The original meaning of engineer was: "A constructor of military engines; a person who designs and constructs military works for attack and defence."
It is first found in English in 1380, when I doubt any professional certification bodies existed.
Eventually it evolved to mean what you got your license in, and then evolved further to include things like "software engineers".
Unless you build engines, the word engineer to describe what you do is etymologically inaccurate. So why is your particular stage on the path of organic evolution of this word more valid than anyone else's?
That's true, which is why you wouldn't put P.E. after your name or represent yourself as a Mechanical Engineer etc... No one who knows what a PE is going to be confused by someone calling themselves a software engineer, and audio engineer, or a sanitation engineer.
I understand the other argument that the job title "Engineer" is being diluted, but that ship sailed a long time ago. There are way more people with engineer in their title than there are PEs so I doubt any widespread legislative attempt to change this would be successful. And it's not just software engineers. Plenty of people working as engineers with ABET accredited engineering degrees haven't passed the PE exam either.
It is first found in English in 1380, when I doubt any professional certification bodies existed.
Eventually it evolved to mean what you got your license in, and then evolved further to include things like "software engineers".
Unless you build engines, the word engineer to describe what you do is etymologically inaccurate. So why is your particular stage on the path of organic evolution of this word more valid than anyone else's?