# What other trades or professions get rings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681 "2005-12-02T04:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/21 "2005-12-02T18:48:32Z")
I’ve only ever met one Engineer in the US who wore a “professional ring”, and it was from a very specific Engineering Honour society. Reputedly it an iron ring made from a bridge somewhere that failed somehow, and the ring is supposed to remind people about failure. Others rely upon mirrors, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/22 "2005-12-02T18:50:58Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > \*\*QtM \*\*Debatable if Hobbits are mortal men but I guess that is for another thread. we **had** a thread on it already. JRRT said in “Letters” that they were mortal men. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/23 "2005-12-02T19:02:21Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > I’ve only ever met one Engineer in the US who wore a “professional ring”, and it was from a very specific Engineering Honour society. Reputedly it an iron ring made from a bridge somewhere that failed somehow, and the ring is supposed to remind people about failure. Others rely upon mirrors, I reckon. This is a long standing rumour about Canadian Engineering rings, but it’s not [true](http://iwarrior.uwaterloo.ca/?module=displaystory&story_id=1224&format=html). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/24 "2005-12-02T21:04:41Z")
Green Lanterns. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/25 "2005-12-02T21:07:56Z")
Members of the Legion of Super-Heroes get flight rings. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/26 "2005-12-02T21:48:22Z")
> [@douglips](#): > > And… what’s a certified engineering technologist? Well my hubby is actually mechanical engineering tech. I can never explain what he does (mostly because I just don’t get it). Here is the description as per the website - Mechanical Engineering Technology is a 28-month co-operative education diploma program with a late August entry date. The purpose of the program is to provide students with training in problem recognition, analysis, and solution as applied to Mechanical Engineering. The objective of the program is to prepare students to work in design, manufacturing, quality assurance, equipment selection, and computer-aided engineering. The emphasis is on mechanical analysis and design, manufacturing methods, building systems design and control, supervision and management, and computer applications. Clears it right up right :)? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/27 "2005-12-02T22:02:11Z")
Professional foresters are entitled to tree rings. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/28 "2005-12-02T22:38:29Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > My hubby is a CET and he wears a ring on his pinky which I believe is made out of aluminum. I know that engineers wear one that is made out of _I think_ iron (?). Are there any other ring-bearing professions out there? The winning pro football team GETS rings. Anybody else, as far as I know has to BUY theirs or receive it as a gift at graduation from some school or passed one milestone or another. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/29 "2005-12-02T22:48:33Z")
Electronics techs wearing bulky metal rings? Talk about an accident just waiting to happen. I wonder if the Canadian CET is equivalent to the [American CET](http://www.iscet.org/). I got this certification way back when I was half way through school, then when I finished I got a journeyman endorsement in consumer electronics. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/30 "2005-12-03T02:37:31Z")
Graduates of the US military academies are sometimes called “ring knockers”, because some of them (generally the pompous ones) bang their class rings on tables and desks to call attention to them. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/31 "2005-12-03T03:12:20Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > Electronics techs wearing bulky metal rings? Talk about an accident just waiting to happen. > > I wonder if the Canadian CET is equivalent to the [American CET](http://www.iscet.org/). I got this certification way back when I was half way through school, then when I finished I got a journeyman endorsement in consumer electronics. I don’t think it’s the same. My hubby had his training in industrial electronics and another trade and this one was still different. I’ll ask him to clarify what the heck he does when he gets home 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/32 "2005-12-03T08:26:07Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > Graduates of the US military academies are sometimes called “ring knockers”, because some of them (generally the pompous ones) bang their class rings on tables and desks to call attention to them. Heh, at Texas A&M, those students who have Aggie Rings (our class rings) will often tap their rings to the opening notes of our War Hymn “Hullaballoo”, and then all the Juniors and Seniors who hear it reply by Whooping. Sounds like this: Taptaptaptap, taptap taptap. “WHOOP!” Can get obnoxious if people keep doing it too many times though, and eventually recieves “SHADDUP!” as a reply instead of Whoops 😃 Back to the OP though, members of the Boy Scouts of America who reach the rank of Eagle Scout can wear a variety of rings (Including high-school style rings with a gem on the top, Academy style rings in silver and maybe gold, and one or two other styles.) I haven’t gotten one, since I’m still hoping to get an Aggie Ring instead, and I’m not exactly the sort go to around sporting my Bling-bling to that degree. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/33 "2005-12-03T17:21:14Z")
