What degree do you need to be an architectural engineer?

These engineers also are concerned with the structural integrity of buildings, and address such issues as energy conservation and the construction of buildings so they can withstand heavy snow, earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

To become state-licensed, architectural engineers must successfully pass two competency examinations, which are administered by state Professional Engineering (PE) licensing boards, as explained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The first test that architectural engineers must pass is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which licenses them to be engineer interns or engineers-in-training.

In some states, engineering students may take the first part of the FE exam several months before they graduate. The final test is the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam for the PE license. Architectural engineers are eligible to take the PE exam, after completing their required work experience as engineer interns or engineers-in-training.

The goal of all of this training and testing is to demonstrate that you have a up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, technology, codes, and regulations, as well as the ability to diagram designs both manually and with computer-aided drafting. All of which is needed to be successful as an architectural engineer.