2027 Can You Get Licensed With an Online Aerospace Engineering Degree? Requirements, Rules, and What to Know
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If you are considering an online aerospace engineering degree, the key licensure question is not whether the classes are online. It is whether the program, exams, supervised experience, and state board rules line up with the Professional Engineer pathway. That distinction matters because only 12% of aerospace engineers in the U. S. hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license, yet the credential can be important for roles involving public safety, consulting, project approval, regulatory work, or responsible charge.
This guide explains when an online aerospace engineering degree can support licensure, what state boards typically look for, how online and campus programs compare, and what steps graduates should expect after earning the degree. It also covers exams, supervised work experience, reciprocity, salary considerations, and career options with or without a license.
Key Benefits of Getting Licensed with an Online Aerospace Engineering Degree
- Licensure with an online aerospace engineering degree validates professional credibility, meeting industry standards essential for roles in design, testing, and safety compliance.
- Licensed engineers gain access to broader employment markets, including government and aerospace firms valuing certified expertise, enhancing job mobility across states.
- Holding a license correlates with higher salary brackets and leadership positions, with licensed aerospace engineers earning up to 20% more than non-licensed counterparts.
Can You Get Licensed With an Online Aerospace Engineering Degree?
Yes, an online aerospace engineering degree can support professional engineering licensure if it satisfies the same education standards expected of campus-based engineering degrees. The most important factor is accreditation. For most U.S. licensure pathways, candidates should confirm that the program is accredited by ABET or accepted by the state licensing board as equivalent.
An online degree by itself does not grant a license. Licensure is a separate process that typically includes an accredited engineering education, the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, supervised engineering experience, and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. For many candidates, the experience requirement is typically four years under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer, though state rules can differ.
Online aerospace engineering programs can prepare students for this pathway when they include rigorous coursework in mathematics, physics, engineering science, aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, systems design, and aerospace-specific analysis. Strong programs also provide lab substitutes, simulations, capstone projects, research opportunities, or internship coordination so students can demonstrate applied engineering competence.
Licensure can matter most in roles where an engineer must approve designs, certify work, supervise engineering decisions, consult independently, or assume legal responsibility for safety-related engineering judgments. It can also strengthen professional credibility, especially for graduates who want to move into leadership, government contracting, compliance, or consulting.
The larger takeaway is that licensing boards evaluate whether a degree meets professional standards, not whether every course was taken in a physical classroom. Students comparing licensed career paths in other fields may see a similar emphasis on accreditation in programs such as a masters in social work online, though engineering licensure has its own exams, experience rules, and state board requirements.
Do Licensing Requirements for Aerospace Engineering Vary by State?
Yes. Professional engineering licensure is regulated by state licensing boards, so aerospace engineering candidates must follow the rules of the state where they want to become licensed. The broad pathway is similar across jurisdictions, but the details can affect when you qualify, what documentation you need, and whether your online degree is accepted without additional review.
Nearly 30% of states have unique criteria regarding the type and length of supervised work experience required before qualifying for the Professional Engineer (PE) exam. That variation is especially important for online students who may enroll in a program based in one state, live in another, and plan to work in a third.
- Education review: State boards may evaluate whether the degree is ABET-accredited or otherwise comparable to an approved engineering curriculum. Students should check this before enrolling, not after graduation.
- Examination rules: Most candidates take the FE exam first and the PE exam later. Some states may add state-specific requirements, ethics components, or documentation steps before approving exam eligibility.
- Supervised experience: Required experience can vary from 2 to 5 years depending on the jurisdiction, degree type, and board rules. Boards may also define what counts as acceptable engineering experience.
- Supervisor requirements: Some states expect experience to be verified by a licensed PE. Others may allow certain types of engineering supervision if properly documented.
- Continuing education: After licensure, states differ in professional development requirements, reporting cycles, and acceptable continuing education activities.
- Renewal policies: Renewal periods, fees, forms, and proof-of-compliance expectations are not identical across states.
Before choosing an online aerospace engineering program, students should identify the state board that will matter most for their first license and ask three questions: Is this program accepted for licensure? What experience will I need after graduation? Are there any additional state-specific steps for online or out-of-state degrees?
This same due diligence applies across licensed professions. For example, students comparing online psychology programs also need to verify whether a program’s accreditation and curriculum align with the licensing rules in the state where they intend to practice.
Are Online Aerospace Engineering Programs Different From Campus Programs for Licensure?
For licensure purposes, the delivery format is usually less important than accreditation, curriculum quality, documented outcomes, and board acceptance. An online aerospace engineering degree can be treated similarly to a campus degree when it meets the same professional standards. A 2022 survey found that 65% of engineering employers now view accredited online degrees as equally valid for professional licensing and hiring.
