Is Professional Registration Essential for Public‐Works Managers?

A frequent topic of discussion among publicly employed engineers is the appropriateness of nonengineers managing local‐government public‐works organizations. The retirement of many engineers in coming years will make this situation even more acute when local government agencies will find a shortage of qualified managers with engineering backgrounds. To counter this incursion into what has been a traditional field of civil engineering employment, many engineers have suggested that only registered professional engineers be selected to fill senior management positions. This paper reviews the major work‐related functions of senior public‐works managers and relates these functions to the educational background of most engineers and to the factors tested in gaining a professional registration. An alternative qualification analysis framework is suggested. The paper suggests that most of the job functions performed by the senior public‐works manager are not tested during the professional registration process. It also suggests that if civil engineers are to remain the dominant group in this employment area, they must broaden their educational background to include more social sciences and other liberal arts disciplines.