Okay, I have asked my hubby and he says one main difference between him and an engineer is that he can’t “sign off” on an entire design drawing. He can, however sign off on parts of it. I still have no idea what he does. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/34 "2005-12-03T18:54:03Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Okay, > > I have asked my hubby and he says one main difference between him and an engineer is that he can’t “sign off” on an entire design drawing. He can, however sign off on parts of it. > > I still have no idea what he does. With no disrespect intended to your husband or his profession, there is a significant difference between a Technologist and an Engineer, and I’m not aware of any State in the United States where a Technologist is licensed to sign off on any Engineering Design for the public. In fact, many Engineers cannot sign off on drawings and designs for the public, as that is a State licensing thing (the “P.E.”), not totally a degree-based thing. Now, I think all States mandate an Engineering (4-year) degree to be a PE, but some States allowed people to sit and be Professional Engineers without an Engineering degree for a very long time. That is much less common nowadays. There is typically 2 or more additional years of University, at a much higher level of coursework, between a Technologist and an Engineer. I know this because when I was in the University doldrums and thought I would never be an Engineer, I entered an MET program for one semester (the details of which are long and sordid and posted elsewhere in about 25,000 words which I won’t repeat.), but ended up with two Engineering degrees and my PE… ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/35 "2005-12-03T23:33:13Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > With no disrespect intended to your husband or his profession, there is a significant difference between a Technologist and an Engineer, and I’m not aware of any State in the United States where a Technologist is licensed to sign off on any Engineering Design for the public. In fact, many Engineers cannot sign off on drawings and designs for the public, as that is a State licensing thing (the “P.E.”), not totally a degree-based thing. Now, I think all States mandate an Engineering (4-year) degree to be a PE, but some States allowed people to sit and be Professional Engineers without an Engineering degree for a very long time. That is much less common nowadays. > > There is typically 2 or more additional years of University, at a much higher level of coursework, between a Technologist and an Engineer. I know this because when I was in the University doldrums and thought I would never be an Engineer, I entered an MET program for one semester (the details of which are long and sordid and posted elsewhere in about 25,000 words which I won’t repeat.), but ended up with two Engineering degrees and my PE… I _thought_ I had been pretty clear from the beginning that I don’t really have a great grasp on the nuances of his job. I know he works in cranes and runs the aftermarket department, but when it comes to his actual course I am afaid that it falls into an area (heavy duty math) that I neither enjoy, nor have a capacity to really understand. Also, in my post I did say **one of the main differences**. I am trying to keep it simple, obviously there are great differences between four year and two year programs. I can say that the two year course focuses on a lot of the practical applications and a lot of the university training is on the theory. This is recognized by both programs. This is not to say one is better than the other - they areboth valuable courses and fill an important need. Many of the students that are graduating from the P.Eng program here are actually also taking the technologists course, to give them _the best of both worlds_. They both result in a professonal designation, with some pretty big differences. I can also say that the pay rates vary greatly (university is freaking expensive and it does take two more years to get the P.Eng) and there is a little animosity between the two groups, but it seems to be generally good natured. As for whether or not he can sign off on parts of drawings - he can. I don’t know how much simpler to make it. He can’t sign off on the entire thing, however. It may be a difference that comes to light because you are not from the same country I am, so perhaps you are not familiar with the course offered here? In short (too late) I don’t think we disagree, just maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough that I was not trying to detail all of the differences between a CET and a P.Eng. