The registration deadline for the Foundation in Chemical Engineering was three years ago; I’m unsure whether I should take the exam for the Foundation in Environmental Protection or one specific to chemical engineering this year
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I passed the Registered Chemical Engineer Foundation exam in 2012, and I will be eligible to take the Registered Chemical Engineer professional exam this September. However, since graduating I have been working at an environmental protection company; my current employer requires an environmental protection certification, not a chemical engineering one. I’ve also heard that there is growing demand for environmental protection-related certifications in the market, so I’m struggling with deciding whether to take the registered chemical engineering professional exam or the environmental protection foundation exam this year. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering, and my master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. After starting work, I was involved in flue gas treatment processes; as a result, I have no foundation in courses related to environmental protection. Could everyone help me analyze the strategy? Thanks!
Personal opinion: If your future career goal is to work in the field of environmental protection, then obtain the relevant certification in that area first; after all, such basic certificates never expire. You can take the accounting certification exam after getting that certification. After all, in the short term, your company does not need a certification for chemical processing, and environmental protection is also a hot topic these days. The world today is changing rapidly, and opportunities are hard to come by.
It belongs to other specialties, right? It will be another eight years before one can take the specialized exam. . . Why not get a Certified Chemical Engineer certificate first and give it a try?
Chemical Engineering should be considered a related major; it’s acceptable
Having multiple skills doesn’t put pressure on one; if time permits and it doesn’t affect work or daily life, it’s possible to take all the exams. However, preparing for these exams requires a lot of effort. Personally, I recommend taking exams related to one’s job first, as this is beneficial for improving skills and advancing in one’s career. The certificate obtained through such exams has little practical value in the current market. If the exams are not relevant to one’s job and there is no intention of changing careers in the near future, it’s better not to invest time in preparing for them. If one wants to switch to the chemical industry, especially in the field of design, it’s advisable to obtain a certificate related to that field. Otherwise, taking the professional qualification exams is merely for personal improvement.
If you’re confident, get a certificate first.