Professional Engineer is the term for registered or licensed engineers in some countries, including the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

The term Professional Engineer is a legally protected title in the U.S. and Canada; the practice of professional engineering is protected in both Canada and the United States, and—by state or provincial law—only registered Professional Engineers are permitted to use the title or carry out the work of Professional Engineering.

The earmark that distinguishes a licensed/registered Professional Engineer is the authority to sign and seal or "stamp" engineering documents (drawings and calculations) for a design or a structure, thus taking legal responsibility for it.


Titles

Post-nominal letters used vary by location:
P.E. or PE is used in the U.S.
P.Eng. or P.Eng (UK). used in the UK for Professional Engineers belonging to the Society of Professional Engineers UK (SPE)
P.Eng. is used in Canada, except the province of Quebec.
Eng. (French:ing.) is used in Quebec.
CEng (Chartered Engineer) and IEng (Incorporated Engineer) in the UK & Republic of Ireland.
CPEng in Australia and New Zealand
Dott.Ing. in Italy(5 years) (pre-nominal letters)
Ing.junior in Italy(3 years)
Ing. in Germany (pre-nominal letters)
Inz. in Poland (pre-nominal letters)
C.Eng in India Institution of Engineering under Royal Charter
EurIng (European Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal (similar to Dr. or Prof).
Ing.P.Eur (European Professional Engineer) in Europe, used as a pre-nominal