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/36 "2005-12-04T00:24:28Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > I _thought_ I had been pretty clear from the beginning that I don’t really have a great grasp on the nuances of his job. I know he works in cranes and runs the aftermarket department, but when it comes to his actual course I am afaid that it falls into an area (heavy duty math) that I neither enjoy, nor have a capacity to really understand. Also, in my post I did say **one of the main differences**. Hey I wasn’t picking on you, I was just trying to explain. > [@](#): > > I can also say that the pay rates vary greatly (university is freaking expensive and it does take two more years to get the P.Eng) and there is a little animosity between the two groups, but it seems to be generally good natured. What does P.Eng mean? If it means “Professional Engineer”, that’s very different than in the US, where being a PE is the result of sitting for two additional day-long exams after being in the industry for 4 or more years under the supervision of a PE. > [@](#): > > As for whether or not he can sign off on parts of drawings - he can. I don’t know how much simpler to make it. He can’t sign off on the entire thing, however. It may be a difference that comes to light because you are not from the same country I am, so perhaps you are not familiar with the course offered here? What country are you in? Let me make this simple then as well: in the US, there are Engineering Technologists (2 year degree), Engineers (4 year degree), and Professional Engineers (4 year degree + sitting for exams). In the US, in most (I believe all) States it is not legal for anyone but a Professional Engineer to “sign off” on engineering designs and other items which are presented to the Public, capital P. This “signing off” is done by use of a Government-issued official seal which includes the name of the Engineer and their serial number, which can be embossed (for paper) or ink (for paper, mylar, and other items where embossing is not an option). Most Engineers however operate under something called the “industrial exemption”, where private designs used within a company can be “signed off” by, well, anyone. As a result, while many Civil and Mechanical Engineers are PEs, not so many EE’s and ChemE’s are, as many of them do not work on designs directly for the public. I’m sure someone will post a cite to prove me wrong, but AFAIK there is no State PE license for computer engineering in the US. Anyhow. This does not mean any Professional Engineer is “better” than a non-PE, but legally and functionally speaking it can allow for more career flexibility and higher pay. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/37 "2005-12-04T00:45:18Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > Hey I wasn’t picking on you, I was just trying to explain. > What does P.Eng mean? If it means “Professional Engineer”, that’s very different than in the US, where being a PE is the result of sitting for two additional day-long exams after being in the industry for 4 or more years under the supervision of a PE. > What country are you in? > > Let me make this simple then as well: in the US, there are Engineering Technologists (2 year degree), Engineers (4 year degree), and Professional Engineers (4 year degree + sitting for exams). In the US, in most (I believe all) States it is not legal for anyone but a Professional Engineer to “sign off” on engineering designs and other items which are presented to the Public, capital P. This “signing off” is done by use of a Government-issued official seal which includes the name of the Engineer and their serial number, which can be embossed (for paper) or ink (for paper, mylar, and other items where embossing is not an option). Most Engineers however operate under something called the “industrial exemption”, where private designs used within a company can be “signed off” by, well, anyone. As a result, while many Civil and Mechanical Engineers are PEs, not so many EE’s and ChemE’s are, as many of them do not work on designs directly for the public. I’m sure someone will post a cite to prove me wrong, but AFAIK there is no State PE license for computer engineering in the US. > > Anyhow. This does not mean any Professional Engineer is “better” than a non-PE, but legally and functionally speaking it can allow for more career flexibility and higher pay. Totally in agreement. I am in Canada by the way, and didn’t take any offense to what you said. I was a little concerned because some P.Engs here are a little touchy. you don’t seem to be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/38 "2005-12-04T00:48:10Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Totally in agreement. I am in Canada by the way, and didn’t take any offense to what you said. I was a little concerned because some P.Engs here are a little touchy. > > you don’t seem to be. 🙂 Oh, and P.Eng does mean professional engineer, and PE is not one I had heard before. That is actually kind of confusing that a Professional Engineer can mean something different here than there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681/39 "2005-12-04T01:54:11Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > Graduates of the US military academies are sometimes called “ring knockers”, because some of them (generally the pompous ones) bang their class rings on tables and desks to call attention to them. I believe that the term “ring knockers” refers only to graduates of West Point, not VMI or others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-trades-or-professions-get-rings/333681.md?page=1)