>>>>regulated professionals are not expected to be perfect,
>>
>>Correct. My son and daughter-in-law are both PE's (Professional Engineers) and after graduating from engineering school have passed rigorous exams administered by groups of their peers under state supervision before being able to call themselves PE's.
>
>Sounds rather self-important as a group and/or title. What were they between graduation and passing these exams, Amateur Engineers?

"Engineer-in-Training" (EIT), at least here in BC, Canada.

>I'm not opposing the idea, mind you. There should be some degree of peer review and grading in each profession worth its salt. It's a tradition set by medieval guilds, and shouldn't be dismissed lightly.
>
>It's the choice of words that sounds rather wrong to me.

Naming is actually a bit contentious in engineering. At least here in Canada, PE associations have an obligation to cease&desist, and prosecute if necessary, anyone calling themselves an "engineer" who is not a member of the association. There are some grandfathered exceptions such as railway engineers and stationary (i.e. steam-plant) engineers.

To the best of my knowledge "software engineering" is still not offered in engineering schools as an accredited engineering specialty along the lines of civil, mechanical etc. Because of that I believe the term "software engineer" is frowned upon (in Canada at least), but I don't know the status of any possible enforcement actions.

I might actually be able to get away with calling myself a software engineer but I don't.