Originally Posted by Genghis the Engineer
In the UK, where I work most of the time, anybody without any formal qualifications can set themselves up and call themselves an Engineer. In the USA, anybody can design build themselves an ultralight, with no design knowledge, then test fly it, without any flight test knowledge - without any external oversight in either case. It's an imperfect world!
G
Ghengis
The TP/FTE schools spend a lot of time focussing on safety and risk mitigation, as well as running trials and understanding the procurement process. By completing a recognised course at a recognised school they gain professional standing and credibility, in the same way a doctor or solicitor does. Legal and medical training takes a long time and is expensive, which is why some practices chose to make use of secretaries and nurses to do some of the work, but they would never allow them to do ALL the work.
If an aircraft company choses to use 'unqualified' or 'unaccredited' TPs/FTEs, surely they're just overrated secretaries/nurses making out they're solicitors/doctors!