Fun fact: I can't legally call myself an "Engineer" in Canada because I don't have the ring/haven't passed an engineering course in college. My official job title is "Archmage of Infrastructure", but overall I'd call myself an artist/philosopher more than an engineer. I explore what is possible and turn it into what is practical.

I'm curious if this is actually a thing that has ever been an issue for software engineers.

I feel like it's not the government's place to argue semantics, and it's widely understood that the word "engineering" is used to describe a process that one engages in that involves some amount of education, but that the education is not necessarily scholastic in nature.

"Software engineer" specifically is used around the world to refer to the role performed. I'm in Canada, and my job title is "(lead) software engineer". It's on my contract; it's on my job portal. I'm not convinced this is been a problem for anyone, though I have heard of people in Canada getting in trouble for misrepesenting themselves as accredited engineers

> I'm curious if this is actually a thing that has ever been an issue for software engineers.

I mean, Google doesn't call it's programmers in Canada "software engineers" like it does everywhere else, so yes.

> I feel like it's not the government's place to argue semantics,

er...what? regulating who does various professions and what they call themselves is a very common and important thing that government does.

you've got things backwards - swathes of programmers weirdly started calling themselves "engineers" in the relatively recent past.

The government of Ontario cares and my goal is to get citizenship. Not pissing off the government or professional bodies is a great way to facilitate that goal lol

I've heard an anecdote of someone being denied entry at the border because they described themselves as "software engineer", which as far as the border guard was concerned was a fake job.

> "Software engineer" specifically is used around the world to refer to the role performed.

I don't think it is? I spent 10+ years programming in an English-speaking country and it sounds weird and cringe to me, the same way as "Code Ninja" or "Rockstar" (or indeed the "Archmage" title mentioned elsewhere in the thread).

Typically companies just pay the menial fine. It's run by a self-regularing body and doesn't impact your citizenship -- it's not the government who enforces it.

I graduated from UW in 2011 in software engineering. Never did my P.Eng. I drank the juice that software practitioner will need liability in the future....but it never panned out.