The practical differences are not meaningless, however. Aerospace engineering is highly technical, and students need credible ways to build lab, design, modeling, analysis, teamwork, and documentation skills. Online students should look closely at how a program handles those requirements.
- Curriculum: Both online and campus programs should cover core subjects such as aerodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics, structures, controls, materials, thermodynamics, and engineering design.
- Labs and design work: Campus programs may provide direct access to wind tunnels, materials labs, fabrication spaces, and in-person design teams. Online programs may use virtual labs, remote instrumentation, simulations, required residencies, local internships, or project-based alternatives.
- Faculty access: Online students should confirm how often instructors are available, whether office hours are live, and how quickly technical questions are answered.
- Team projects: Engineering licensure and employment both require communication and collaboration. Strong online programs use structured design teams, peer review, technical reports, and presentations.
- Exam preparation: The FE exam is standardized, so online graduates need the same command of engineering fundamentals as campus graduates.
- Employer interpretation: Many employers focus on accreditation, projects, skills, internships, and work samples. A weak online program may raise concerns, but a rigorous accredited program with strong applied work can be competitive.
One licensed professional who completed an aerospace engineering degree online described elective selection as “both exciting and challenging” because the courses had to support specific career goals without the convenience of in-person labs. The graduate noted that some technical electives required extra planning, more independent study, and frequent communication with professors. That experience reflects a common trade-off: online study can be flexible and legitimate, but it rewards students who are organized, proactive, and willing to seek hands-on experience deliberately.
Aerospace engineering does not usually use “clinical hours” in the same way healthcare, counseling, or education programs do. For engineering licensure, the more relevant requirements are labs, design projects, internships, cooperative education, and post-degree supervised engineering experience. Some schools may call certain applied components a practicum, internship, field experience, or capstone.
The important question is whether the online program gives students enough applied engineering experience to be prepared for employment and, later, PE licensure. Coursework alone may not be enough to develop the judgment expected of an engineer working on aircraft, spacecraft, propulsion systems, structures, or safety-sensitive systems.
- Program-based applied work: Online programs may include simulations, design studios, remote labs, capstone projects, or short in-person requirements. If a program uses an internship or practicum model, the requirement may range from several hundred to over a thousand hours depending on school design, accreditation expectations, and applicable rules.
- Possible placement sites: Students may gain experience through aerospace companies, engineering firms, manufacturers, research institutions, government agencies, defense contractors, or laboratories.
- Supervision: Applied experiences are most valuable when supervised by qualified engineers who can review technical work, provide feedback, and confirm professional growth.
- Skills developed: Students should expect to build competence in modeling, testing, documentation, design review, problem-solving, standards compliance, and engineering communication.
- Online student responsibility: Remote learners often need to be more proactive in finding local internships, research projects, or employer-sponsored engineering work. A strong school should provide guidance, but students should not assume placements are automatic.
Prospective students should ask each online aerospace engineering program how it handles labs, capstones, internships, and employer connections. They should also ask whether any in-person requirements are mandatory and whether those requirements can be completed near the student’s location.
Students balancing work, study, and applied experience may find it useful to compare how other professional online programs structure flexible learning, such as an executive online mba, while remembering that aerospace engineering licensure has different technical and regulatory expectations.
The first major licensing exam for most engineering graduates is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Passing the FE exam is commonly the first step toward becoming an Engineer in Training or Engineering Intern, depending on the terminology used by the state board. About 70% of first-time test-takers pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which makes preparation important even for strong students.
After completing the required supervised experience, candidates generally pursue the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in the discipline or specialty accepted by their licensing board. Aerospace engineering graduates should check which PE exam their state board recognizes for their intended work, as some candidates may use an aerospace or mechanical engineering focus depending on available exams and career duties.
- FE exam purpose: The FE exam tests core engineering knowledge and is designed for recent graduates or students nearing completion of an engineering degree.
- Content areas: Candidates should expect mathematics, engineering sciences, ethics, and discipline-relevant engineering topics. Aerospace graduates should also be ready to apply fundamentals across mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, materials, and systems.
- Format: The FE exam is computer-based and uses multiple-choice questions at approved testing centers.
- Preparation strategy: Effective candidates usually review official specifications, complete timed practice problems, identify weak subject areas, and study consistently rather than relying on last-minute review.
- Retake policies: States and jurisdictions typically allow multiple exam attempts, but candidates should verify waiting periods, registration rules, and any limits set by the testing organization or state board.
- Online graduate eligibility: Graduates of properly accredited online aerospace engineering programs can be eligible for the same exam pathway as campus graduates, subject to state board approval.
A licensed professional who earned her aerospace engineering degree online described the FE exam as “an intense yet fair hurdle.” She emphasized that the broad scope was the hardest part, especially while working full time. Her approach was to study under timed conditions, focus first on weaker topics, and use digital resources aligned with the exam format. For online graduates, that lesson is practical: the degree format does not lower the exam standard, so disciplined preparation matters.
