Georgia State Association of Power Engineers Inc.
The Power Engineer
A power engineer
shall be defined as one skilled in the management of energy
conversion. A power engineer operates and maintains equipment
essential to power generation, heating, ventilation, humidity control, and
air conditioning in industrial plants, institutions and other building
complexes. He performs in a responsible manner as a technical expert
in operating, maintaining and repairing engineering plants consisting of
steam boilers, pressure vessels, internal combustion engines, steam
engines, turbines, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment,
generators, motors, pumps, compressors, distillation units and similar
equipment.
He must operate and maintain equipment according to state and local laws and codes, because the health and safety of many people depend upon the proper operation and functioning of the engineering equipment. As a lower grade power engineer he is under the general direction of a chief or engineer holding a higher grade license whose license is equal to or above the requirements needed to operate the plant, and perform those duties prescribed by the higher grade engineer. As he advances his license through experience and study, he becomes qualified to take charge of an entire engineering plant operation. Through on-the-job training and application of study courses, he attains the skills and knowledge required.
A power engineer may advance to many jobs associated with the profession as he becomes adequately educated and trained. Under proper engineering direction, he may perform duties of an engineering technician, draftsman, or estimator, designing, planning, estimating, erecting, inspecting and testing engineering equipment. He may engage in activities connected with research and development, servicing and testing of materials, sales engineering and representation, or instructional activities.
When licensed, the power engineer has clearly established a level of competency. As his skills are advanced by experience and education, he has the opportunity to improve his level of certification through the five license classifications. Advancement in licensing should move the power engineer closer to the management team. The power engineer will also undoubtedly acquire a sense of achievement and pride when he displays his license on the wall of his work area.
The success of this training and certification program is being proven over and over again because the serious plant accidents and emergencies are occuring in the plants that do not have certified operators and are not happening in plants where certification exists.