What is civil engineering, anyway? The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) states, “Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society.” Civil engineering is all around us and impacts almost every part of our lives, responsible for designing infrastructure that is resilient, efficient, and sustainable.
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What do civil engineers do?
Civil engineers are creative people who improve the lives of everyone in a community. They design and maintain systems we rely on every day, including:
- Transportation, such as highways and bridges
- Water systems, including wastewater management, dams, and levees
- Public safety infrastructure designed to reduce flood risk
- Environmental protection systems
- And more
Some of this infrastructure is highly visible. Much of it is not. But all of it affects the health, safety, and long-term growth of our communities.
What is civil engineering Professional Engineer (PE) designation?
While any graduate of an accredited engineering program can work as an engineer, only licensed Professional Engineers (PEs) can prepare, sign, and seal engineering plans for public approval. This distinction protects the public by ensuring that certified engineers meet rigorous technical and ethical standards.
Steps to becoming a licensed professional engineer
The process of becoming a licensed professional civil engineer has several steps.
- Graduate from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
- Gain four years of supervised experience under a licensed PE.
- Pass the Professional Engineering (PE) exam.
- Apply for licensure through the appropriate state board.
The mentorship period, those four years working under a PE, is one of the most critical steps. Aspiring engineers should value this phase because it develops technical skills, professional judgment, leadership, and confidence, helping you build a successful career.
How OEI supports future civil engineers
At OEI, developing the next generation of engineering leaders is a core part of our mission. We provide hands-on mentorship from experienced Professional Engineers across multiple disciplines, including:
- Water resource management
- Dam and levee design, analysis, and safety
- Environmental engineering
- Architectural design
- Engineering project management
- And other interdisciplinary specialties
Our team-based model ensures that emerging engineers gain broad exposure to real-world challenges while contributing to community-shaping projects.
We’ve successfully guided many engineers through the PE licensure process, helping them build technical expertise, confidence, collaboration skills, and professional judgment for long-term career success.
Join the OEI team and support the future of civil engineering
Civil engineering must evolve to meet the rising challenges of aging infrastructure, water scarcity, sustainability, and resilience by balancing innovation, cost-efficiency, environmental stewardship, and safety to provide for future community needs.
By working together to answer the question, “What is civil engineering?” we can show potential engineers an entire world of interesting career possibilities.
Are you interested in joining an innovative and professional team that offers continual improvement and collaboration to achieve the best engineering solutions across a variety of public and private projects? If you are, OEI is the place for you.
Learn more about open opportunities to join the team that makes OEI a leading civil engineering firm.