Yes. Candidates pursuing professional engineering licensure normally need supervised engineering experience after earning the qualifying degree. This requirement applies to online and campus graduates alike. The goal is to confirm that candidates can apply engineering theory responsibly in real projects before being licensed to practice independently.
Studies show that over 90% of aspiring aerospace engineers complete this required mentorship before sitting for their professional engineering exams. The experience period is typically about four years of full-time engineering work, though state boards may adjust the requirement based on education, prior experience, or jurisdiction-specific rules.
- Duration: Candidates typically complete about four years of full-time supervised work before applying for PE licensure.
- Supervision: Boards often prefer or require experience supervised by a licensed professional engineer (PE), especially when the work will be used to support a licensure application.
- Work settings: Acceptable experience may come from aerospace firms, aviation companies, spacecraft organizations, government agencies, research laboratories, manufacturers, or engineering consultancies.
- Quality of experience: Licensing boards may look for progressive responsibility, technical decision-making, design analysis, safety awareness, documentation, and exposure to professional engineering standards.
- Documentation: Candidates should keep detailed records of projects, supervisors, dates, duties, and engineering responsibilities. Waiting until the end of the experience period can make verification harder.
- Career planning: Online students should begin networking with potential PE supervisors before graduation if licensure is a goal.
The safest strategy is to review the state board’s experience rules early and choose jobs that will count toward licensure. A role with an impressive title may not qualify if the work is not engineering in nature or cannot be verified by an acceptable supervisor.
Licensure reciprocity may apply to online aerospace engineering graduates, but it is not automatic. Engineers who are licensed in one state often apply for licensure in another state through comity or endorsement. The receiving state reviews the applicant’s education, exams, experience, and current license status before granting its own license.
The online format of the degree is usually less important than whether the original education met recognized standards and whether the engineer satisfied the same licensing milestones as other applicants.
- Core eligibility: Applicants typically need an acceptable engineering degree, FE exam results, PE exam results, and documented supervised experience. Holding an online aerospace engineering degree alone is not enough for license transfer.
- Accreditation: A degree from an ABET-accredited or otherwise recognized program can make the review smoother. Nontraditional or non-accredited programs may require more documentation.
- State-by-state review: Each state has authority over its own licenses. Some boards may request transcripts, exam records, employment verification, references, ethics documentation, or proof of good standing.
- Comity or endorsement process: A licensed engineer applies to the new state, submits required credentials, pays applicable fees, and waits for board approval before practicing under that state’s license.
- Potential limits: Reciprocity does not always erase gaps in education or experience. If the receiving state has stricter requirements, additional steps may be necessary.
Graduates who expect to work across state lines should plan for portability from the start. That means choosing an accredited program, preserving exam records, documenting supervised experience carefully, and keeping licenses in good standing. Similar accreditation and transfer considerations also appear in other advanced online programs, including cheapest online edd programs, though engineering boards apply their own professional standards.
Online aerospace engineering programs can be a practical route to licensure for students who need flexibility, but they are not the right fit for everyone. STEM-related online degree enrollment has risen by over 20% recently, and more students are weighing remote study against the hands-on expectations of engineering education.
Pros
- Flexible scheduling: Online study can help working adults, military students, parents, and career changers complete engineering coursework without relocating.
- Broader school access: Students may be able to enroll in an accredited program outside their immediate region, which can be useful if local aerospace engineering options are limited.
- Lower indirect costs: Online programs may reduce commuting, relocation, housing, and time-away-from-work costs, even when tuition itself is not dramatically lower.
- Career continuity: Students already working in engineering-adjacent roles may be able to keep building experience while completing the degree.
- Digital engineering practice: Remote programs often emphasize simulation tools, collaboration platforms, and technical communication, all of which are common in modern aerospace workplaces.
Cons
- Hands-on access may be limited: Aerospace engineering benefits from labs, testing environments, fabrication, and design-build projects. Students must verify how the online program delivers these experiences.
- More self-direction is required: Online learners must manage deadlines, seek help early, and create structure without the routines of a physical campus.
- Mentorship can be harder to build: Students may need to be intentional about faculty relationships, career advising, research involvement, and PE-supervised experience.
- Licensure verification can be more complex: If a program is out of state or nontraditional, students may need to provide additional documentation to licensing boards.
- Employer perceptions vary: Some employers are comfortable with accredited online engineering degrees, while others may focus heavily on internships, projects, and proof of technical competence.
The best online aerospace engineering program for licensure is not simply the most convenient one. It should be accredited, technically rigorous, transparent about labs and capstones, supportive of internship planning, and aligned with the licensing rules in the state where the student intends to practice.
