Important Certifications for Mechanical Engineers: Career Guide
For mechanical engineers, the accredited degree and, where required, licensure matter most. Tool certifications such as CSWP are useful signals for design roles, and GD&T credentials help if you own drawings. For remote-friendly roles, strong CAD and simulation evidence is the key.
Below is a comparison of the credentials mechanical engineers most often consider, with prerequisites, exam formats and renewal rules, followed by live data showing how often current job descriptions actually mention each one. Exam formats, fees and renewal policies change, so confirm current details with the issuer before you pay.
Quick comparison
| Credential | Issuer | Level | Prerequisites | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam | NCEES (US) | Entry | Typically near completion of an accredited engineering degree (check your state board). | Passing does not expire; it is a step towards licensure. |
| Professional Engineer (PE) licence | State licensing boards (US) | Licence | FE exam, qualifying experience (typically several years) and passing the PE exam. | Periodic renewal with continuing education, depending on the state. |
| Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) | Dassault Systèmes | Professional | None formally; CSWA recommended. | Does not expire. |
| ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) | ASME | Professional | Check ASME eligibility. | Check ASME. |
| Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) | SME | Professional | Combined education and experience (check SME). | Recertification with professional development. |
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Best for: US engineers planning to become licensed.
Exam format: Computer-based exam.
Prerequisites: Typically near completion of an accredited engineering degree (check your state board).
Keeping it current: Passing does not expire; it is a step towards licensure.
Skip it if: You work outside the US system.
Professional Engineer (PE) licence
Best for: Engineers signing off designs for public projects, consulting or senior roles.
Exam format: Computer-based PE Mechanical exam.
Prerequisites: FE exam, qualifying experience (typically several years) and passing the PE exam.
Keeping it current: Periodic renewal with continuing education, depending on the state.
Skip it if: Your industry does not require licensure.
Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP)
Best for: Design engineers using SOLIDWORKS.
Exam format: Online practical exam in SOLIDWORKS.
Prerequisites: None formally; CSWA recommended.
Keeping it current: Does not expire.
Skip it if: Your targets use Creo, CATIA or NX.
ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP)
Best for: Engineers responsible for drawings and tolerancing.
Exam format: Exam at technologist or senior level.
Prerequisites: Check ASME eligibility.
Keeping it current: Check ASME.
Skip it if: You work mostly in simulation.
Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
Best for: Manufacturing-focused engineers.
Exam format: Proctored exam.
Prerequisites: Combined education and experience (check SME).
Keeping it current: Recertification with professional development.
Skip it if: You work in design only.
Which should you take first?
Sequence credentials by what you can realistically qualify for and what your target vacancies ask for. By level, a sensible order is: Professional Engineer (PE) licence (licence), then Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam (entry), then Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) (professional), then ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) (professional), then Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) (professional). You rarely need all of them; one well-chosen credential plus strong evidence usually beats several overlapping ones.
Licences are not the same as certifications
Engineering practice is regulated in many countries. In the US, you can work as an engineer without a licence in many industries, but signing off public work requires a Professional Engineer (PE) licence, typically earned after passing the FE exam, gaining supervised experience and passing the PE exam. Other countries have chartered engineer schemes.
JobsRemoteList inventory data
Which credentials mechanical engineer job ads actually mention
Figures below are calculated from every active mechanical and hardware engineering jobs listed on JobsRemoteList on 10 October 2026, after expired and closed vacancies were removed. They describe this catalogue, not the whole job market.
- Active listings
- 77
- of 16,061 in the catalogue
- Hiring companies
- 36
- Posted in the last 7 days
- 17
- median listing age 10 days
- Publish a salary
- 55%
- catalogue average 34%
- Open worldwide
- 1%
- 58 name specific countries
- • 55% of these listings publish a salary, above the 34% average across the whole catalogue.
- • Senior, lead and staff titles make up 43% here, more senior-heavy than the catalogue overall.
- • 22% were posted in the last 7 days (catalogue average: 35%), a sign of slower hiring in this segment.
Seniority in job titles
- Mid-level / not stated43 · 56%
- Senior23 · 30%
- Lead / staff / principal10 · 13%
- Junior / entry level1 · 1%
Employment type
- Full-time76 · 99%
- Internship1 · 1%
Published pay (USD, annualised)
$128k – $173k
Median published range. The middle half of range midpoints falls between $126k and $182k.
Based on 42 employer-published USD ranges; estimates are excluded.
Companies hiring most
Countries named in eligibility
- United States54
- Finland2
- Spain2
- Austria1
- Belgium1
- BG1
Most requested skills and tools
Where these listings come from: Ashby (37), Greenhouse (32), plus company career pages. Every listing is re-checked at the employer's source at least every 30 days and removed once it is found closed or its published closing date passes.
Credentials named in current job descriptions
Share of the 77 most recent mechanical and hardware engineering jobs descriptions we hold that name each credential. A mention can be a requirement or a nice-to-have, so read the vacancy wording.
- GD&T (ASME Y14.5)29 · 38%
- PE licence6 · 8%
- FE / EIT0 · 0%
- SolidWorks certification (CSWA / CSWP)0 · 0%
Newest mechanical engineer listings
See every mechanical engineer job →Build evidence alongside the exam
Credentials open doors; evidence gets offers. Pair your studying with a project you can discuss in interviews:
- Design and build a mechanical project with CAD models and testing.
- Compete in student engineering competitions such as Formula Student.
- Run an FEA study and validate it with hand calculations.
- Contribute to open-source hardware projects.
A realistic study plan
- Week 1: download the official exam outline and take a diagnostic test to find weak areas.
- Weeks 2–5: study one domain at a time and apply each in a lab, exercise or work task.
- Week 6: take timed practice exams and review every wrong answer until you can explain the right one.
- Week 7: revise weak areas, then book the exam while the material is fresh.
Entry and associate exams often fit this schedule. Professional and expert credentials, and licensing exams, usually take months of preparation.
Ask your employer to pay
Many employers fund exams, courses and study time for mechanical engineers. Link the credential to your current work and a team goal, propose a timeline, and check whether you would have to repay the cost if you leave within a set period.
Red flags when choosing a provider
- Promises of guaranteed jobs or salaries.
- No clear link to the official issuer or exam outline.
- Course-completion certificates marketed as professional credentials.
- Pressure to buy expensive bundles before you have checked what employers ask for.
How to list certifications on your CV
Use the official credential name, the issuer and the date earned, plus the expiry date where one applies. Label anything in progress clearly ("expected June 2027"). In a mechanical engineer cover letter, mention a certification only when it directly supports the role; in interviews, be ready to explain how you have applied what you learned.
Related guides for mechanical engineers
- Resume examples for mechanical engineers
- Cover letter examples for mechanical engineers
- Mechanical Engineer interview questions and answers
- How to become a mechanical engineer
- Current remote mechanical engineer jobs
Frequently asked questions
Which certification is most useful for mechanical engineers?
It depends on your target vacancies. For mechanical engineers, the accredited degree and, where required, licensure matter most. The live data above shows which credentials current job descriptions mention most.
Can a certification replace experience?
Rarely. Employers treat certifications as supporting evidence; practical results, portfolios and references carry more weight in hiring decisions.
Do these certifications expire?
Some do and some do not. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam: passing does not expire; it is a step towards licensure. Professional Engineer (PE) licence: periodic renewal with continuing education, depending on the state. Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP): does not expire. ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP): check ASME. Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE): recertification with professional development.