Quiz 7: FE Civil Ethics and Professional Practice

Questions in this quiz (10)

1. According to most state licensing regulations, who is authorized to offer engineering services directly to the public?

   • A person who has passed the FE and PE exams but has not obtained a license
   • A licensed Professional Engineer with an active license in that state
   • An individual with a PhD in engineering from an accredited institution
   • A graduate of an ABET-accredited program with two years of experience

2. What is the primary purpose of Continuing Professional Competency $$CPC$$ requirements for renewing a $$PE$$ license?

   • To meet the requirements of liability insurance providers
   • To generate income for licensing boards
   • To limit the number of practicing engineers
   • To ensure engineers continue developing and updating their professional knowledge and skills

3. Under the $$NSPE$$ Code of Ethics, engineers are required to make public statements only:

   • When responding to media inquiries
   • In alignment with their employer’s position
   • With prior legal review
   • In an objective and truthful manner

4. Which contract type assigns the greatest financial risk to the contractor?

   • Time and materials contract
   • Cost-plus-percentage contract
   • Lump sum contract
   • Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract

5. Under professional ethics standards, what should an engineer do if asked to certify work that was not performed under their responsible charge?

   • Certify the work after performing a brief visual review
   • Refuse to certify work that was not completed under their responsible charge
   • Certify the work if it appears to comply with applicable codes
   • Certify the work while including a disclaimer about limited involvement

6. In construction contracts, what is generally meant by the term substantial completion?

   • The project has reached at least half of its total completion
   • The project is fully complete with no remaining deficiencies
   • All payments to the contractor have been finalized
   • The work is complete enough to be used as intended, even if minor items remain

7. According to the $$ASCE$$ Code of Ethics, how should engineers act in professional matters for each client or employer?

   • As independent parties without fiduciary responsibility
   • As advisors without binding obligations
   • As equal partners in decision making
   • As faithful agents or trustees

8. In engineering ethics, what does the concept of $$professional\ judgment$$ require?

   • Engineers must rely on their knowledge, skills, and experience to make sound decisions within accepted standards
   • Engineers may disregard code requirements based on personal views
   • Engineers have complete and unlimited discretion in all situations
   • All decisions must be approved by a supervisor

9. In an engineering contract, what is the purpose of a $$consequential\ damages\ waiver$$?

   • It removes all liability for the engineer
   • It prevents the client from ending the agreement
   • It excludes recovery for indirect losses such as lost profits, limiting damages to direct losses
   • It removes the need for professional liability insurance

10. When serving as an expert witness in a legal case, an engineer should:

    • Support the position of the party who hired them
    • Provide impartial opinions based on professional expertise, regardless of who retained them
    • Refuse any payment to remain unbiased
    • Testify only in support of fellow engineers