[amackera]

I have a degree in Computer Engineering, but I've never got a PE license either. The important thing is that I don't ever call myself an Engineer. I am a programmer, or developer, or whatever; calling myself an Engineer would be dishonest.

I don't think it's backwards thinking so much as an important distinction between how Canada uses the word "Engineer" and how much of the rest of the (English speaking) world does.

[mbell]

I don't see how calling yourself an 'Engineer' is dishonest, adding 'Professional Engineer' or 'PE' to your title would be dishonest as those terms have regulatory meaning.

'Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of people.'

Regardless of the formal designation of 'PE' or other designation many people do fit the term 'Engineer'.

The real issue is that some limited jurisdictions have decided that 'Engineer' must equal 'PE'. That doesn't make the use of the term 'Engineer' improper outside those jurisdictions nor does it make the choice to equate the two concepts universally correct.

[amackera]

Though I understand and largely agree with your argument, the reason why I don't call myself an Engineer is that I know that people may not understand the distinction.

I legally cannot call myself a "Professional Engineer". In order to prevent unintentionally misleading people, I stay as far from the word "Engineer" as possible.

I suppose it's not really dishonest. I depends more on the individual's intentions.