Rules are different everywhere. I am an EIT in Alberta and our governing body recently approved the use of the word engineer providing it is preceded by the word "junior". My business card reads Name, B.Eng, EIT. That is followed by Systems Design Engineering (the department I work in).
SB63 - I won't feel like a dork when I get my PEng, because I'll be proud to pass my new card onto my clients. I will also have to pass on new cards after I get married so it's not a big deal. Get over yourself.
I would be insulted to be called a "Junior Engineer". I did not graduate from a "College of Junior Engineering". There is no special curriculum for junior engineering. How about lawyers who have not yet passed the bar? Do their business cards title them as "Junior Lawyer"?
If you are not registered, omit a title from the business card. People will know what you are and what you do when they meet you and work with you.
It is customary for someone who is starting out to be referred to as a junior employee. Then you get promoted to an intermediate position then senior. There is nothing wrong with referring to someone as junior. You are crazy. Can a lawyer who has not passed the bar practice law? Don't you have to put in a bunch of time articling or clerking (whatever it is they do).
Since I did spend so much time in "College for Regular Engineers" I want people to know what I have studied and where my expertise lies. I have no shame in letting people know that I am just starting out and that I am being mentored by other professionals in my field.
What is wrong with being in the learning stages of your career?!? Why is that insulting?
On a side note, how much experience do you need to write your PE exam in the US? It may be different than up here, because everyone first needs to register as an EIT (shamelessly) and have 4 years experience before you can write the PEng exam.
It's only customary because engineers like you accept it. If you are happy being referred to as a junior engineer, good for you. You are selling yourself short. Maybe you can tatoo "Learner" across your forehead. You will never get anyone's respect if you tell them you are a junior engineer. It's hard enough being a female engineer in a predominately male industry. Being a female, junior engineer must be even harder! (I assume you are female from your marriage/name change comment. If not, sorry.)
A lawyer who has not yet passed the Bar (a glorified paralegal?) can probably do staff work or support work similar to an engineer who doesn't have a P.E. license. An engineer who has not passed the P.E. test can't offer his services to others as a P.E. He or she can however work as a staff engineer under a licensed engineer. But you won't find any staff lawyers or junior lawyers in court unless they passed the Bar or unless they are carrying the lead attorney's bags. You don't see lawyers running around telling people that they haven't passed the Bar exam and that they are junior lawyers.
Have fun telling the world you are a junior engineer. Everyone will know immediately that you have no authority when you are dealing with them.
Finally, the requirements for getting a P.E. license "down here" are very similar (EIT + experience + P.E. Test).
I do not like the term "junior engineer" myself. Regardless of how many years of experience you have, you are "junior" to some. Its relative I suppose.
Going to the original post, if I were an EIT I wouldn't put it on my business card. I also wouldn't want Junior Engineer. Good title may be Design Engineer, Civil Designer, or just plain Engineer.
Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, or Professional Engineer can only be used in the business card once it is earned. It does not guarantee the individual's competency, however.
Why must we keep trying to invent titles for graduate engineers who are not yet registered? Pay, satisfaction, and respect are what matter, not titles. Call me what you want, just pay me and treat me right.