Licensure can affect salary, but it should not be viewed as an automatic raise. The degree format does not determine compensation by itself. Salary outcomes depend on the employer, sector, location, security clearance requirements, technical specialty, experience level, leadership responsibilities, and whether the role requires licensed engineering judgment.
Licensed aerospace engineers typically earn about 10-20% more than their non-licensed counterparts. That difference is often tied to the types of work licensed engineers can perform, especially roles involving sign-off authority, consulting, safety oversight, regulatory responsibility, or project leadership.
- Access to higher-responsibility roles: A PE license can qualify engineers for positions where they approve, supervise, or take responsibility for engineering work.
- Leadership and consulting opportunities: Licensed engineers may be better positioned for management, independent consulting, government work, or roles requiring formal professional accountability.
- Credibility with employers and clients: Licensure signals that the engineer has met education, exam, and experience standards beyond the degree.
- Reduced concern about online format: When an online graduate earns a PE license, the credential can help demonstrate that the person met the same professional benchmark as other licensed engineers.
- Long-term mobility: Licensure may support career movement into regulated, supervisory, or cross-state roles, though reciprocity rules still apply.
Students should balance the potential salary benefit against the time required for exams, supervised experience, and continuing education. For some aerospace roles, especially research and development or internal design positions that do not require public sign-off, specialized technical skill may matter more than licensure. For others, licensure can be a clear advantage.
Professionals considering additional credentials may also compare flexible graduate options such as 1 year master's programs online, but any added degree should be chosen because it supports a specific licensure, technical, or career goal.
An online aerospace engineering degree can lead to licensed and non-licensed engineering careers, depending on accreditation, experience, employer requirements, and the graduate’s technical portfolio. About 30% of aerospace engineering graduates obtain licensure, which correlates with 10-15% higher average salaries and improved access to leadership roles.
The practical difference is responsibility. Licensed engineers are more likely to qualify for roles involving formal approval, public accountability, consulting, or regulated engineering decisions. Non-licensed engineers can still work in many aerospace roles, especially inside companies where licensed sign-off is not required for every technical function.
Jobs With a License
- Project engineering lead: Manages engineering teams, reviews technical work, and may take responsibility for safety-critical decisions or project approvals.
- Regulatory compliance consultant: Helps organizations interpret and meet aviation, aerospace, and safety standards, including requirements tied to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expectations.
- Structural engineer: Evaluates and approves structural designs, modifications, and analyses where licensed engineering validation may be required.
Jobs Without a License
- Aerospace design engineer: Develops aircraft, spacecraft, or component concepts and supports modeling, analysis, and design iteration under organizational review processes.
- Flight test engineer: Plans tests, reviews flight data, evaluates performance, and supports development teams without necessarily holding independent sign-off authority.
- Research and development engineer: Works on propulsion, materials, aerodynamics, systems, or manufacturing innovations where specialized technical expertise may be more important than licensure.
Graduates should choose the licensure path based on the work they want to do. If the goal is consulting, public-sector engineering responsibility, compliance leadership, or formal approval authority, licensure is more important. If the goal is internal product development, analysis, testing, or research, a strong technical portfolio and relevant experience may carry more weight.
What Graduates Say About Getting Licensed with an Online Aerospace Engineering Degree
- Jeremy: "My online aerospace engineering degree made licensure possible without forcing me to leave my job. The total cost was more manageable than the campus alternatives I considered, averaging around $30,000. The flexibility mattered, but the accredited curriculum and disciplined exam preparation mattered even more. Now that I am licensed, I feel prepared to take on more complex engineering responsibilities."
- Ellis: "I was concerned at first about whether an online degree would be respected, especially with the full cost near $28,000 including licensure fees. What made the investment worthwhile was the program’s technical depth, faculty support, and emphasis on practical aerospace design work. The degree helped me move forward in aerospace design and gave me a clear path toward professional recognition."
- Balthazar: "Choosing an online aerospace engineering program was a strategic decision because I needed both flexibility and a credible licensure pathway. The process cost approximately $32,000, but the program’s rigor and accredited status helped me meet the requirements for becoming a professional engineer. The license has strengthened my confidence and opened leadership opportunities in the aerospace sector."
Other Things You Should Know About Aerospace Engineering Degrees
In 2027, eligibility for engineering licensure with an online aerospace degree largely depends on accreditation. Ensure your program is ABET-accredited, as this is vital for meeting most states' Professional Engineer (PE) licensing criteria. Additionally, relevant work experience and passing the FE and PE exams remain crucial steps.
To verify the accreditation of an online aerospace engineering program in 2027, consult the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) databases. These databases list programs accredited by recognized accrediting agencies, ensuring they meet quality standards.
In 2027, to obtain licensure as an aerospace engineer, candidates must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. The PE exam focuses on specific professional skills and is typically taken after gaining relevant work experience.
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