Who is classified as a design professional that does not require a PE designation?

The reason a consultant is classified as a design professional who does not require a Professional Engineer (PE) designation is due to the broad scope of roles and expertise within consulting that do not necessarily involve the direct engineering or technical design signed off by a licensed engineer. Consultants can offer advisory services, project management, and strategic planning in various domains, such as telecommunications, without being licensed engineers themselves.

In contrast, a licensed engineer typically requires a PE designation as it signifies that the individual has met specific education, experience, and examination requirements to practice engineering and sign off on engineering documents. A construction manager and a general contractor, while crucial in managing and delivering projects, focus primarily on the execution of construction rather than on the design aspects that would mandate licensure. Therefore, they do not fit the category of a design professional in the same way that a consultant does.