Ask HN: What are your thoughts on licensed Software Engineers?

[mlwarren]

I came across this article from 2012 that talks about some states in the US now offering a licensure examination for Software Engineering. The idea is to bring standards to the software field similar to the ones that exist for other branches of engineering.

The comments section is particularly negative to this idea. It seems like most of the people commenting are established software developers that are reluctant to this change.

Reading the article, I begin to agree that licensure may be a good idea. The term "Software Engineering" has such a wide span that some delineation could be a good thing. As software continues to eat the world what will delineate the differences between a CRUD web application developer and someone qualified to write code for pacemakers, satellites, missiles, etc?

How is this sort of thing handled in countries other than the US?

Is licensure a good or bad idea? I'd like to hear the communities' thoughts.

Link: http://theinstitute.ieee.org/career-and-education/career-guidance/licensing-software-engineers-is-in-the-works

[ctb_mg]

I think our environment is changing too quickly for a licensing/certification program to keep up. Unless you broaden the scope of such a license so that it applies regardless of the technology used.

[FurrBall]

How many Ph.D's have you met who can't write software? If years of study is not a good measuring stick, I don't see how a "software engineer" certification will help.

I see it as red tape. For serious work you have serious interviews. It doesn't involve looking at their certs and degrees.

It comes down money. There will be a fee paid for the exam. Will other organizations be able to offer certification or will IEEE have a monopoly?

[penrod]

I am an established developer, and licensing would not hurt me at all: I work for a big company, I have a CS degree, and years of experience. I object to licensing because it would destroy the most appealing aspects of our industry. Right now, if you've got a great idea you can drop out of college and bootstrap a company that changes people's lives and makes you a billionaire. That is fucking awesome. Licensing would kill that completely.