a citizen (just more complicated because of visa requirements, as you would expect).

[lazyasciiart]

What? Of course non-citizens can get an engineering license. It can be trickier if your education is from outside the US, but citizenship is not an issue.

[intrasight]

I stand corrected

[paulddraper]

Neither are other engineers (in the US).

There are certifications (e.g. PE) but you can get a job with or without them.

[intrasight]

Not so. If you are not a licensed Professional Engineer, there are jobs you can't get. And that's what I mean by "licensed".

[TheCoelacanth]

There are jobs you can't get, but there are also plenty of other engineering jobs that you can get.

[paulddraper]

Exactly. As opposed so say, an nurse, lawyer, or electrician.

If you don't have the right piece of paper, you can't be one of those.